DOOMBEN PREVIEW May 22, 2010 DOOMBEN CUP (WFA 2020M) Race 7, 3.45pm (Brisbane time) In recent years, one race has been the best guide to finding the Doomben Cup (wfa 2020m) winner, the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes, run over 1800m at the Gold Coast. In the last 18 years, eight horses have completed the weight-for-age double, starting with the enduring champion Rough Habit, who took the double in 1991 and 1992 – in 1993 he also won the Doomben Cup, but on his way could only managed second in the Hollindale. The following year, Lee Freedman trained Durbridge to take the Hollindale-Doomben Cup double, and in 1998 Might And Power, at the peak of his powers, trounced his rivals in both races. The most recent horse to take the double was Above Deck in 2006. This year’s Hollindale Stakes was won by Metal Bender, who will back up in the Doomben Cup. Personally, I expected Road To Rock to win the Hollindale – my speed map of the race had him poised behind the leaders, but it didn’t work out that way. The entire, with jockey Stathi Katsidis, in the saddle, settled well back on the fence, while Metal Bender, who I expected to be behind Road To Rock, found himself in the box seat. And so, the race was won and run as predicted, but the wrong horse was in the best position. I think Road To Rock, with Damien Oliver returning to the saddle, will be a significantly harder horse to beat this time out. He won the other main leadup race to the Doomben Cup – the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (wfa 2000m,
Randwick) – with ease. Four others have won the QE Stakes-Doomben Cup double – Sarrera (2008), Intergaze (1999), Might And Power (1998), Rough Habit (1992) – and all but Sarrera also run in the Hollindale. I have watched the video replays of New Zealand 3YO colt Sir Time Keeper’s last six starts and he’s a horse on the rise. It took him 18 starts to win a race, but he has won five of his last eight starts, including beating the older horses at weight-for-age over 2000m in the Easter Cup at Ellerslie. Like his stablemate, the tough, old campaigner Sir Slick, Sir Time Keeper likes to do the work up front, so his dice for early supremacy for the lead with Gold Water will be one intriguing aspect of the race. It wouldn’t surprise me if Sir Time Keeper blows them away and emerges as a significant Cox Plate contender. Metal Bender again will run well. He got all the breaks at the Gold Coast, but this will be a tougher assignment. It’s good that he’s back to the good form of last year when he won the Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas. The hardy campaigners Vision And Power and Triple Honour haven’t won for ages, but their recent form is encouraging enough to consider them a chance. Gerald Ryan’s Ready To Lift can’t be underestimated – she will be fitter for two recent runs, and she will relish the 2000m and a likely fast tempo. Doctor Fremantle needs to show some form before we start to tip him. The tips: Road To Rock to bounce back from Sir Time Keeper, Metal Bender and Ready To Lift.
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Predicted positions on settling
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AND ALSO Here’s one from the far left of left field to follow at Caulfield tomorrow – apprentice Jack Hill, who looks to have four chances among his six rides. The best could be Light V ision for his master, Robert Smerdon, at $8 in the Responsible Gambling Cup over 2000m. (Hope the race name doesn’t put you off the tip ... and this column!) Light Vision drops weight on his solid Warrnambool Cup run, and if he’s anywhere near his old best he is eachway all day. Hill’s other hopes are last-start winner Broken ($4, R4) for Darren Weir; perhaps Star Scream ($13), one of Peter Moody’s trio in the fifth; and T in dal ($5.50, R7), back with Lloyd Williams’ private trainer Robert Hickmott after he didn’t make the cut with Gai Waterhouse in Sydney. If you get a collect, you might like to chip in for young Hill’s mobile phone bill – he’s on three phone-related charges from Sandown on Wednesday. Looking north, the jock to follow is Corey Brown, who since his return from a broken shoulder has ridden eight winners (at Hawkesbury, Scone, Wyong and Kembla Grange) but has not saluted in town. Tomorrow at Rosehill is the time and place, and And Also’s suggestion is that you have no hesitation in following him until he breaks through. The Clarry Conners-trained No Hesitat ion just might be the value in Brown’s full book – it’s at $7.50 in R2. Otherwise, celebrate with The Par ty Stand (about $3 in R5). Stephen Howell