Byrne going for Doomben G1 Double on Cylinder Beach in Doomben Cup

Doomben 10000 winning jockey Jim Byrne is going for an historic Doomben G1 Double on Saturday if he can win the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) on outsider Cylinder Beach.

Jockey Jim Byrne, above, will be chasing a Doomben G1 winning Double when he rides Cylinder Beach in the Doomben Cup at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Jockey Jim Byrne, above, will be chasing a Doomben G1 winning Double when he rides Cylinder Beach in the Doomben Cup at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The top Brisbane jockey was at his brilliant best last Saturday when he led all of the way on the Team Snowden trained Redzel to win the Group 1 $700,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10,000 (1200m).

Byrne has been aboard Cylinder Beach at his last two starts for a win in the $100,000 Toowoomba Cup (2000m) at Toowoomba on April 8 and a last start seventh to It’s Somewhat in the Group 2 $358,000 Attwood Marshall A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 6.

Eagle Farm trainer Desleigh Forster was happy with the effort of Cylinder Beach in the A.D. Hollindale Stakes and said the four year old should have finished closer to the winner than the three lengths that appears in the form guide.

“I thought it was a very good run in the Hollindale as he was beaten three lengths. There were a lot of hard luck stories but I felt we should have also finished a lot closer,” Forster told AAP.

“The Hollindale is usually a pretty good guide to the Doomben Cup so it will be very interesting to see how things stack up this year.”

“Brisbane has a real shortage of genuine Group One horses to contest our big races. But I think Cylinder Beach is one of them.”

Cylinder Beach is marked at $21 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Doomben Cup and will be up against A.D. Hollindale winner It’s Somewhat again who is on the second line of betting at $4.50.

French import Articus is the firm $4.20 favourite but there is some doubt if he will take his place in the field as trainer Darren Weir is having some trouble securing suitable transport to Queensland from his Victorian country base.

Articus put himself back into Doomben Cup contention with a tough win in the $100,000 Chairman’s Club Handicap (1800m) at Flemington on May 6.

Early market order for the Doomben Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Articus, $4.50 It’s Somewhat, $7 Sense Of Occasion, Single Gaze, $8 Star Exhibit, $11 Amelie’s Star, Benzini, McCreery, $13 Maurus, $15 Preferment, Vanbrugh, $17 Life Is Ordinary, Mime, Ventura Storm, $21 Cylinder Beach, Sons Of John, $26 Astronomos, Rudy, $34 or better the rest.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.