The Queensland Winter Carnival comes alive at Doomben this weekend with the running of two Group 1 races on Cup Carnivale Day with the $650,000 Doomben Cup (2000m) and the $500,000 BTC Cup (1200m).
The weight for age Doomben Cup has attracted fifteen middle distance gallopers headed by Leebaz and Pornichet while the weight for age BTC Cup has a capacity field of sixteen sprinters which includes glamour mare Srikandi and dual Group 1 winner Trust In A Gust.
Every race on the nine race program is a Stakes race with four listed, two Group 3s and one Group 2 to complement the two Group 1s.
Feature Races
Race 7 – Group 1 $650,000 Doomben Cup (2000m)
The weight for age Doomben Cup, the first Group 1 of the Queensland Winter Carnival, has attracted a near capacity field of fifteen middle distance performers headed by the Gai Waterhouse trained Pornichet and Leebaz from the Team Hawkes stables. Pornichet has been installed the favourite here at Ladbrokes following his win in the Toowoomba Cup last Saturday while 2014 Doomben Cup runner up Leebaz is back in form with a last start win in the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on Anzac Day. Dominant Sydney trainer Chris Waller will have another busy day with five runners, Foreteller, Moriarty, Hawkspur, Weary, and I’m Imposing. Multiple Group 1 winning Kiwi mare Silent Achiever has been struggling to regain her winning form and looks likely to be making her final race day appearance on Saturday.
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Race 8 – Group 1 $500,000 BTC Cup (1200m)
The BTC Cup has pulled together a capacity field of sixteen runners for the Group 1 weight for age sprint over 1200m. The ‘Rockhampton Rocket’ Our Boy Malachi returns to Queensland under the care of Rosehill trainers Wayne, Michael and John Hawkes and is at the top of the market order here at Ladbrokes just ahead of glamour Melbourne mare Srikandi. Srikandi showed that she has come back in fine order with an effortless win in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on April 25 and will prove hard to beat on Saturday even from a wide barrier. Dual Group 1 winner Trust In A Gust will strip fitter following his first up second in the VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield on April 18. The well performed Kiwi sprinter Sacred Star returns to Brisbane this year after winning two Group 1s in New Zealand over the Summer Carnival.
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Supporting Races
Race 1 – Listed $100,000 Princess Stakes (2000m)
The Gai Waterhouse trained Bohemian Lily is heading towards the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) in three weeks and looks the one to beat in the Princess Stakes after winning the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago. Toowoomba filly Col ‘N’ Lil was runner up in the Bracelet and can be in the mix again. Chris Waller has the job of refreshing Ballet Suite after she was well beaten in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick following her fourth in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). Kiwi filly No Tricks should be kept under notice following her win over 2000m in Listed company at Riccarton in April.
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Race 2 – Group 3 $125,000 Rough Habit Plate (2000m)
Peter Moody has two strong chances in the Rough Habit Plate with Inauguration and Upham. Inauguration can be given another chance after being beaten as favourite in the Gunsynd Classic (1800m) at the Gold Coast while Upham proved the best of the Moody pair that day with an encouraging second in the same race. Chillin With Dylan has a one eyed blinker going on after his third in the Gunsynd Classic and Jumbo Prince maintained his consistent form with a last start win over 1625m against the three year olds at Toowoomba last Saturday. You have to always be wary of any Chris Waller runner and the leading Sydney trainer will saddle up the well-bred Sadler’s Lake in the Rough Habit Plate.
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Race 3 – Listed $100,000 Juanmo Stakes (1200m)
I’ve Got The Looks was touted on every street corner before her effortless win in the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Anzac Day and looks the one to beat again against the fillies and mares in the Juanmo Stakes. Stablemate Dublin Lass is taking the next step up after winning her fifth race in restricted class recently at Randwick. Locally trained filly Traveston Girl ran a mighty race when second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) in the Spring and will be fitter for her first up third in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on April 25.
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Race 4 – Listed $100,000 Member’s Handicap (1600m)
The Joe Pride trained Laser Hawk takes a huge drop in class here after his thirteenth in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on the last day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival and only has to run up to his previous start win in the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket (1400m) to be hard to beat in the Members’ Handicap. Neo was rewarded for his consistency with a win in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast and should be in the mix again. Brisbane’s leading trainer Tony Gollan is staking his claim in the Members’ Handicap with four starters, Hvasstan, Zoomania, Trakstar and Tornado Miss.
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Race 5 – Group 2 $175,000 Champagne Classic (1200m)
The Champagne Classic for the two year olds sees the return to the race track of Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Le Chef. Brisbane’s leading jockey Luke Tarrant takes the ride and Le Chef will be very hard to beat from barrier two. Wicked Intent is also a smart local colt resuming and he showed over the Summer that he is loaded with plenty of ability but has a wide alley to contend with. Sampeah will carry the royal blue colours of Godolphin and is coming off a third in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 14. Big Tree and Blueberry Hill have to come into contention after running one two in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast while Pepperano and Single Gaze are both above average fillies.
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Race 6 – Group 3 $125,000 BRC Sprint (1350m)
Victorian sprinter Speediness will appreciate the step up in distance and will strip fitter for the BRC Sprint after his first up eighth in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast. Speediness has proved in the past that he can mix it with the best and was runner up to Trust In A Gust in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in the Spring. Fast ‘N’ Rocking is another who has performed well at Group 1 level with a third in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in the Autumn and also looks well placed here. Rock Sturdy was a Group 2 winner in the Spring and can do better than his first up eighth in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April. The Gerald Ryan trained Estonian Princess is a classy mare on her day and the blinkers go back on after he first up second in the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
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Race 9 – Listed $100,000 Mick Dittman Plate (1200m)
The blinkers go on Kuro in the Mick Dittman Plate after the colt was a well beaten eighth as favourite in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on the second day of ‘The Championships’. At his previous start the Denman colt ran a mighty race to finish second in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill and will be hard to beat her if he can repeat that effort. Rekindled Power beat Kuro home in the Arrowfield Sprint when third and looks suited here. The locals will be cheering home Miss Cover Girl who has return from a successful trip to Sydney where she won the Group 3 P J Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships.
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