The 2yo feature race at Doomben on Saturday – the Bollinger Champagne Classic, is a tough affair for punters and that’s reflected in a wide betting market. With limited form and several formlines to compare, punters have settled on two fillies as the leading chances – Darley’s runner Shaumari ($3.80) and the well travelled Eloping ($4.20). Both come out of the Royal Randwick Stakes which Eloping, who will be racing for the eighth time this season on her seventh different track in her third different state, won well with Shaumari finishing third.
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1. A TIME FOR WAR – D Thornton (10)
Led and found plenty to win the G2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) by head from Kumaon first up from a spell before leading again but finding the quality of opposition and the 1400m, both a shade to strong, finishing fourth (6.4 lengths) behind Peggy Jean and Scratch Me Lucky in the G1 Sires Produce Stakes. Four weeks off since the Sires and back to 1200m a bonus. He’ll shoot over from a wide draw and Doomben should suit.
2. MOHAVE – J McDonald (8)
Got a lovely run when winning the Blue Diamond Preview by ¾ length from Cornrow and although getting good runs in the Blue Diamond Prelude and Blue Diamond Stakes as well, he found the opposition too strong and ran tenth and sixth respectively. Hasn’t raced since the Blue Diamond, nine weeks ago now and goes well fresh but has drawn awkwardly in eight.
3. FURBISH – J Byrne (6)
Started the 11/8 favourite on debut two starts ago and lived up to expectations with a very smart 2 ¾ length win in an Eagle Farm Maiden (1000m) last month. A fortnight later he stepped up to Open company and again didn’t let punters down, coming from a midfield position and knuckling down late to win by ½ length with Deuced second. Good effort last start on a track that was favouring the on-pacers. Can’t knock either start but faces some proven performers here.
4. LOOKS LIKE THE CAT – D Browne (1)
A Husson colt trained by Tony Gollan who has only had the one start, back in February, for a good style of win in an Eagle Farm maiden over 1200m. He was well supported on debut, settled midfield and soon rounded up his opposition to win by a comfortable 1 ¾ length. Stable then tipped him straight out for this carnival and he’s drawn the pole position. $13 into $11 in early betting and creates plenty of interest.
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5. DEUCED – T Bell (2)
He got the bob in on the line to his debut on the Gold Coast before running second to Shinji in Open class at Eagle Farm early April. The Wilander gelding’s next and most recent start came a fortnight ago where he took up the running in a Open class race over 1300m and made the short-priced favourite Furbish, work hard for his win. He finished second by half a length and did have the advantage of some track bias in his favour but will take up the running again here from an inside draw and be in a good position turning.
6. BRAZEN BEAU – N Rawiller (9)
Led on debut in a Canterbury maiden (1100m) and was simply too good for his rivals, winning by a handsome 4 ½ lengths with Hampton Court second. After such an impressive performance, trainer Chris Waller had no hesitation in entering the son of I Am Invincible in the Listed Lohnro Plate (1100m) at Warwick Farm where he started the 13/8 favourite. He jumped well and sat second but on a slow track, didn’t extend like he did on debut and finished fifth (1.9 lengths) behind the well performed Alpha Miss. Hasn’t had a start since that outing back in early March but was tuned up for this race with a barrier trial just over a fortnight ago where he finished comfortably for third. Comes from the right yard and appears to have his share of ability.
7. GROOMED FOR GLORY – (2)
He sat second and on a heavy track, chased home Celestial Dragon on debut when fourth (1.1 lengths) before running wide in the run and finishing fifth (6.6 lengths) behind Bassillique in the Listed Phelan Ready. Hasn’t raced or trialled since the Phelan Ready in December and would rate this race harder again.
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8. ELOPING – S Baster (7)
Tough Choisir filly lining up for her eighth start and looking to add to her tally of four wins, the most recent of which came in the G3 Royal Randwick Stakes (1200m) where from the front, she defeated Ygritte by ¾ lengths. Competition left her to her own devices last start and she was too good, will push forward but this time out, well be kept honest in front.
9. STOAK – M Cahill (4)
Highly promising Real Saga filly from Bryan Guy’s stables who won her first two career starts here at Doomben in very good style before finishing hard registering a head second to Unencumbered in the G3 B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m). Her final start in her first prep came in the 2yo Magic Millions Classic where from a wide gate, she got back near last in the field but made good ground in the straight to run fifth (4.2 lengths) behind Unencumbered. Will get back again here but appreciate what should be a solid tempo up front. She’s been tuned up with two barrier trials in the last month so expect her to be forward enough to run a race and be looking for her late.
10. SHAUMARI – K McEvoy (5)
A filly by Medaglia D’Oro, she relished the heavy conditions on debut to record an impressive 2 ¾ length win in a restricted race at Warwick Farm before running third (1.3 lengths) behind Eloping in the G3 Royal Randwick Stakes (1200m). From the second to widest gate, she settled in the second half of the field and was forced five wide turning, all the while the eventual winner Eloping, was dominating things from the front. Will get a lovely cart behind the speed her from five and open to significant improvement.
11. AMIZADE – M Rodd (11)
Sat on the speed when making her race debut on the 9th April and left her rivals standing in the straight, running away to win the Eagle Farm maiden (1000m) by eight lengths. At her only start since, the Desleigh Forster trained filly had her chance when second behind Shinji in an Open 2yo race at Eagle Farm three weeks ago. She’s drawn wide here and needed to be winning last start to be considered a leading hope here.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Tough race for punters to line up as these 2yo’s are still realising their potential and come from many different formlines. Pace should be very good here with A Time For War, Eloping and Brazen Beau, all likely to push forward from wider gates with Looks Like The Cat and Deuced holding their position closer to the fence. Camped behind them should be Shaumari who was impressive first up (on wet, so ok if the rain comes) and good under the circumstances against Eloping at his most recent. A Time For War has been good in two starts and although drawn out wide in ten, he should be provided a great trail with Eloping drawn his inside. Stroak showed plenty in her first prep. A little further would be ideal but look for her late and at $17 in early betting, she’s worth including in any multiples.
- SHAUMARI
- A TIME FOR WAR
- ELOPING
- STROAK
