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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 10,000 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 10,000 meeting in Brisbane, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.

Race 1/2

VALUE shoppers were making a motza after the first two Doomben races, with Tony Gollan’s frontrunning colt Kamacite backed for a stack in the three-year-old Plate.

After first race winner Upstart Pride was backed late, Kamacite firmed from $19 into $8.50 and just held on in the 1200m sprint.

Gollan initially has three starters in the race but still had enough firepower to win despite the scratchings of Most Important (foot abscess) and Secret Saga (bad barrier).

Kamacite had posted successive wins on the Sunshine Coast but the former Sydney galloper showed he had plenty of ability as he successfully made a big class rise.

Favourite Mogador was the eye-catcher, flashing home after missing the start and narrowly failing to reel in the winner.

Bookmaker UBET described the late money for Kamacite as a ‘’good old fashioned go.’’

Kamacite landed some big bets at big odds for punters. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography
Kamacite landed some big bets at big odds for punters. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Race 3

A CLEAN getaway was the catalyst for some good bets being landed on Upstart Pride at Doomben.

Officially Upstart Pride was $6 into $5.50 but $8.50 was bet on Saturday morning and those punters were on good terms with themselves after the ghostly grey strode clear early under Jim Byrne.

“He wanted to run through the bridle early so I just let him stride. He was still going good on the turn and he was dominant,” Byrne said.

Trainer Michael Nolan said Upstart Pride was “home on the turn”.

“His form this time in has been good. He’s not just a first upper. We had him in the right race today and we were hoping to go to the front and control it and that’s what happened,” Nolan said.

Favourite Fine Mist was a disappointment. She tracked Upstart Pride into the straight but couldn’t match motors late and weakened out of the placings. Upstart Pride stopped the clock in a blistering 68.68 seconds, set up by a 34.20 first 600m.

The Darren Weir-trained Real Love breaks clear in the Premier’s Cup. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography
The Darren Weir-trained Real Love breaks clear in the Premier’s Cup. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Race 4

PUNTERS who ‘’Back Weir and drink beer’’ were on good terms with themselves after the ace Victorian trainer landed a stable quinella in the Premier’s Cup.

Darren Weir has never won a Group 1 in Queensland but has a great chance to collect the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) with staying mare Real Love in a fortnight.

The former West Australian galloper has now won successive races in Queensland and there were extra thrills for the Weir stable when Puccini ran second in the 2200m Premier’s Cup.

It was a huge form turnaround for Puccini who led and kicked in the straight before Real Love, perfectly ridden by Brad Rawiller, nailed him in the closing stages.

Third-placed Kiwi Benzini was an eye-catcher with jockey Rosie Myers saying: “He’s gone super. The winner just ducked in and that probably cost him second.

“I elected to go back to the inside because they haven’t been making ground out wide on the track. It was a lovely Brisbane Cup trial.”

However all honours were with Real Love, with Rawiller saying she would be even better over 2400m on the expansive Eagle Farm track in a fortnight.

‘’There is no question that 2400m is her pet distance,’’ Rawiller said.

‘’She was going like the winner a long way out today, but the stablemate gave us something to chase.

‘’It was just picture perfect for me going out of the straight, she cornered well and was racing like a pro.’’

Jockey Mark Zahra told connections of Rudy that he just failed to see out a strong 2200m while Jim Byrne said Queenslander Honey Toast was outsprinted.

Weir backers piled into Real Love by the thousands and the $2.70 favourite was backed for a six-figure sum on UBET.

Mighty Lucky on his way to winning the Lord Mayor's Cup. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography
Mighty Lucky on his way to winning the Lord Mayor's Cup. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Race 6

THE iron horse from Gosford and the knockabout jockey provided a feel-good story when they combined for a tough win on a Group 1 day at Doomben.

Mighty Lucky is hardly a glamour horse but jockey Chris O’Brien, who only gets a handful of rides in the city every year, got the best out of him.

The late-blooming six-year-old gelding hasn’t had much luck of late, only just beaten when he carried 60kg in a blanket finish in the Scone Cup earlier this month.

He didn’t enjoy the best of luck again, sitting three wide in the 1615m Lord’s Mayor’s Cup, but O’Brien willed him over the line.

Mighty Lucky is so tough that trainer Fred Cowell is considering backing him up in next week’s Eagle Farm Cup over 2200m.

O’Brien won’t be riding him as he will be suspended, but sees no reason to doubt the plan.

“He is such a tough horse, that wouldn’t surprise me,’’ O’Brien said.

“His runs have been super all preparation and a couple of bad barriers haven’t helped.”

“I think he will be better as a seven year old, once he gets out over 2000m on a regular basis.”

Originally published as Doomben Rewind: Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries look back at winners and losers from Saturday’s Brisbane meeting

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/qld-racing/doomben-rewind-nathan-exelby-and-ben-dorries-look-back-at-winners-and-losers-from-saturdays-brisbane-meeting/news-story/72cf94e6c851940eff829b5a6655ecac