The Doomben Cup meeting will be held at Doomben this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with 20-45mm of rain forecast for Brisbane leading up to the weekend, Doomben is highly likely to be racing in the Heavy range on raceday.
Prompt Return is a pure speedster and the 1050m Chief De Beers Handicap should suit (Brisbane Race 3, 1050m). The Gold Coast-trained gelding has a good record at Doomben winning twice from 3 starts and he also has a good record at the distance. Although previously he failed to fire on a Heavy 9 track, he did win well on a Soft 7 track. With a strong pace up front, Jeff Lloyd will park the gelding mid-field and Prompt Return will finish the race strongly.
Tactical Advantage is the class horse in the Harding Steel Plate and he should perform accordingly (Brisbane Race 4, 1200m). The Sydney visitor has started off this preparation with a bang winning 4 straight races, before he failed to run on in the Darby Munro Stakes on a bottomless track. In his latest run on 8th April, the 3YO was held up for clear running, and was checked when disappointed for a run passing the 400m eventually finishing 8th. James Cummings has given the gelding a freshen up since. Under the set weight condition and nicely drawn in barrier 2, Glyn Schofield will put Tactical Advantage just behind the pace and he will be hard to hold out.
Consistent filly Kenedna has been in great form this prep and she looks the horse to beat in The Magic Millions Roses (Brisbane Race 6, 2000m). After finishing 3rd in the Kewney Stakes, Darren Weir has sent the filly to Adelaide where Kenedna won her first two starts before she was beaten nose by that good filly Egg Tart in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks over this trip. Though she has never started on Heavy track, Kenedna is by prolific wet track sire Not A Single Doubt so I expect her to handle the anticipated wet condition. Hard fit and has drawn well in gate 4, Kenedna will be the one they all have to beat.
The Doncaster winner It’s Somewhat is looking to win his 4th race on the trot in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (Brisbane Race 7, 2000m). The English import has really come of age winning all 3 starts this preparation. The gelding won well 1st up in the Ajax Stakes before he led all the way in taking out the Doncaster Handicap on a Heavy 8 track. Last start, he took out the Hollindale Stakes (1800m) which has long been the ideal lead-up race for the Doomben Cup. Trainer Darren Beadman has mentioned earlier in the week that It’s Somewhat “still seems to have some freshness in his legs”. It’s Somewhat is proficient in wet condition and stepping up to 2000m 4th up is perfect. From barrier 6, it’s likely that It’s Somewhat is going to employ the same tactics and go straight to the front, and he will be hard to catch. Beadman is likely to win his first Group 1 race as a trainer in the Doomben Cup.
By Owens Wong, Editor
