In a disappointing turn of events for racing fans, the Doomben race meeting scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2025, was abandoned after Race 3 due to dangerous lightning activity in the area. The decision was made to prioritize the safety of all participants and patrons, as lightning poses significant risks during outdoor events.
Earlier in the day, the track was rated a Soft 7, and the weather was overcast, but as conditions deteriorated, officials faced an indefinite delay before officially calling off the meeting. This unfortunate cancellation marks the third disruption to Doomben’s racing calendar in just over a month.
On March 29, heavy rainfall forced the cancellation of a Saturday meeting, which was later rescheduled to Tuesday, April 1, to coincide with major races in Sydney. Following that, a midweek meeting on April 2 was postponed due to further heavy rain, with approximately 20mm falling in Brisbane, rendering the track unsuitable for racing. The persistent wet weather in Southeast Queensland has significantly impacted the racing schedule, leading to multiple meetings either postponed or abandoned.
Racing Queensland is closely monitoring the situation and is set to provide updates on rescheduled events as conditions improve. Patrons are advised to stay informed through official channels for the latest information on upcoming race meetings.
Despite the weather disruptions, Racenet's Queensland form expert Graeme Carey had high hopes for the Doomben meeting, banking on better weather on the same day. With the rail out three metres at Doomben, Carey expected on-speed runners to have an advantage, and he highlighted several horses to watch.
Carey’s best bet for the day was RING BEARER (Race 3 No 7), who was stepping up to Saturday grade after accounting for a useful midweek Class 3 field when resuming. "Taylah Mackinnon has a handy one in RING BEARER which has built a good record of four wins from 12 starts, is unbeaten second-up, and with Cody Collis's 2kg claim, gets the gun run from an inside gate," Carey noted.
His next best bet was SMART LEGEND (Race 5 No 7), who was brought straight to Saturday grade after beating a midweek Class 3 field and was expected to perform well. Additionally, Carey pointed to MARAGICAL (Race 7 No 3) as a value bet, expecting the horse to bounce back after a difficult last outing.
Among the other horses Carey pointed out was GET READY LASS (2), who had impressed in her previous trial and blitzed the field when resuming at the Gold Coast. DRAGONNE ROUGE (6) also caught Carey's eye after rounding them up at the Sunshine Coast on debut. Meanwhile, VIOLACEOUS (10) came from a long way back to fill the minor placing behind GET READY LASS at the Gold Coast and was expected to perform better with a better weight adjustment.
As for CUDDLES FOR KIMMY (1), while she hasn’t flattered in her past two outings, she is a Saturday winner and Listed placegetter, showing potential to surprise. The honest AIDEN (9) was also highlighted, having done little wrong since resuming and only being collared late in previous races.
Jason Deamer, a trainer known for his good record with horses he brings to Queensland, had JACK DUGGAN (5) in the spotlight, who was only found out late at the Sunshine Coast. SCARLET PRINCE (7) was noted for beating all but Waltham in a stronger race than the one he faced at the Gold Coast last time out.
YET HE MOVES (3) was another horse that caught attention, having traveled wide and still managed to hit the line well behind Galifianakis last start. With a promising field lined up for the abandoned race day, fans were left disappointed but hopeful for better weather and racing conditions in the near future.
While the Doomben race meeting faced cancellation, the anticipation surrounding the upcoming races remains high. Racing Queensland is committed to ensuring the safety of all involved and is eager to resume racing as soon as conditions allow.
As the season progresses, fans will be closely watching how the horses perform in the coming weeks, particularly those that were expected to shine on April 12. With the racing calendar already disrupted this month, it will be interesting to see how trainers adjust their strategies and prepare their horses for the next events.
In conclusion, the Doomben race meeting's abandonment due to lightning is just another chapter in a challenging month for Southeast Queensland racing, but the resilience of the racing community and the excitement for future races remain undeterred.
