Early markets for the final race on the card at Doomben this Saturday, the G3 Premier’s Cup, suggest that Precedence can record back-to-back victories in the race. The rising 9yo took out last year’s edition carrying 57.5kgs and after a G2 and G3 win during the spring, has been allocated a hefty 59.5kgs for his defence.
By Zabeel, Precedence has won three of his last five races at this distance or above and at $4.40, shares favourites with another Zabeel gelding in Zephyron. Impeccably bred, 5yo Zephyron will be lining up for only his sixteenth career start but demonstrated his staying potential with a strong win last start in the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill.
This race hasn’t been kind to punters in its short history though. First run in 2006, no favourite has won the Premier’s Cup with the shortest priced winner being Coalesce, who was the inaugural winner, and Reggie (2009) who both saluted at $7.00 Since then, the likes of Fantastic Blue ($71), Shuffle The Cash ($9.50), Theseo ($10.00) and Precedence ($15) have frustrated punters.
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1. PRECEDENCE – G Colless (12)
The evergreen galloper produced a fantastic effort first up off a 22 week spell, finishing strongly from the tail of the field to claim third in the G2 Hollindale Stakes. Winner of that race Streama, has franked the form since and Precedence can only be better for the outing. Draw makes it awkward but does relish his time in Qld and another big effort would not surprise.
2. WALDPARK – D Browne (6)
A former imported galloper who failed to impress at any of his four starts last spring which culminated in him running seventeenth in the Caulfield Cup. A spell since then would have helped the Dubawi stallion acclimatise further but still needed to see more than he produced at his first up run a month ago, to support him here.
3. MILITARY MOVE – (9)
New Zealand galloper who had been building a strong record at home before crossing the Tasman to contest the G2 Hollindale Stakes three weeks ago. WFA conditions and a wet track didn’t suit and he made no impression from the back of the field, finishing over a dozen lengths from the winner Streama. Back to a handicap, up in distance and on a firmer track (hasn’t won on anything but good rated surfaces), should give the opportunity to display significant improvement but as yet, still unproven at this level.
4. ZENNISTA – M Du Plessis (2)
6yo New Zealand mare back for another Brisbane campaign after a successful one last year. She prepared as she did last year, with two runs at home before lining up in the G3 Chairman’s Handicap Slugged with 59kgs, she felt that weight late in the Chairman’s and was unable to improve from her on-pace position in the run home, finishing sixth (5.3 lengths) behind Pretty Pins. Back to handicap conditions suits, drawn well and ran a close up fourth to Precedence last year. Can bounce back.
5. LAUREN TATE – J Taylor (14)
Another Kiwi who made her Australian racing debut in the G3 Chairman’s Handicap a fortnight ago, running fourth (2.7 lengths) to Pretty Pins. She is only a lightly raced 4yo mare who is improving with every run but maybe not at a rate that will negate the deeper class of this race and gate 14.
6. PRETTY PINS – R Wiggins (4)
Showed very little in several starts on slow track in Sydney during the Sydney Carnival and, being only moderately better when fifth (3.1 lengths) in the Listed Member’s Quality (1600m) when coming to Brisbane, she was rated an outside chance in last fortnight’s G3 Chairman’s Quality (2000m). The Pins mare however, relished the combination of a dry track and stepping up in distance, finishing hard to win by two lengths. Drawn well here and last start might have her on the right track.
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7. ZEPHYRON – G Boss (3)
Didn’t enjoy the wet conditions of the G3 JRA Plate and only paddled through the going when eleventh (11.8 lengths) before a vastly improved effort at his following start, on a dead rated track, when successful in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill. The Zabeel 5yo toughed it out well after settling handy to a solid speed and defied the challengers of I’m Imposing and Secessio to win by a head. The lightly raced gelding has drawn to take up a similar position and fourth up from a spell, looks well prepared for this race. Should be in this for a long way.
8. DANCHAI – T Bell (7)
Chris Waller’s sole representative in the race, the 5yo former import gives the impression that his very close to his first Australian win. He saved plenty of ground by sticking to the fence when second to the impressive Spillway in the JRA Plate (2000m) before having his chance in the Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben a fortnight ago, when second again this time to Pretty Pins. Had to race wide from the 500m last start whilst the winner saved ground along the fence. Drops further 2.5kgs and the additional 200m of this race is ideal. He can easily go one better here.
9. SKYSOBLUE – J Bryne (13)
6yo New Zealand mare who has left her home-land for the first time off the back of some strong staying performances this year. She ran second in both the G2 Wellington Cup and G2 Avondale Cup (both over 2400m) earlier in the year with her most recent start being a third to Lauren Tate in the G2 Travis Stakes (2000m). That was her first run for a month and only second since early March so would expect would expect her to probably need this run as well.
10. HEARTFELT QUEST – K McEvoy (15)
He won three in a row early this year in restricted grades before stepping up to the better quality races and handling himself well. Len Treloar’s Show A Heart gelding ran second to Brave Ali in the Listed JRA Tails before, at his most recent outing, finishing fifth (4 lengths) behind Pretty Pins. A good effort considering he reared at the start and closed from near last. Improving type but takes on a stronger field again here and does so from the widest gate.
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11. RAEBURN – A Allen (8)
After two good runs back from a spell, both in Open Class, the 9yo had every chance when stepping up in grade and finishing fourth (2 lengths) behind Brave Ali in the Listed JRA Tails Stakes (2128m). He was then well accounted for in the G3 Chairman’s Handicap where he failed to make any ground in the run home from the second half of the field. Will struggle off of that run.
12. VESPER – E Wilkinson (5)
It has been a long time since this 7yo, who has only had five starts since June 2012, has performed well. Neither of his two runs back form an eleventh month spell, in much weaker grade than this event, would suggest he is a chance.
13. PERFECT START – R Hutchings
Yet another Kiwi visitor, this 4yo mare finished midfield in the G3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) a fortnight ago at her first Australian start. Generally races over a mile, last start was only her second attempt at a 2000m race in her career and as she was on her first attempt, appeared to comfortably accounted for. Her stats and last start effort are against her here.
14. FREEZY – M Cahill (1)
Anthony Freedman trained runner who makes the trip up from Victoria after narrowly winning a RST 84 (1610m) at Flemington before, on a slow track, working home doggedly to run fifth (3 lengths) in the Listed Centaurea Stakes a fortnight ago. Goes beyond 2000m for the first time since he came out from Europe in 2013 and on recent efforts, should be well handled by the quality of this field.
15. TRAJET – C Munce (10)
He hasn’t ran a place in four starts since returning from a twelve week let-up and weakened poorly from the front in the Wagga Gold Cup at his most recent start three weeks ago, finishing fourteenth in the filed of sixteen. Will rightly start big odds.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Very even race to finish of 10,000 Stakes Day and it is Precedence and Zephyron leading the market at $4.40 with the latter getting the nod. Team Hawkes have prepared and placed their horses to perfection over the past few months and this Zabeel gelding appears to be no exception. Strong win last start and on the better track and drawn to get the ideal run here. Expect a better effort from Zennista who drops down to 55.5kgs here from the 59kgs of last start, a weight she hasn’t been close to carrying since she comfortably won last year’s Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m).
- ZEPHYRON
- ZENNISTA
- DANCHAI
- PRECEDENCE