Doomben Cup Tips & Betting Preview

Some pretty serious amount (25mm) of rain put this race meeting under threat but at the moment it is still all systems go for the 2000mtrs race that was first run back in 1933. With sixteen runners and two reserves cherry picking is the name of the game with a run down of those who look to have the better chances.

IN SUMMARY: Trainer Darren Beadman has replaced John O’Shea as the number one Godolphin trainer in Australia and has the likely winner here with IT’S SOMEWHAT who is looking for his fourth win on the bounce here. James Doyle is getting a loyal following Down Under and can reward them with a big race win with Articus the most likely to chase him home according to the local betting and Sense Of Occasion an interesting each way alternative.

Looking through the long card of runners, trouble in running could well become a bit of an issue, but that It’s Somewhat is more than happy bowling along at the head of affairs, that can stand him in good stead here. James Doyle rides him for the first time which is the only negative with a head win in the A.D Hollindale Stakes a mere prep race for this bigger and better target. Front runners do well here and he is the one they all have to beat though it is a competitive field and he will not have things all his own way.

Articus has been flip-flopping for favouritism since the final declarations list and looked to be back to his very best last time out in the Chairman’s Club Handicap and could well be a very serious challenger. He seems likely to improve again for that run which must be what punters are assuming but he looks to need to find a few pounds more to get close to the selection and looks way too short in the betting in the circumstances.

At the current odds Amelie’s Star could be seen as a value alternative to those at the top of the betting markets and Darren Weir’s supposed second string (see Articus) could well pull off a shock here. She took an age to get going under a tender ride from Damian Lane before taking the Queen Of The South Stakes last time out at Morphettville by half a length over 1600mtrs but has always looked as if this trip would bring about a lot more improvement and she ought to prove up to a place at least, if everything pans out in her favour.

At the risk of looking like the Darren Weir fan club he has a third entry with a solid chance in the shape of Star Exhibit who won last time out, albeit by just a nose from Neverland at Ascot in December. That was over 1440mtrs so this is a leap of faith regarding the 2000mtrs trip but on breeding there is no real reason to think she won’t get home (by Statue Of Liberty out of a Jeune mare), and she is a bit of an unknown quantity here who could bely her price.

With the rain mentioned a potential thorn in the side of some, Sense Of Occasion comes into the mix and it needs to be noted that this will be his first run over 2000mtrs since a superb third to Winx and Hartnell in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Some see that as a possible one off and on his other form they could well be correct, but he likes plenty of cut in the ground which he will most certainly get here and could yet be the one most likely to cause an upset and is well worthy of some serious each way consideration.

If the sodden ground turns this into a war which may well happen if they go off too fast from the off, then Benzeni has to come in to calculations with plenty of solid form to his name. His sixth to Satono Crown in the Hong Kong Vase last December reads well enough as does his prep race second to Lizzie L’Amour at Ellerslie in New Zealand last time out and with improvement assured for his first run in three months he could well threaten the places again this afternoon if he handles the going, of course.

Maurus rounds off our race preview for trainer John Thompson with Damian Browne in the saddle and although he has a bit to find after two third places recently, he does look as if he has been trained specifically for this contest. His wide draw will almost certainly mean he will have to shuffle back and then track across early but the step up in trip seems ideal and he is yet another who won’t be far away if handling the ground.