3 minute read
There are a number of meetings set to take place on Sunday with the feature race the Group 1 Doomben Cup.
Race 9 Doomben
Detonator Jack @ 6.00
Race 8 Doomben
Poifect @ 11.00
Race 7 Randwick
Passeggiata @ 3.80
Jack for Cup glory
The Doomben Cup over 2000m comes up as the penultimate race on a 10-race card with a soft 5 track expected for the 15-runner contest.
Kovalica is expected to jump as favourite having been freshened prior to delivering a third in the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes over 1800m at Sunshine Coast.
The gelding had previously finished 10-lengths fifth behind runaway winner Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick last month.
While Chris Waller's four-year-old rates highly, DETONATOR JACK is preferred, stepping up in distance here.
The gelding placed third when contesting the 1500m Ajax Stakes at Rosehill in March, while he went on to deliver a solid sixth in the Doncaster Mile last month.
The selection was beaten just over two lengths, having raced from off the pace in a 19-runner field that day prior to losing out by a narrow margin in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup.
The five-year-old placed second in that Hawkesbury contest and he has shaped as if a step up in distance would suit a number of times in the past.
The booking of James McDonald takes the eye here and, with a fair barrier in nine, he looks capable of steering the son Jakkalberry to victory.
Poifect for Roses success
The chief supporting race on the Doomben Cup undercard is the 2000m Group 2 ANZ Bloodstock News The Roses for three-year-old fillies.
A large field is expected to go to post for the race, with the Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott-trained Molly Bloom expected to have her supporters.
Blake Shinn, due to ride here, was on board when the pick triumphed in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic over 1600m at Pukekohe Park back in December.
The selection was spelled following a Group 2 success over this distance at Te Rapa two starts later and resumed with a good second in the Channel 7 Gold Coast Bracelet earlier this month.
The filly raced on a heavy 10 track over 1800m at Sunshine Coast that day and having caught the eye on her first Australian start she looks to hold strong claims in this field.
However, POIFECT I preferred for the Ben, JD & Will Hayes team in this contest having won each of her last two starts.
The selection proved she handles soft going when successful by a length over 1400m on a soft 5 track at Flemington in the first of those two outings.
The daughter of Pierro contested a Benchmark 70 handicap on that occasion but she found the step up to Listed company no issue when taking out the 1600m Adelaide Guineas subsequently.
Michael Dee's mount raced from the front at Morphettville when contesting the Adelaide Guineas and, following a comfortable success that day, steps up in distance here.
While a wide barrier isn't ideal, the pick remains open to improvement and she is selected to make her first start in Queensland a winning one.
Baker filly to score at Randwick
Away from Doomben, Randwick plays host to a competitive 10-race card with the seventh contest of the day a Benchmark 78 handicap over 1000m.
With an inside barrier allocation, PASSEGGIATA takes the eye for the Bjorn Baker team.
The filly showed good form during the 2022/23 season, winning three times, including in a Benchmark 78 handicap over this track and trip just under a year ago.
The four-year-old was spelled following a below par effort in a course and distance Benchmark 78 handicap in July last year.
The daughter of Winning Rupert trialled well under her jockey here Rachel King, prior to returning with a narrow defeat under King in a 900m event at Newcastle earlier this month.
The selection lost out by one-and-a-half-lengths on that occasion and she is taken to make amends for that defeat by delivering a victory in this contest.
