The Group 1 Doomben Cup is this week’s feature race of the 2019 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival at Doomben.
A capacity field of sixteen runners are due to line up in the 2000m weight for age contest with champion trainer Chris Waller providing five of them as he chases his eighteenth Group 1 win for the 2018 – 2019 season.
Last start A.D. Hollindale Stakes winner Life Less Ordinary leads the Waller brigade along with Group 1 winners Shillelagh, Youngstar and Savvy Coup as well as English import Mister Sea Wolf.
A full field of sixteen are set to compete in the $700,000 Doomben Cup and we have examined the entire field and our complete analysis can be found below.
Big Duke
Big Duke is the first of three, possibly four runners for trainer Kris Lees, and had solid form at the beginning of the 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival before running down the track in the Group 1 Sydney Cup over 3200m at Randwick. Has been freshened up for the 2000m but might find the others a bit too nippy around Doomben.
Life Less Ordinary
English import Life Less Ordinary leads Chris Waller’s team of five Doomben Cup runners and has hit form at the right time with a last start win in the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes over 1800m at the Gold Coast two weeks ago. That win was a career best effort and a repeat will see him figure prominently in the finish again.
Mister Sea Wolf
Mister Sea Wolf chased home his Chris Waller trained stablemate Life Less Ordinary when second in the A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast. That run was about his limit and he is yet to win beyond 1600m.
Red Alto
Red Alto has been well beaten at his two latest outings and failed to beat a runner home when last of thirteen in the A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast. Hard to see him causing an upset here.
On The Rocks
On The Rocks was a Group 1 winner at Te Rapa three starts back out of Mike Moroney’s New Zealand stable and will be having his first start on Australian soil in the Doomben Cup. The four year old has been well beaten at his last two runs at Ellerslie and race day betting will be the best guide.
Archedemus
The Gwenda Markwell trained Archedemus is making his Group 1 debut but has earned his chance to compete at the top level with wins over 1600m at his last two starts at Hawkesbury and Doomben. The front running Archedemus was an all the way winner last week in the Listed Members’ Handicap over 1600m at Doomben and is likely to go forward again from a wide gate. Is yet to be tested beyond 1600m.
Prioritise
Prioritise has been well beaten in weaker company of late and hard to see him threaten here at Group 1 level.
Tally
Tally has been placed twice at Group 1 level earlier in his career but has failed to threaten in the top company of late. Tally’s last two wins have been in Group 3 and Quality Handicap class and he never threatened when sixth in the A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast. Tougher here.
Hallelujah Boy
Japanese import Hallelujah Boy produced his best run in Australia last start when third to Life Less Ordinary in the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast. The Kris Lees trained six year old led all of the way two starts back for a win in a Listed Race at Doomben over 1615m and will probably go forward again from a wide barrier. Will be thereabouts for a long way.
Fierce Impact
Fierce Impact has been unplaced at two Group 1 outings since arriving from Japan and looks tested here. Was beaten as favourite last start when second in the Listed Scone Cup over 1600m.
Shillelagh
Shillelagh is a proven Group 1 performer but has been well beaten at her recent efforts in the top company. The Chris Waller trained mare is yet to win at 2000m but was beaten a nose when second in the Group 1 Australian Cup over 2000m at Flemington during the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival. Is a top class mare and can figure in the finish at her best.
Kenedna
Kenedna scored her maiden Group 1 win two starts back in the Coolmore Legacy Stakes over 1600m at Randwick on Day Two of The Championships but was then well beaten on a heavy track as the equal favourite in the 1800m A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast. Is a winner over the distance and can bounce back.
Youngstar
Youngstar has failed to hit the limelight since finishing second to her super star stablemate Winx in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at Flemington during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival. Youngstar is a winner over this course and distance and can improve back on a better racing surface.
Savvy Coup
Savvy Coup was a dual Group 1 winner in New Zealand but has failed to reach those heights again since arriving at Chris Waller’s stables. Has missed a place at her latest two outings at Doomben in Listed class and much tougher here.
Luvaluva
Luvaluva was Group 1 placed two starts back at Te Aroha in New Zealand before being well beaten when eighth in the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes over 1800m at the Gold Coast. Has drawn the outside gate and looks tested.
Gem Song
Kris Lees’ three year old colt Gem Song had been the early favourite for the Doomben Cup before his last start third in the 1600m Listed Members’ Handicap when he struggled into third place. Has to find plenty of improvement if he is going to redeem himself.
Sixties Groove
First emergency Sixties Groove looks way of his class. Was a last start third in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup over 1600m.
Order Again
Order Again is yet to be tested at Group 1 level. His latest outing produced a fifth in the 1600m Listed Members’ Handicap at Doomben.