Australian racing tips for May 23, 2026
The Doomben track in Brisbane becomes the epicentre of the Australian racing scene this Saturday, with the running of the Group 1 Doomben Cup over 2000 metres.
Doomben hosts all the group racing in Australasia for the day, and the jewel in the crown is no doubt the Doomben Cup which promises to be an exciting contest give the presence of the tearaway frontrunner Pride Of Jenni. The race also includes and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours and several other top-notch gallopers trying to make their mark at weight-for-age.
Pride Of Jenni broke their hearts in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago with the likes of Birdman (second), She’s A Hustler (third), Half Yours (fourth) and Kovalica (fifth) in her wake.
Those four galloper all line up again and will again have to attempt to chase down Pride Of Jenni. It won’t be easy in the small-seven-horse field and it’s certain to be a tactical affair in regards to which jockey wants to lead the field up to Pride Of Jenni.
Elsewhere, the Doomben card features a few other group races and we have cast an eye over those as well in the hope of finding some value bets for our followers. There is also plenty of other Australian racing to keep you entertained. Read on for our free betting tips and analysis for the best racing in Australia on May 23.
Doomben Race 6
Group 3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Plate (1600m)
(2) Pinito will find this a much more suitable assignment than her seventh in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf at Randwick during The Championships and she has also shown a liking for soft ground. Pinito is drawn perfectly in gate two and she has the unstoppable combination of James McDonald and trainer Chris Waller in her corner. Stablemate (5) Pippie Beach is another which revels in the wet and also should get every chance. (6) Our Queen raced well last weekend and is on the quic k back-up with Queensland’s top jockey Ben Thompson in the saddle. (7) Hyperbolic is from the in-form Brad Widdup stable and is rock-hard fit..
Rupert McIntosh tips: 2,5,6,7. Best bet: Pinito to win for the champ McDonald.
Doomben Race 7
Group 2 ANZ Bloodstock News The Roses (2000m)
This is the final traditional lead-up race to the group 1 Queensland Oaks and given the distance and the likely soft track, you will need to find a filly with genuine staying ability. The Kiwi (1) Single Red, a NZ Oaks placegetter, fits the bill and she has long been near the top of markets for the Qld Oaks. Single Red is from the sharp Andrew Forsman stable and and loses nothing with the former Enzedder Jason Collett in the saddle. McDonald and Waller again team up here with (11) Chispa and she burst into calculations last start when she easily rounded up the field over 1800m Randwick Kensington. She has a sense of timing about her with only five starts under her belt..
Rupert McIntosh tips: 11,1,10,6. Best bet: Try the 1,11 quinella. They are both quality fillies.
Doomben Race 8
Group 1 XXXX Doomben Cup (2000m)
This is a must-watch race for racing fans, and in our opinion it’s a great chance to get a good price about an outstanding galloper in (1)
Half Yours. The St Jean gelding just gave away too big a start at the Gold Coast behind (6) Pride Of Jenni and this time, the Melbourne Cup winner will be even more wound up after two runs back from a good spell and the extra 200m only plays in his favour. This could be the race in which he announces himself at weight-for-age. (4) Birdman almost ran down Pride Of Jenni last time and he also will be suited by the extra trip. The fly in the ointment of course is the front-running mare who makes all her own luck and has won more than $12 million in prizemoney. (2) Vauban brings a different formline to most of this field and is a classy type.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 1,2,6,4. Best bet: Half Yours to take the next step in a great career.
Doomben Race 9
Group 3 Ladbrokes BRC Sprint (1350m)
(19) Midnight Dynamite has come up pretty short in this extremely open sprint to close the meeting, but has an impressive record of seven wins and five placings from 18 starts. The gelding is racing in career-best form since a spell and from gate 3 from renowned front-running rider Tim Clark will be somewhere near the lead and should get evey chance. But as mentioned it’s a wide race and we think if jockey Jordan Childs can slot across from the awkward gate 10, then (5) Willaidow could cause an upset. The Shamus Award gelding already has won a couple of group 3s among his nine wins from 29 starts. This is a race packed full of chances and value (away from the favourite) with (2) Bosustow capable of sprinting well fresh and (11) Harry’s Yacht raciong consistently well but drawn wide.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 5,19,2,11. Best bet: Willaidow each-way at around $16.
