Winners For 2016 Doomben Cup Day

The Sydney Saturday meeting will be held at Rosehill this weekend. The course proper was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill will be racing on a Good track on raceday.

The Doomben Cup meeting will be held at Doomben on Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with fine weather forecast for Brisbane over the next couple of days, Doomben will be racing on a Good track on raceday.

Chris Munce can kick off the Doomben Cup meeting with a winner for Queensland in the opening event on Saturday (Brisbane Race 1, 1050m). The 3YO colt Wicked Intent has a good career winning strike rate winning 5 from 15 starts, and 4 wins with 2 placings from 7 starts over Saturday’s trip. Last start, Luke Dittman rode Wicked Intent to finish a good 2nd under a big weight over Saturday’s course & distance, and Dittman will be on board again on Saturday. Up in class but he’ll be down in the weight and that will really help Wicked Intent. Barrier 5 will allow Dittman to park Wicked Intent just behind the leaders and he’ll be finishing the race strongly.

Having basked in glory with his first Group 1 win with Yankee Rose, David Vandyke can once again come up a winner with Astronomos in the Herbert Smith Freehiils Hcp (Brisbane Race 2, 2000m). The lightly-raced 5YO resumed with a terrific 2nd when he got nosed out over a mile right here at Doomben.  Stepping up to 2000m will suit as he is unbeaten over this trip winning 2 from 2. Barrier 1 will be an advantage as Jason Collett can give Astronomos a cushy run mid-field along the fence. Despite carrying 60.5kg,  Astronomos looks the horse they all have to beat.

The Godolphin-owned filly Ambience looks primed to take out the Magic Millions The Roses (Brisbane Race 6, 2000m). The Street Cry filly is the class horse in this field having been racing in Group company throughout her career. She has been aimed at the Queensland Oaks after a game 2nd in the ATC Oaks. The 2000m after a six week break shouldn’t be a concern as she should have residual fitness from her Autumn campaign, and John O’Shea has kept the filly up to the mark by sending her over a 1250m trial 2 weeks ago. James McDonald can settle Ambience just behind the pace from barrier 4 and she should get a lovely run from there. Currently at $6.00 in the fixed odds market, Ambience is certainly a value bet.

The Donna Logan-trained Volkstok’n’barrell has worked himself back in-form and he is ready to take out the Doomben Cup on Saturday (Brisbane Race 7, 2000m).  After his failure in the Doncaster Handicap, the 4YO gelding has since ran a slashing 3rd coming from 2nd last at the turn in the Hollindale Cup (1800m). Volkstok’n’barrell has drawn much better in the Doomben Cup in barrier 5, and that will allow Blake Shinn to settle the gelding closer to the lead. Stepping up to 2000m will suit him even better as he has won twice from 3 attempts at the trip including last season’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas. With his powerful acceleration, Volkstok’n’barrell will be hard to hold out.

By Owens Wong, Editor

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