Doomben Cup preview: 25th May 2024

The Annabel Neasham stable will be looking at the record of Hollindale Stakes winners in the Doomben Cup when it launches a four-pronged attack on the Group 1 feature on Saturday.

Doomben Racecourse
Doomben Racecourse Picture: Michael McInally/Racing Queensland

Hollindale Stakes winners have almost a one in three record in the Doomben Cup with Neasham's' former star Zaaki, the last horse to complete the Hollindale-Doomben Cup double three years ago.

Neasham's four runners in the 2000-metre weight-for-age feature will be spearheaded by Hollindale Stakes winner Numerian- a Jamie Mott mount - along with Naval College, Fawkner Park and Bois D'Argent.

Numerian's win in the Hollindale Stakes was his first start since finishing a close fourth in the Perth Cup over 2400 metres at Ascot on January 1.

He gave Neasham an historic fourth straight Hollindale Stakes following Zaaki's previous three wins.

"It was a great win first-up from Numerian in the Hollindale and he's come on very well since," said Neasham's stable manager, Todd Pollard.

"He loves this track and we always thought he'd take more improvement out of his last run and he looks to have done so.

"The forecast for the rest of the week looks pretty good but it won't matter as he's versatile.

"He's definitely our number one seed but Fawkner Park is also a good chance."

Fawkner Park won the Listed Albury Cup over 2000 metres in March and was then freshened to claim the Listed Wagga Cup over the same trip on May 3.

The five-year-old son of Zoffany will repeat the feat of Lee Freedman's former Doomben Cup winner Abstraction who completed the Wagga Cup-Doomben Cup double in 1989.

"He was very impressive coming from last to win the Wagga Cup," Pollard said.

"He's another European import who we brought over and has a fair bit of class and has gone through the grades nicely.

"He was favourite for the (Group 1) Metropolitan at one stage last year but his form tailed off after he won his first four runs for us."

Meanwhile Shinn will join elite company if he can win the Doomben Cup on imported stayer Bois D'Argent.

Bois D'Argent is coming off a last start third to the Chris Waller-trained Bonny Ezra in the Gold Coast Cup over 2400 metres on May 11.

"He's coming back to 2000 metres which is more his go and he had to carry a lot of weight that day and is a good honest galloper," Pollard said.

Shinn will be shooting for his third Doomben Cup after back-to-back wins aboard the late Guy Walter-trained Streama and Gai Waterhouse's Pornichet in 2014/15.

If successful, Shinn will join Jim Casidy, Maurice McCarten, Kerrin McEvoy and the great George Moore as the only jockeys to win three Doomben Cups.


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