Chris Waller produced the Quinella in last year’s G1 Doomben Cup with Beaten Up and Foreteller and this year, he’ll be hoping his two runners entered for the $500k feature, Moriarty and Junoob can repeat the feat. Both are coming of good performances in the G2 Hollindale Stakes a fortnight ago, the first start for each of them in a month, and unlike last start both will be hoping for firmer footing for Saturday’s race. Junoob is rated a $6 chance in early markets with Moriarty at $11. Early favourite for the race is Leebaz from the all-conquering Hawkes Training establishment. The Zabeel gelding has been guided carefully throughout his nine start career, of which he has won six, and after winning the Hawkesbury Gold Cup last start he has been deemed ready for the top grade. Punters believe he’ll meet the challenge and he has opened up the joint $4.40 favourite alongside Streama. Guy Walter’s mighty mare won the Hollindale Stakes last start and if successful, will emulate the feat of Metal Bender who won the Hollindale/Doomben Cup double in 2010.
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1. MORIARTY – C Newitt (7)
Second up this campaign he finished third in the G2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) behind Appearance suggesting he was sent for a good prep however, in this subsequent runs, not all as panned out as expected for the 6yo. He was ridden upside down in the Chipping Norton and finished 3.7 lengths behind Silent Achiever in a muddling run Ranvet Stakes before batting home on the heavy track behind stable-mate Junoob, finishing fifth (2.5 lengths) in the G3 Neville Sellwood. He faced another heavy track last start in the Hollindale Stakes and got home as well as he could on that surface, finishing 1.9 lengths fifth behind Streama. He raced very well in Brisbane last year, claiming the G2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) and getting onto a drier track should see him produce his best. He’s a runner not to be overlooked.
2. FAT AL – C Munce (9)
Peter Moody’s galloper won the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo second up from a spell before heading to Sydney and finishing down the track in the G1 George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Mile where he finished fifteenth and seventh respectively. The son of Al Maher led at his most recent start, the G2 Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast a fortnight ago but weakened from that position in the run home on the heavy track, finishing seventh (5.7 lengths). Hard to see him filling in a place here on recent efforts, even on a firmer track.
3. MR. O’CEIREN – G Boss (10)
Not much was expected from this handy stayer when he resumed in the G3 Victoria Handicap over 1400m. He started 30/1 and was run off his feet by impressive winner Sistine Demon finishing eleventh in the field of fourteen and over eight lengths from the winner. He then travelled to the Gold Coast and stepped up to the 1800m of the G2 Hollindale Cup where from an on-pace position, he made eventual winner Streama work very hard for her victory, only failing to hold her out by half a length. Will strip fitter again and whilst the outside draw is not ideal, the lightly raced 6yo is improving all the time and has to be considered.
4. AKZAR – B Rawiller (6)
The 7yo made it four wins from six starts for Trainer Darren Weir with a very impressive six length win in the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) a fortnight ago. That followed two second placings behind Chris Waller’s highly promising Our Voodoo Prince. Improving with every outing this campaign and although this is his first go at Group 1 level and WFA conditions, he is going too well to leave out.
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5. JUNOOB – N Rawiller (3)
An improving stayer who claimed the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) by an impressive five lengths before ploughing through the heavy conditions at Rosehill to win the G3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) by a head over Hippopus. Trainer Chris Waller than gave his 6yo a month off before he lined up as the $3.20 for last fortnight’s G2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on the Gold Coast. Ran on a heavy track, Junoob was unable to accelerate in the straight but did close steadily to run fourth (1.8 lengths) from winner Streama. He can only be better for that run and on a drier surface, will be extremely hard to beat.
6. SLOW PACE – J Cassidy (5)
The former French galloper finished an impressive third (1/2 length) behind Mecir and Strawberry Boy in the G3 Newcastle Newmarket back in March when making his Australian debut for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees. He drew the outside gate in a field of 20 at his next start, the G1 Doncaster Mile and simply got too far back on the heavy track and his effort to thirteenth was fair. His next and most recent start was a good third in the JRA Plate (2000m) behind Spillway and Danchai. He was caught wide without cover in the run and was wider still rounding the turn. It was only inside that last 100m that his run petered out. Steps up to WFA here but hard to knock any of his Australian runs thus far and he’ll be afforded a lovely run from his draw on Saturday.
