No Doomben 10,000 for Voodoo Lad

A change of plans by trainer Darren Weir will see Voodoo Lad miss taking his place in the Group 1 $700,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Voodoo Lad,above, won't run in the Doomben 10,000 at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Voodoo Lad,above, won’t run in the Doomben 10,000 at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

A disappointed weight for age campaign over the Sydney Autumn Carnival has convinced Weir that Voodoo Lad would be better suited under the handicap conditions of the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.

“He likes it wet but couldn’t fire. He mightn’t be a weight-for-age galloper so we’ll concentrate on the Stradbroke Handicap instead,” Weir told the Herald Sun.

Voodoo Lad resumed from a spell for a great first up effort to run second to Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 11.

Weir then headed to Sydney with the five year old who had good wet weather form but failed to run a place from two runs, both on heavy tracks.

Voodoo Las was beaten three and three quarter lengths when fifth to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 1 before running seventh to Tivaci in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 15.

Weir has selected the Group 3 $125,000 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 20 as a nice lead up race for Voodoo Lad heading towards the Stradbroke Handicap.

Voodoo Lad’s best of his nine wins was in the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival which followed his Group 1 placing when second to Bon Aurum in the $500,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

With Voodoo Lad out of the Doomben 10,000 Weir will be left with two long shot runners, Sooboog at $26 and El Divino at $41.

Sooboog is fitter for two Autumn runs and is coming off a last start sixth to Viddora in the Group 3 $120,000 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on April 22 while El Divino ran fourth at the same meeting in the Listed $100,000 Redelva Stakes (1100m).

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Russian Revolution is the early favourite for the Doomben 10,000 at $3.30 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of last year’s winner Music Magnate and Canberra sprinter Fell Swoop both at $7.

Early market order for the Doomben 10000 at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.30 Russian Revolution, $7 Music Magnate, $7 Fell Swoop, $8 Redzel, $11 Start Wondering, $13 Takedown, $15 Counterattack, Rebel Dane, $17 Derryn, $21 In Her Time, $26 Clearly Innocent, Sooboog, $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.