If the great Might and Power, Juggler, Danewin, Durbridge and Defier weren't enough, Rough Habit soared to legendary status in Brisbane with three straight Doomben Cups in and around two Stradbrokes as well. The race has toggled between 2020m and 2200m making some form comparisons difficult.
Above Deck brought in good form to Doomben Photo by Racing and Sports Here was an improving young horse coming through the middle distance ranks quickly. From Melbourne to Albury to Sydney then onto Queensland where he scored an excellent win in the Hollindale Stks on the Gold Coast – the traditional lead up to this race. In some ways he met an exceptionally weak G1 field but that is hardly his fault. Jim Conlon has had his problems but he had this gelding in fine fettle. Mark Zahra settled him back near the rear but he had a very quick 200m sprint which is always a good thing in WFA racing. He attacked the line and drew away making you think he had so many big things ahead with the Cups an obvious target. But it turned pear shaped after that and he would not win again.
• 2007 – CINQUE CENTO 5m (Nothin' Leica Dane x Laydown Misere) ($21)
Cinque Cento caused a massive upset Photo by Racing and Sports Cinque Cento must have known something. They can't but how can you tell. The Ramsey family had suffered a severe private loss and this was just the fillip they needed. Previously trained by Tony Wildman to win a Doomben Roses, this mare was bought as a tried racehorse/broodmare prospect and given to Peter Moody to train. Just that Autumn she'd been everywhere – Caulfield, Rosehill, Morphettville and now Doomben. After winning the G2 for mares in Adelaide, she wasn't rated highly against a field which had hard nut Desert War and youngster Reigning to Win the elects. DW took all of the 300m to get to the front but it fired him up as he neared the end of his campaign. Cinque sat on his bumpers with Gaze on her back. You were just waiting for the mares to drop off as they have a poor record in the race but Desert was already giving ground on the turn. Arnold probably got there too early but you have to go in a G1 and she shot away 300 out. They all made late ground but it made little difference. The backmarkers expended so much energy catching up they had nothing for the fight. She didn't win again either.
• 2008 – SARRERA 7g (Quest for Fame x Zamsong) ($5.50)
2nd: Rampant Lion (59.0kg), 3rd: Like It Is (56.5kg)
Sarrera came off a 50-1 QEII win to do it again Photo by Bronwen Healy This was the most unlikely back to back WFA winner in a long while. Six months earlier Sarrera ran in the Melbourne Cup and in finishing 18th, some 23L away, he was not ever going to be a major carnival player – surely! The two open grade runs could hardly be a signal of the Queen Elizabeth win at Randwick. While Oliver's ride in that race had a deal of luck, his next one was classical. In a race full of speed, Rampant Lion made it a staying test and that sure sorted a few out. Damien was plodding along on the fence saving ground where he could. On the turn many pulled out but they simply gave away too much ground after having to make long runs in an endeavour to catch the leader. The only time Oliver got off the rail was when he collared the front. Running home was the 4-1 favourite Viewed. Who was to know where his path would head.
• 2009 – SCENIC SHOT 6g (Scenic x Sweepshot) ($12)
2nd: Racing To Win (59.0kg), 3rd: Sir Slick (59.0kg)
Scenic Shot had a spectacular Brisbane carnival Photo by Racing and Sports Dan Morton was having a trot and a half. Not only was this old boy doing his best but he was travelling the soon to be Horse of the Year Scenic Blast all over the world. Scenic Shot has been to Queensland the year before winning the Hollindale and O'Shea Stks so he knew the ins and outs. After a long Victorian campaign and a warm up run at home, he ventured north when disappointing in his defence of the Hollindale. There was pace on in a Doomben Cup which included quite a few G1 winners. That came from Sir Slick which was no surprise with Douro Valley outside. Back beyond midfield, Scenic Shot had Racing To Win inside him. That was until the 450 when Scriven took off. He put two lengths beyond the grey and in the drive to the line that was critical as Racing charged late to just miss. He would go onto add the O'Shea and Brisbane Cups to the trophy cabinet in a brilliant winter campaign. A Mackinnon Stks would further his reputation.
• 2010 – METAL BENDER 4g (Danasinga x Jacqwin) ($3.25 fav)
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy, Trainer: Chris Waller
Barrier: 7, Weight: 59.0kg
Gross Time: 2:02.65, 600m Sectional: 36.58
Margin: 0.2L, Track: Good, Starters: 13
2nd: Gold Water (57.0kg), 3rd: Triple Honour (59.0kg)
Metal Bender got back to his G1 form for the new trainer Photo by Racing and Sports His 3yo days were grand. A dual G1 winner showed he was smart and adaptable. The Derby was a bit of a disappointment, but the Queen Elizabeth was a good rebuttal. Sadly injury cost him twelve months. He came back slowly in Sydney but once in Queensland he came good in the Hollindale – the traditional lead up race on the Gold Coast. After a battle to secure a jockey, McEvoy was chosen and he sat on speed which is the right thing at WFA. Naturally as was his want, Sir Time Keeper kept them rolling. As he began to weaken, Gold Water shot through and looked the winner, with Triple Honour up the inside. But Metal Bender got them last stride showing his class. A promising Spring petered out after some very good runs.
RACE PROFILE
o From 2002 to 2006 the race was run at 2200m but with the Brisbane Cup downgrade in distance and status, the Doomben Cup has come back in distance as well.
o Cinque Cento was the first mare to win in donkey's ages.
o Mostly favoured runners have won this which is not surprising at WFA.
o Recent winners have mostly been first time G1 winners.
o Victorian jockeys have dominated recently.
o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner – 6yo (4 times)
o Last 10 Years Winningest Barrier Range <5-8> - 3 times
o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner – $8
o Breakdown of winners – 9 geldings & 1 mare
o Last 10 Years Queen Elizabeth Stks / Doomben Cup double – Sarrera ('08)
o Last 10 Years Hollindale Stks / Doomben Cup double – Metal Bender ('10), Above Deck ('06), Bush Padre ('03), Mr Bureaucrat ('02)
o Last 10 Years Queen of the South / Doomben Cup double – Cinque Cento ('07)
SUMMARY & SELECTIONS
Not exactly the greatest Doomben Cup but indicative of the standard of WFA races in this country at the moment.
Glass Harmonium is an impressive import for Mike Moroney Photo by Racing and Sports
The likely go forward horses here are Zavite and the two three year olds Shadows In The Sun and Shootoff.
When we look to this race every year, we always go to the AD Hollindale Stks as it has provided so many winners of the Cup, even from the beaten brigade.
And the quinella from the Gold Coast look the two to be on.
Glass Harmonium ran some very decent races behind Twice Over and Byword last season and has won at Royal Ascot before.
He worked home strongly over 1800m suggesting the 2020m will be perfect for him. Hard to see him not in the finish.
The horse he was defeated by is now a three time Group winner in Australia and has obviously acclimatised superbly.
Dwayne Dunn did the job well in the Doncaster Prelude but Nash Rawiller has handled him in the right manner twice and would clearly have gone on but for his suspension. His form would almost have been enough to get him home.
The 3yo Shootoff has put two good ones together and having beaten the older brigade as well as the Packer Plate crew easily, you'd think he rolls forward and might make it a bit of a staying test in the lead up to the Derby.
R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: R P Legh), G G Syndicate Ltd (Mgr: G G Peterson), N Griffin, M Pejic, J O'Neill, R Scheriani, R Smith, B Mathieson, J Kennedy & Raise Your Glass Syndicate
4th
10. SHOOTOFF (NZ) 3yo G DUELLED (AUS) - ATHENRI (NZ)
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