Tom Melbourne, a horse with peculiar traits(according to his co-owner Tom Henderson) and a huge fan following is the top contender for this week’s, A$650,000 Doomben Cup.
Although the horse has lucked out in the last two editions of this event, his trainer Chris Waller is confident in his ability. The Australian Hall of Famer has had Tom for just the last 12 weeks. But they have been enough for Waller to make the son of Dylan Thomas. It is to be remembered that Tom’s sire won the prestigious Gr.1 Prix De l'Arc de Triomphe (2007), Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes, Gr.1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Gr.1 Prix Ganay and the Alleged Stakes in his final season.
“If you can go on his trials, he has come back very well and I couldn’t be happier with him at this stage,” said the trainer. “We’re going to the races thinking we’ve got a top-three horse”.
And he should know, considering he has handled Australia’s national treasure Winx and her career excellently.
To muddy the waters a bit for Tom Melbourne’s ambitions is Ambitious.
Connections of the Japanese raider hope to use the Doomben Cup (2017) as a stepping stone to a tilt at the Cox Plate (2018), which is also expected to be contested by Defending champion mare Winx.
The Anthony Freedman trained colt, came runner up behind Almadin in the H.E. Tancred Stakes (2018) and beat Japanese champion Kitsan Black in April 2016.
One of Queensland’s best, Jim Byrne hope to guide Mick Price trained Oregon’s Day to the jockey’sfirst group one victory. “I think she’s going to be extremely competitive,” says Byrne of his mount.
Another Japanese horse in the running is Waller-trained Satono Rasen, who ran well in the Hollindale and has improved sincethen. This could a challenging run but it is not an unimaginable to see him land at the top of this field.
The top rated Godolphin horse It’s Somewhat headlined the list of runners until a day ago. The colt was scratched due to fever. It is perhaps the absence of last year’s Doncaster Cup winner which creates anopportunity for the others to come sweeping in to take the crown.
Abbey Marie is set to bow out of racing after the Doomben Cup. She features in the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale catalogue, scheduled later this month. But trainer Mike Kent is confident of her ability to make her bow with a bang. Abbey Marie missed the Hollindale due to an issue with her foot which has now been resolved. but Kent believes there’s been numerous times where she should have snapped the losing streak, including her last-start fifth in the Coolmore Legacy.
This Saturday is a treat for horse racing fans with three Gr.1 races scheduled in three of the largest racing centers around the world.
Click here to read Preview Of Gr.1 Preakness Stakes and Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes.
It's somewhat (james cummings), Comin' through (chris waller), Ambitious (anthony freedman), Tom melbourne (chris waller), One foot in heaven (chris waller), Man of his word (bruce hill), Satono rasen (chris waller), Life less ordinary (chris waller), Violate (brent stanley), Tradesman (darren weir), Egg tart (chris waller), Oregon's day (mick price), Abbey marie (michael kent)
Click here to watch Doomben Cup 2017. (Sense Of Occasion)
List of last three Doomben Cup winners:
1.2017 Sense of Occasion
2.2016 Our Ivanhowe
3.2015 Pornichet
Race Info:
Distance 2,000 metres, Surface Turf, Track Right-handed, Qualification Horses three years old and older, Weight Weight for Age, Purse A$650,000 (2018)
Credit: Pallavi Shevade-pallavi.shevade@secretaristworld.com