7. LEEBAZ – J McDonald
He scored the sixth win of his nine start career and his first at stakes level, with a solid ¾ length win in last fortnight’s Hawkesbury Cup (1600m). The Zabeel 4yo sat just off the speed and proved too strong for Wistful on the line. Won with something to spare last start and it was his first run in four weeks so expect him to make good improvement but he’ll have to as he takes a big step up in grade here, rises 5kgs under the WFA conditions and gets beyond a mile for the first time. Drawn barrier two suits as it’ll give McDonald the choice to lead or sit depending on the pace and the stable is in exceptional form but his opening price is skinny for mine.
8. STREAMA – B Shinn (8)
A tough, quality mare who at her first start over a mile since her 3yo season, took out the G2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on the Gold Coast a fortnight back. She chased Mr. O’Ceirin tenaciously on the heavy track to wear him down by half a length on the line. Reported to have worked exceptionally well earlier in the week and any sting out of the ground should be seen as a bonus.
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9. FLORIA – L Nolen (1)
After being beaten as favourite her first two runs back from a spell, she ventured to Sydney for the G2 Emancipation Stakes but after getting a lovely run behind the speed, failed to let down on the heavy track and finished seventh (4 lengths) behind Catkins. She then made the trek to Adelaide for the G2 Queen Of The Turf, run on a dead track, but again after having her chance, found at least one better and was beaten a head by Tango’s Daughter. Goes up considerably in class on that run and only comes down one kilo in weight under the WFA conditions.
10. ANGEL OF MERCY – D Browne (4)
Came back from Western Australian and to Gerald Ryan’s stable for the G2 Emancipation Stakes and ran a fantastic third (1.7 lengths) to Catkins, closing well along the fence from the tail of the field. The 5yo mare then headed to Brisbane and was simply too good for her opposition in the Listed Member’s Quality (1600m), rounding up her rivals in good style to win comfortably by a length. The then stepped up to the 1800m and the WFA conditions of the G2 Hollindale Stakes but found the challenge too tough, never threaten from her position in the second half of the field and finishing eighth (6.5 lengths) behind Streama. Hard to see her turning the tables on her and others from that race here.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Pace should come from those drawn wider out – Fat Al (9) and Mr. O’Ceirin (10) and Streama (8) with Leebaz holding his spot on the fence. Think Leebaz is a good risk here at $4.40. Going well but this is a step up again and there’s more than few runners in this race with legitimate chances. This may play right into the hands of Waller’s pair of Junoob and Moriarty who are both hoping for firmer footing. Junoob was good in the Hollindale on heavy track, his first start for a month whilst Moriarty could prove the forgotten horse. His last two have been on heavy, which he doesn’t prefer, with his last two WFA 2000m races read well for here. Streama has raced this campaign like the 2000m is what she is now after and will get her chance with a touch of luck from an awkward draw whilst Mr. O’Ceirin, who Streama defeated by a half a length, certainly has that margin of improvement in him and neither would mind some rain. Track was rated a good 3 on Wednesday with showers predicted for Thurs/Fri. On a dead track – promoting Streama and Mr. O’Ceirin if wet.
- MORIARTY
- STREAMA
- JUNOOB
- MR. O’CEIREN
In the news:
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is confident his long-range predictions of winter carnival success for new stable additions Hera and Slow Pace are on track.
Slow Pace will tackle the Group One Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday while Hera is among the favourites for the Group Two The Roses over the same trip.
Lees has said for months that punters would see the best of both horses in the winter.
French import Slow Pace has been ticking over nicely since he made his Australian debut with a third in the Newcastle Newmarket in March.
The six-year-old subsequently struggled to handle a very heavy Randwick track in the Doncaster Mile and was an unlucky third to Spillway in the JRA Plate.
“He didn’t have much luck (in the JRA Plate) and it was probably the run of the race. It should have topped him off nicely for Saturday,” Lees said.
“I think he compares favourably with other good stayers I have had at this stage of their careers.”
Lees hopes to have Slow Pace ridden midfield with cover and given the speed appears to be drawn outside him, the race could pan out favourably.
“I think we might have ridden him a bit close last time,” Lees said.
Hera, who was bought by Australian Bloodstock after she showed promise in New Zealand, was having her first start for Lees when fourth in the James H B Carr Stakes at Randwick in April.
“We bought Hera as a staying filly with the Queensland Oaks in mind and she has very strong New Zealand form,” Lees said.
“She has form around Rising Romance (who has) already won a Group One in Australia.”
Hera won twice as a two-year-old and finished second to Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance in a New Zealand stakes race in November.
She then turned the tables on Rising Romance in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic in December and at her last New Zealand start she claimed the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa on February 8.
The O’Reilly filly has had a barrier trial at Cessnock since her debut for Lees.
Jim Cassidy will ride the Lees-trained pair at Doomben.
