Hauraki poses as Doomben Cup teaser

GODOLPHIN’S Australian boss Henry Plumptre has a simple message for those punters who regard Doomben Cup favourite Hauraki as a tease.

Question marks: Doomben Cup favourite Hauraki, shadowed by Complacent (nearest), is winless since March last year. Picture: Mark Evans

GODOLPHIN’S Australian boss Henry Plumptre has a simple message for those punters who regard Doomben Cup favourite Hauraki as a tease.

“If you think he’s a non-winner then back him each way,” Plumptre said.

“We tend not to worry about those things too much and try and let the horses do the talking.”

Hauraki has loomed to win a few times in the past 12 months but failed to deliver and goes into Saturday’s $650,000 WFA test winless since March last year and with questions over his tenacity.

Yet he’s amassed $465,000 in earnings this season and Plumptre has an inkling the short Doomben straight may play into his hands.

“He’s probably one of those horses that needs to hit the front and find the winning post too quickly to do anything about it,” he said.

“The mare has thrown four stakes winners but that family can be a little bit quirky.

“On his day he’s a very good horse. John (O’Shea) pointed out last week at the Gold Coast he was four weeks between runs and that was a telling thing. He probably just ran out of condition.

“By the same token the winner is a good horse when they get him right and they flagged through the week they had him right.

“I think the Doomben Cup is a good race for him.”

Owners Australian Bloodstock on Sunday indicated second favourite Raw Impulse will bypass the race and run next in either the McKell Cup or Brisbane Cup.

Complacent edges out Hauraki (right) on Epsom Day at Royal Randwick last year. Picture: Mark Evans

James Orman has secured the ride on last-start Wagga Gold Cup winner Messene in the Doomben Cup, while Hugh Bowman makes his first appearance of the carnival to ride Spiritjim for the Chris Waller stable.

Noble Protector arrived in Brisbane last week, although the Freedman stable hopes to secure a flight so Our Ivanhowe can take his place in the field.

Godolphin’s highly talented filly Ghisoni is likely to kick off her Brisbane campaign in the Glenlogan Park Stakes on May 28, providing she comes through a Warwick Farm barrier trial today in good order.

Her main goal will be the Group 1 Tatts Tiara on June 25.

Plumptre was noncommittal on a Stradbroke start, with the Dane Ripper Stakes on the same day the option.

“I know the Stradbroke is a very enticing race with 50.5kg, but sometimes it can create more problems (later on),” he said.

“We put her in the Stradbroke to see how the race breaks up. At this stage the preference is to keep her against her own sex.”

CLASS MARE LOST

Coolmore Classic winner Peeping died on Saturday night following a colic attack while she was spelling in New South Wales.

Originally published as Hauraki poses as Doomben Cup teaser