Doomben Rewind: Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries look back at winners and losers from Saturday’s Brisbane meeting
THE Courier Mail’s Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries review Saturday’s Doomben Cup meeting in Brisbane, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.
THE Courier Mail’s Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries review Saturday’s Doomben Cup meeting in Brisbane, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.
Race 1
Well-backed mare Selita bled during the running of the first event at Doomben, which snapped a near 500-day losing drought for Gary Portelli’s Straturbo.
Selita got into a nice position on settling from a tricky draw and when she peeled out at the top of the straight, looked likely to win.
“She bled, that’s why she didn’t finish off,” James McDonald told connections after the race.
Robbie Fradd had a trouble-free path on Straturbo, a horse he said is suited to the Doomben layout.
Chris Munce was pleased with the finishing effort of runner-up Wicked Intent. “He should be able to pick up one of these races the way he’s going,” Munce said.
Jockey Luke Dittman said Wicked Intent may now be looking for a touch further than the 1050m.
Race 2
FORMER Kiwi apprentice Josh Oliver has had a busy introduction to Australian racing and enjoyed a nice reward with his first Saturday Brisbane winner.
The 20-year-old transferred from Hamilton, New Zealand, to Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie and has ridden at tracks including Warwick, Toowoomba, Lismore and Rockhampton.
Oliver enjoyed his biggest moment in Australia when he gave Col ‘N’ Lil a perfect ride to win the 2000m Handicap at Doomben.
It made it even sweeter that it came during Queensland Racing’s time to shine in the Winter Carnival, with Oliver adding to almost 60 winners that the 3kg claiming apprentice has had for the season.
“It was a great time getting my first city winner on a big day like today,’’ Oliver said.
“I started racing just outside Hamilton with Keith Hawtin but I started with Graeme Rogerson in New Zealand so I had some good bosses there.
“I came to Australia looking for more opportunities and they give the claimers a good go over here.
“Col ‘N’ Lil got a good bit of cover when the leaders crossed, and when I got that bit of fresh air turning for home I knew I was going to be hard to beat.’’
Currie will look at his options with Col ‘N’ Lil and indicated the 2400m of the Group 2 Brisbane Cup was not out of the question.
Race 4
WARWICK Farm trainer Matthew Smith admitted he had doubts about whether Palazzo Pubblico would run a strong 1200m.
But he was delighted they proved unfounded, as the Gerry Harvey owned mare sat off them and savoured a nice black type win in the Bright Shadow Handicap at Doomben.
“I had a bit of a query at the 1200m with her, because she had a couple of runs in Sydney over the 1100m and she was a bit soft late,’’ Smith said.
“But she ran it out strongly today.
“We may just wait with her now and go to Melbourne in the Spring where there are some nice, short mares races there for her.’’
Smith inherited Palazzo Pubblico after the lengthy disqualification of trainer Sam Kavanagh, who was found guilty of breaches relating to cobalt, caffeine, corticosteroid and Xenon gas.
THE BETTING
$7 shot Palazzo Pubblico continued a good run for the bookies by upsetting the widely fancied Tina Melina, who was $10 into $6 then back out to $7.50 and represented a six-figure liability for the UBET fixed odds team.
Miss Cover Girl was a massive late go, backed from $8 into $4.40 favouritism, but those funds failed to flatter and remain with the bag men.
Originally published as Doomben Rewind: Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries look back at winners and losers from Saturday’s Brisbane meeting
