The 2017 Doomben Cup field has been released and there is an argument to be made that this is the strongest edition of the race in recent years.
Doncaster Mile winner It’s Somewhat is currently a narrow favourite, but he will face very stiff competition from the likes of Darren Weir-trained Articus, Queen Elizabeth Stakes placegetter Sense Of Occasion and Group 1 winning mare Single Gaze.
Will one of the leading contenders get the job done or will there be a Doomben Cup upset? We have analysed every horse in the field and our complete 2017 Doomben Cup tips can be found below.
It’s Somewhat
It’s Somewhat just keeps on winning and he was very tough right on the speed in the Hollindale Stakes. He may have won the Doncaster Mile, but the Doomben Cup was always his main target this preparation and it would not surprise to see him go to another level over 2000 metres. It’s Somewhat will take up the running once again with James Doyle in the saddle and that is definitely the place you want to be at Doomben. He is the horse to beat in the Doomben Cup.
Preferment
Preferment looks a shadow of the horse that he once was and he had his chance in the Hollindale Stakes last start. His best form would have him right in this race, but he hasn’t rated at that level for some time and he looks as though he will get a fair way back from the wide barrier draw.
Sense Of Occasion
Sense Of Occasion returns to 2000 metres for the first time since his excellent third behind Winx and Hartnell in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. That was easily the best performance of his racing career and based on his Hollindale Stakes run it does look like something of a spike rating. A wet track would bring him into this race and he is definitely a contender, but he looks to have found his right price.
Vanbrugh
Vanbrugh steps back-up in class after a couple of unconvincing efforts in the Newcastle Newmarket Handicap and the Hawkesbury Gold Cup. His recent form simply isn’t up to this level.
Star Exhibit
Star Exhibit is one of the most interesting horses in the Doomben Cup field. He made his racing debut for Darren Weir with an impressive win in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes and he should only improve stepping up in trip. The fact that he is going from 1440 metres to 2000 metres second-up is somewhat of a question mark and he would need to go to another level, but Darren Weir has pulled-off more impressive training feats in the past.
McCreery
McCreery looked set for a huge 2017 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign, but he hasn’t gone on with the job following his win in the Liverpool City Cup. He was very poor in the Hollindale Stakes and it is tough to back him off that effort.
Cylinder Beach
The gap between the best middle distance horses in Brisbane and Sydney was plain to see when Cylinder Beach finished seventh in the Hollindale Stakes. He is a good horse, but he simply isn’t up to this level.
Benzini
Benzini won the Brisbane Cup last year and he was competitive in the Hong Kong Vase. His lead-up form in New Zealand has been sound, he is probably looking for 2400 metres at this stage of his preparation.
Maurus
Maurus does appeal as a value betting option at his current price in the Doomben Cup. He loomed up as the winner in the Hollindale Stakes before he died on his run late and he is sure to have taken plenty of benefit from that run. He will get a long way back from the wide barrier draw, but he should relish the step-up to 2000 metres and he will be finishing strongly.
Astronomos
Astronomos has been close without winning weakest races than this in 2017. He does love the sting out of the track and he would not be without a chance on a bog, but he probably needs the track to be in the heavy race to be a genuine hope.
Emphasis
Emphasis chased home Cantbuybetter last weekend, but this is a horse step-up in class. He looks massively outclassed in this race.
Articus
Articus is the x-factor in the Doomben Cup field. He was well-backed in the Caulfield Cup last year and failed to fire before he was flat in the Victoria Handicap, but he recorded an impressive win in the Chairman’s Club Handicap last start. He still has the upside to improve on that effort, but he will need to produce a career best performance to beat the likes of It’s Somewhat and I can’t get him as short as his current quote.
Rudy
Rudy was not disgraced in the Hollindale Stakes, but he is a genuine wet-tracker and would need the track to be very heavy to be a genuine winning chance.
Single Gaze
Single Gaze has returned from injury in excellent form and she was a gallant second behind It’s Somewhat in the Hollindale Stakes last start. Tactics will be crucial here as her best form has generally been produced when she settles right on the speed. The pressure will be on Kathy O’Hara to get her across from the wide barrier draw and the map doesn’t look great, but she is not without a chance.
Jessy Belle
Jessy Bell was solid in the Lord Mayor’s Cup, but this is significantly tougher.
Amelie’s Star
Amelie’s Star is the third of Darren Weir’s chances in the Doomben Cup and the one that I am keenest to be on. She looked like a star in the making before she missed 18 months of racing, but she has made a strong return. It took her a while to wind up in the Queen Of The South Stakes, but Damian Lane was very easy on her on the line and she is crying out for 2000 metres. She has an upside that is unmatched by any other horse in this field and she is worth a gamble at the current price.
Sound Proposition
Sound Proposition is the first emergency in the Doomben Cup field. His form in New Zealand this preparation has been sound, but I doubt that he is good enough to win a race of this quality.
Auvray
Auvray has promised plenty without ever really delivering and he requires a couple of scratchings to get a start in the Doomben Cup field.