Veteran WA galloper Scenic Shot stole the spotlight at the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival’s 2011 Doomben Cup Day last Saturday, the rising nine-year-old winning the feature race of the meet – the Doomben Cup – for the second time.
The Daniel Morton-trained Scenic gelding won the 2009 Doomben Cup by a nose two years ago and last Saturday the gallant galloper showed they could still match it with the best.
Scenic Shot ($6.50) was again ridden by Shane Scriven, aboard for their previous Doomben Cup victory, and in a brave run that saw experience and knowledge of the track prevail, the dynamic duo produced a powerful late burst to win the $500,000 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m).
It was a blanket finish with highly-fancied imports My Kingdom Of Fife ($4.40) and Glass Harmonium ($3.70 EF) running one-two, less than a half-length separating the winning 2011 Doomben Cup trifecta.
Fourth placegetter was Shootoff, the Graeme Rogerson-trained Duelled three-year-old far from disgraced and still able to maintain their favouritism for the upcoming Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap Day.
Shootoff sits at the top of the early Queensland Derby odds at $5 through Luxbet followed by another Doomben Cup Day winner, brilliant Kiwi filly Scarlett Lady at $6.50.
Also prepared by Graeme Rogerson, New Zealand-based Savabeel filly Scarlett Lady travelled to Brisbane to begin her Queensland Oaks campaign and was the impressive winner of the traditional Oaks lead-up last Saturday.
Saluting in her fifth straight turf triumph, Scarlett Lady ($3.80) beat a crack field of fellow three-year-old fillies in the $175,000 Group 3 The Roses (2020m).
She was three quarters of a length clear of the Chris Waller-trained Savannah’s Choice ($61) while Peter Snowden’s $2.40 favourite Divorces was a fast finishing third.
Scarlett Lady now leads the Luxbet markets for the $400,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) paying $3.60 to win the Eagle Farm classic on June 4.
Other notable Doomben Cup Day 2011 results and winners from Saturday May 21 included:
Doomben Race 3 – Peter Snowden’s Free Wheeling ($8.50) winning the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) and earning a shot at Group 1 glory in the upcoming TJ Smith, continuing Darley’s dominance in the two-year-old races this year.
Doomben Race 6 – Woorim ($7), prepared by leading local trainer Robert Heathcote, scoring a gritty win in the Group 3 Darley BRC Sprint (1350m) and in turn receiving a 1kg penalty to secure a start in Queensland’s richest sprint feature the $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 11. Woorim was slashed into an $8.50 chance in the Stradbroke odds at Luxbet.
The action of the Brisbane Winter Carnival continues this Saturday, May 28, with Doomben 10,000 Day.
Hay List is the raging favourite to win the highlight race of the day, the $650,000 Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) running as Doomben Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEDST).
Check out all the exclusive odds and betting markets open for the meeting now at Luxbet!
