Trainer Annabel Neasham has landed a second victory in the Doomben Cup with a horse she said was well over the odds.
Imported galloper Bois D’Argent held off a late bid from New Endeavour to follow the win of Zaaki for Neasham in 2021 in the Group 1 2000m weight-for-age contest.
Ridden by Blake Shinn, Bois D’Argent ($26) scored a narrow win over New Endeavour ($11) with Fawkner Park ($13) in third place.
Bois D’Argent’s win was his first in 12 months after winning the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup at Rosehill in May last year.
The gelding did run fourth in the Caulfield Cup last year and at his most recent outing was fourth over 2400m at the Sunshine Coast on May 11.
“He was the one I was saying was well over the odds,” Neasham said.
“You just pick back through his form and he’s no worse than the rest of these, than the best horses in this field.
“He was fourth in a Caulfield Cup. He was a bit unlucky in the Tancred, it didn’t really work out for him that day, but he ran really well.”
Neasham praised the ride of Shinn who rated the gelding well on top of the speed.
“New Endeavour certainly kept us honest to the line, it was a flashback to last week,” Neasham said.
“It was a small margin but a margin none the less.
“I’m just so happy for the team, they’ve done a great job to get four horses here and they looked to have run really well.
“So delighted.”
Neasham was also happy with the performance of Fawkner Park who she thought was travelling better than the winning turning for home.
She said her four runners – Numerian, Naval College, Bois D’Argent and Fawkner Park – were all likely to press on to the Q22 at Eagle Farm next month.
“He’s certainly stepped up to the mark and he will probably go to the Q22 now and you’d think he’d be a big player in that after today’s run,” Neasham said of Fawkner Park.
“I thought Numerian was a little disappointing, so I will see what Jaimie (Mott) says but I think at this stage they will all press on to there.
“I even thought Naval College was great, it was a big step up in class for him today as well.”
