Veteran gelding Scenic Shot will have to overcome some stiff opposition this Saturday when he attempts to add a third Doomben Cup title to his impressive resume.

Scenic Shot

Two-time Doomben Cup winner Scenic Shot - photo © Taron Clarke

The experienced nine-year-old has not tasted success since his 2011 Doomben Cup win ahead of My Kingdom Of Fife and he faces a tough test this weekend when coming up against a group of quality stayers that includes star French gelding Manighar.

The Peter Moody-trained import has been in sensational form this year, recording three consecutive Group 1 victories in the Australian Cup, Ranvet Stakes and BMW before running second to More Joyous in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Scenic Shot was ridden in both his Doomben Cup victories by Shane Scriven and the jockey will again be on board this weekend but admits he faces a difficult task.

“It certainly wasn’t music to my ears when I heard Manighar was coming for the race,” Scriven said.

“There are one or two more quality horses there this year.”

Also set to line up in the Group 1 $500,000 feature is New Zealand mare Shez Sinsational who is in even better form than last year when she finished third in the Queensland Oaks and runner-up in the Queensland Derby.

The Alan Sharrock-trained four-year-old won the Group 1 Auckland Cup in March and is chasing a fourth consecutive victory after winning the Hollindale Stakes in tough conditions at the Gold Coast last start.

Shez Sinsational beat fellow New Zealand mare Lights Of Heaven by a bob of the head in the Hollindale Stakes and the Peter Moody-trained four-year-old gets a chance to exact some revenge this weekend.

A daughter of Zabeel, Lights Of Heaven has an impressive record of four wins from 11 starts that includes the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks at Morphetville last year.

Other horses nominated for the Doomben Cup include German import Mawingo and former Doncaster winner Triple Honour.

About The Author