Weir’s Doomben Cup fancies Articus and Star Exhibit arrive safely

Darren Weir’s Doomben Cup favourite Articus and stablemate Star Exhibit have arrived safely in Brisbane ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 assignment.

Doomben Cup favourite Articus, above, has arrived safely in Brisbane. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Doomben Cup favourite Articus, above, has arrived safely in Brisbane. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Weir has been frustrated over the last couple weeks with the continual cancellation of flights from Melbourne to Brisbane for his horses that are due to run over the Brisbane Winter Carnival but it is now all systems for his runners in the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben.

Jarrod McLean, who supervises Weir’s operation at Warrnambool tweeted this morning that Doomben Cup favourite Articus and Star Exhibit had finally arrived in Brisbane early this morning on their Qantas flight.

“Doomben Cup chances Articus and Star Exhibit have landed in Brisbane,” McLean tweeted.

Articus was scratched from the Group 2 $358,000 Attwood Marshall A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 6 when his flight was cancelled in the week leading up to it and the German import had to have his final Doomben lead up at Flemington on the same day.

The five year old import was able to cement a place in the Doomben Cup with a tough win after Brad Rawiller settled him in the second half of the field before making a winning move coming to the home turn and was able to hold on to record a one length win in the $100,000 Chairman’s Club Handicap (1800m).

Articus had been well beaten at his first two runs in Australia and while under the banner of top German trainer Andreas Wohler finished down the track when thirteenth to Jameka in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival and then at his first start for the Weir stable disappointed again with a thirteenth to Hooked in the Group 3 $150,000 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 15.

Following his Flemington win Articus was promoted to the top of the Doomben Cup market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $4.20 just ahead of the Doncaster Mile winner It’s Somewhat at $4.60 while Star Exhibit is listed at $10.

Early market order for the Doomben Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Articus, $4.60 It’s Somewhat, $7 Sense Of Occasion, $7.50 Single Gaze, $10 Star Exhibit, $11 Amelie’s Star, McCreery, $13 Benzini, Maurus, $15 Preferment, Vanbrugh, $17 Life Is Ordinary, Mime, $21 Cylinder Beach, Sons Of John, Astronomos, $26 Rudy, $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.