The field for the Group 1 $650,000 The Bundaberg Rum Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben today stays intact with fifteen runners to compete on a soft 5 rated track under sunny skies.
Pornichet remains at the top of the market order for the Doomben Cup. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Pornichet remains at the top of the market order with Ladbrokes.com.au at $4.20 just ahead of last year’s Doomben Cup runner up Leebaz at $5.
The highest rated of Chris Waller’s five runners, I’m Imposing, is the next in the betting at $8 with multiple Group 1 winning Kiwi mare Silent Achiever marked at $8.50.
Waller’s remaining four are Foreteller at $10, Moriarty at $15, Hawkspur at $16 and Weary at $19 while the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Gypsy Diamond is marked as a $12 chance.
Waterhouse won the Doomben Cup with Juggler in 1996 and rates Pornichet in the same mould as the multiple Group 1 winner.
“I think he’s a very special horse just like Juggler was,” Waterhouse told The Courier-Mail.
“They are similar in size and like Juggler, this horse has a terrific temperament.
“Every preparation he has improved in quantum leaps.”
Waterhouse has great ambitions for Pornicheet if he lives up to her expectations and is eyeing off the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in the Spring.
“I’ve said for some time I think he can make a Cox Plate horse. He has to win the Doomben Cup to justify that, but I think he’s up to it,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s right in the race and I love back-up horses.’’
Doomben Cup market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Pornichet, $5 Leebaz, $8 I’m Imposing, $8.50 Silent Achiever, $10 Foreteller, $12 Gypsy Diamond, $15 Moriarty, $16 Hawkspur, $18 Green Moon, $19 Weary, Epingle, $26 Hopfgarten, $34 Banca Mo, $51 Escado, $61 Addictive Habit.
