Favourite Articus is certain to get a good run after drawing barrier eight in the capacity field for the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Articus, above, has drawn barrier 8 in the Doomben Cup at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
A field of sixteen plus two emergencies make up the final numbers for the Doomben Cup with Articus being one of three entrants for the Darren Weir stable, the others being Star Exhibit and Amelie’s Star.
Brenton Avdulla has secured the ride on Articus, taking over from Brad Rawiller who is riding the Goodwood favourite Black Heart Bart at Morphettville on Saturday.
Articus finally found some winning form for Rawiller last start with a one length win in the $100,000 Chairman’s Club Handicap (1800m) at Flemington on May 6.
Blake Shinn also takes over from Rawiller on Star Exhibit who drew barrier four while John Allen replaces Damian Lane on Amelie’s Star from barrier ten.
The Darren Beadman trained It’s Somewhat with English jockey James Doyle in the saddle has also drawn nicely at barrier six and will have no trouble finding a position in or near the lead from that gate.
It’s Somewhat is the winner of his last three starts which includes an all the way win two starts back in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 1 followed by another win from the front in the Group 2 $358,000 Attwood Marshall A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 6.
The Chris Waller trained Doomben Cup trio all drew double figure barriers with Vanbrugh (Glyn Schofield) the best at barrier twelve, McCreery (Kerrin McEvoy) at barrier fifteen and Preferment (Hugh Bowman) at seventeen.
Hollindale Stakes runner up Single Gaze has also drawn in the second half of the field at fourteen with regular rider Kathy O’Hara in the saddle again.
Local Doomben Cup hope Cylinder Beach will jump from next to Single Gaze at barrier thirteen for Jim Byrne who is looking to ride the Doomben Group 1 double after steering the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Redzel to an all the way win in last Saturday’s Group 1 $700,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1200m).
The Gold Coast trained Rudy, with Tim Clark to ride, looks set to jump from the inside gate after the second emergency Auvray drew barrier one.
Final Field for the 2017 Doomben Cup (2000m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3x4313x111 | IT’S SOMEWHAT (USA) | Darren Beadman | James Doyle | 6 | 59kg | 115 |
| 2 | x4540x60x4 | PREFERMENT (NZ) | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 17 | 59kg | 115 |
| 3 | 454x12x336 | SENSE OF OCCASION | Kris Lees | Corey Brown | 18 | 59kg | 109 |
| 4 | x549169x64 | VANBRUGH | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 12 | 59kg | 105 |
| 5 | x4241211x1 | STAR EXHIBIT | Darren Weir | Blake Shinn | 4 | 59kg | 102 |
| 6 | 1162×15649 | MCCREERY (GB) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 15 | 59kg | 107 |
| 7 | 90×1211717 | CYLINDER BEACH (NZ) | Desleigh Forster | Jim Byrne | 13 | 59kg | 105 |
| 8 | 14x6256x23 | BENZINI | Adrian & Harry Bull | Kelly McCulloch | 3 | 59kg | 103 |
| 9 | 5159028×33 | MAURUS (GB) | John P Thompson | Damian Browne | 16 | 59kg | 104 |
| 10 | x277x41244 | ASTRONOMOS (GB) | John P Thompson | Blake Spriggs | 11 | 59kg | 100 |
| 11 | 18313×7092 | EMPHASIS | Richie Stephenson | Ronnie Stewart | 9 | 59kg | 88 |
| 12 | 31215x0x01 | ARTICUS (FR) | Darren Weir | Brenton Avdulla | 8 | 59kg | 106 |
| 13 | x5474x3435 | RUDY | Helen Page | Tim Clark | 2 | 59kg | 102 |
| 14 | 211Fx70312 | SINGLE GAZE | Nick Olive | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 14 | 57kg | 109 |
| 15 | 46741×0903 | JESSY BELLE | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Bobby El-Issa | 5 | 57kg | 99 |
| 16 | 421111×421 | AMELIE’S STAR | Darren Weir | John Allen | 10 | 57kg | 102 |
| 17e | 211x480x35 | SOUND PROPOSITION (NZ) | Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott | Opie Bosson | 7 | 59kg | 98 |
| 18e | 740x0080x5 | AUVRAY (FR) | Richard Freedman | – | 1 | 59kg | 96 |
