Hauraki draws the rails in 2016 Doomben Cup

The John O’Shea trained Hauraki has drawn the rails in the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Hauraki, above, has drawn the rails in the Doomben Cup at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

Hauraki, above, has drawn the rails in the Doomben Cup at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

Hauraki will be up against Leebaz again in the ten horse Doomben Cup field after finishing second to Team Hawkes trained front runner in the Group 2 $358,000 All-New Jaguar F-Pace A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 7.

Hauraki has been placed four out his last five starts and Godolphin’s Australian Managing Director Henry Plumtree has shrugged off suggestions that the Reset four year old is a non-winner.

“We tend not to worry about those things too much and try and let the horses do the talking,” Plumtree told The Courier-Mail.

“He’s probably one of those horses that needs to hit the front and find the winning post too quickly to do anything about it.”

“On his day he’s a very good horse. John (O’Shea) pointed out last week at the Gold Coast he was four weeks between runs and that was a telling thing. He probably just ran out of condition.

“By the same token the winner is a good horse when they get him right and they flagged through the week they had him right.

“I think the Doomben Cup is a good race for him.”

James McDonald takes the ride again on Hauraki while Michael Cahill has recovered from a nasty fall in the Group 1 $500,000 BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben last Saturday and will partner Leebaz again after they combined to win the A.D. Hollindale Stakes.

O’Shea will also saddle up It’s Somewhat (barrier 9) who will also wear the Godolphin royal blue colours in the Doomben Cup with Damian Browne retaining the mount after the pair ran fifth to Leebaz in the A.D Hollindale Stakes.

Team Hawkes will also have two runners with Messene drawing barrier four with Brisbane’s leading apprentice Jimmy Orman to ride.

Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will saddle up French import Spiritjim and former Kiwi trained mare Lady Le Fay.

Hugh Bowman will make a flying visit back from Japan to ride Spiritjim who drew barrier three while Jason Collett goes back onto Lady Le Fay who will jump from gate seven.

Lee and Anthony Freedman are looking for another Winter Carnival Group 1 win with German import Our Ivanhowe after Malaguerra scored a narrow win for the stable in the BTC Cup last Saturday.

Kerrin McEvoy will again be aboard Our Ivanhowe who has drawn barrier six in the Doomben Cup.

Multiple Group 1 winner Volkstok’N’Barrell has drawn barrier five with Blake Shinn to ride and the Robert Smerdon trained Noble Protector will jump from gate eight with Tim Clark in the saddle.

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.