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A perfect midfield barrier has boosted co-trainer Peter Snowden’s hopes of claiming his fourth Doomben 10,000 with rising star Mazu at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Mazu will be chasing his fifth successive win in the 1200 metre Group 1 feature, which was transferred from Doomben to Eagle Farm with fears of a rain deluge in the coming days.
The rail will be out seven metres at Eagle Farm, which is currently rated a Soft 6.
Mazu, a Sam Clipperton mount, was a $2.50 favourite before drawing barrier eight and could start shorter with an unbeaten record of three wins on heavy tracks.
The Doomben 10,00 attracted a field of 15 with top-weight Kementari drawing barrier three, Count Du Rupee (five) while Kiwi raider Entriviere drew poorly in gate 15.
Tony Gollan will have four starters with Vega One drawing the rails, Zoustyle (11), Isotope (13) and Baller (four) while Rob Heathcote's Group 1 sprinter Rothfire will jump from seven.
Mazu extended his winning sequence to four last start after claiming the Group 2 Arrowfield on a heavy track at Randwick on April 9.
Clipperton said the decision to transfer the meeting to Doomben would not impact Mazu.
"He's very versatile wet or dry or whether it's Doomben or Eagle Farm," Clipperton said.
"He's just a winner who knows how to get the job done.
"There's no doubt he's gone to another level since he was gelded."
A son of Maurice, Mazu will likely follow the Redzel path and chase a spot into The Everest in Sydney during the spring if he wins the Doomben 10,000.
Redzel won the Doomben 10,000 in 2017 and went on to win the $10 million The Everest at Randwick in October that year.
Snowden won his first Doomben 10,000 with Beaded in 2011 before Epaulette was successful in 2013.
He joined legendary trainer Bart Cummings and Harry Plant with his third winner Redzel after starting a joint training partnership with his son Paul.
Australian Hall Of Fame trainer Tommy Smith holds the record number of Doomben 10,000 wins with six.
Paul Snowden has always had a big opinion of Mazu and believes the decision to geld him has turned him into a real competitor.
"He's always possessed a lot of ability but he wasn't applying it to his trade," Snowden said.
"It wasn't until Redzel was gelded that her went on to do what he did and we'll be more than happy if this horse can do the same."
