Australian racing picks for Doomben and Canberra

The last Group 1 race of the season for 2-year-olds, the J.J. Atkins Plate, takes place in Australia on Friday night, and the field was declared today.

Twelve colts and six fillies will battle it out for $350,000 at one of Brisbane’s premier tracks, Eagle Farm. The race favorite, Rothfire, has drawn wide in barrier 14, but is still attracting support at around 5-2. The other Group 1 on Friday night, the Stradbroke, will see a full field of 18 contest the 7-furlong dash. It should be a great night!

Tonight, racing takes place across the road from Eagle Farm at Doomben, where they’ll be running on a soft track. There are three other Thoroughbred meetings available for BetAmerica horseplayers tonight — Canberra, Randwick, and Belmont Park.

Here are a couple picks for a busy Tuesday night of racing from Down Under.

Doomben, Race 4: #2 Headspace

This 3-year-old gelding from the Mark Currie barn has strung two wins together in his two runs back from a break, first at the Gold Coast, and then at Toowoomba.

Once again, he'll rise in distance tonight, and he will be fitter, after two runs already this campaign. Those 4-1 morning line odds are appealing.

Canberra, Race 1: #1 Ballista

A rising 6-year-old with 30 starts under her belt, Ballista rarely runs a bad race.

In her last start at Warwick Farm, she made up a ton of ground to hit the line strongly for third. That was against much tougher company than she will face tonight.

Ballista is carrying a lot of weight but has a claiming apprentice jockey to lighten that load. She loves the 5-furlong trip (four wins over the distance) and will be fitter, after two runs back from a break.

At 4-1 on the morning line, she should be fighting out the finish.

Good luck!