Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller dominates the final field for the Group 2 $250,000 Pages Event Equipment Hire Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday, supplying five of the seven runners in the weight for age feature.
Foreteller is one of five runners trainer Chris Waller will saddle up in the Eagle Farm Cup at Doomben. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Extra nominations were called for earlier in the week after only seven stayers were entered and Waller added Caloundra Cup winner Index Linked to his original entries of Foreteller, Hawkspur, I’m Imposing and Moriarty.
The Mike Kent trained Epingle was also among the early entries while Kiwi three year old Werther is a final acceptor after being added to the nominations on Tuesday morning.
Waller’s quartet of Moriarty (Blake Shinn), Foreteller (James McDonald), Hawkspur (Tommy Berry) and Index Linked (Damian Browne) have drawn barriers one to four in that order with I’m Imposing drawing the outside of the seven horse field.
Melbourne mare Epingle, with Hugh Bowman engaged, has drawn barrier five while Werther has come up with gate six with Brisbane’s premiership front runner Jim Byrne booked to ride.
Werther is on his way towards the Group 1 $600,000 Channel 7 Queensland Derby (2200m) at Doomben on June 6 and will have his final hit out for the blue riband classic in the Eagle Farm Cup against the older horses.
I’m Imposing looks the pick of the Waller five with the nine year old racing as good as ever with placings in top company at his three starts during his Queensland Winter Carnival campaign.
The Danehill Dancer gelding kicked off his Winter with a third to Leebaz in the Group 2 $358,000 Sky Thoroughbred Central A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 25 followed by a third to Pornichet in the Group 1 $650,000 The Bundaberg Rum Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on May 9.
Then at Doomben last Saturday he chased hard but was no match for stablemate Strawberry Boy and the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Lucky Lago in the Group 3 $125,000 Programmed Property Services Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m).
Moriarty, Hawkspur and Foreteller all went around in the Doomben Cup to finish fourth, sixth and seventh while the Michael Kent trained Epingle finished behind them in ninth spot.
Index Linked was back in the winner’s stall last start with a gutsy win in the Listed $175,000 Linked Group Plumbing Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on May 16 after running second to Epingle at the Gold Coast at his previous start in the Group 3 $125,000 Goldcoastwebsites.com.au Chairman’s Handicap (2200m) on Anzac Day.
