Doomben

Doomben Cup (Group 1)

THE Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki, a British-bred six-year-old by Leroidesanimaux, destroyed his rivals in the Group 1 Doomben Cup, winning by seven lengths last Saturday.

Over 2,000 metres at Brisbane’s premier racetrack, Zaaki, with James McDonald up, was sent off at close to even money having won the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast two weeks earlier. He broke nicely from a wide draw to take a prominent position, always just in behind the leader Brandenburg after the pair pulled clear of their rivals down the back, Zaaki breezed into the lead on the turn-in and was a facile winner in the end.

“It dead-set couldn’t have worked out any better. I got across at my steam and ended up having cover for a good four or five furlongs right up until the 600 metres, he had done no work and he exploded,” said McDonald. “It was a devastating performance. I think 10 furlongs is his trip. He got into his rhythm today and he enjoys it and gets a bit of confidence out of bullying his rivals.”

Second was the Tavistock mare Toffee Tongue with third going to the Burgundy gelding Brandenburg.

“That was amazing,” said Neasham. “I was bullish in the Doncaster (sixth), and he hasn’t taken a backward step. He has run the 2,000 metres pretty easily, and I can’t wait for the Cox Plate.

“A big shout out to Stuart Bowman who found this horse at the (2020) Newmarket Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale. We didn’t pay a whole lot for him. He was a little bit older, but we took a chance. He had to fill the budget and credit to him because he looks a proper Group 1 horse.”

Zaaki was bought for 150,000 gns from the Freemason Lodge Stables draft.

Douglas Riding High in Steeple

Sandown

CLAYTON Douglas maintained his big race jumps success in Sunday’s A$125,000 Australian Steeple at Sandown aboard the Henry Dwyer-trained Riding High, having begun his May schedule with a Warrnambool Grand Annual win.

Taking cover on the rail having settled third in the six-horse field, Douglas was patient to not improving Riding High’s position till the second last, 800 metres from home. Chiming in with the leader Rexmont, Riding High held a narrow advantage at the last before proving too strong in the run to the line to win by seven lengths over Michelin with Rexmont third.

Jumped terrific

“He jumped terrific and jumped himself into the race,” said Douglas. “I thought I had the leader covered, I just didn’t know where the favourites were. I had a peep over my shoulder and still felt like I was going pretty good.

“He’s a tough horse, he ran out a strong trip today and probably overdid it a touch early. He’s going to be a nice Brierley horse next year.”

This was the seven-year-old Raise The Flag gelding’s third win from six jumps starts, having failed to finish at his first steeple start at Warrnambool at the start of the month.

“You win Group 1s and that sort of stuff but there’s no greater feeling than winning a feature jumps race with a nice horse,” said Dwyer. “It’s a good sport, the jumps enthusiasts love it. Whether it’s risk and reward, I don’t know, but winning a jumps race is a huge thrill.”

It’s a Saunter in the Australian Hurdle

THE French-bred Saunter Boy strolled to a 10-length win in the Australian Hurdle over 3,900 metres at Sandown.

Taken to the front at the top of the straight on the first lap, the grey Myboycharlie gelding dictated terms thereafter with a classy jumping display to cruise to the win ahead of The Statesman and Home By Midnight who was third.

“He’s a good galloper. He does a lot of trackwork gallops here so he knew where he was and he scooted down that hill and it was all over,” said jockey Steven Pateman. “He’s up there with potentially being very good. I’d love to be on him in the Grand National Hurdle, all being well.”

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace the result makes up for Saunter Boys’s unplaced run in the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool when sent out an even-money favourite.

“It was bloody awesome, he got a really, really good ride,” said David Eustace. “Steve just judged it perfectly. He jumped better. We thought he could go and do that at Warrnambool but he just didn’t jump well enough.

“We thought he’d like the bigger track at Sandown because he’s a class horse on the flat. Steve (Pateman) snuck around on the side and that was the telling move I thought, really. Steve was able to get him into a rhythm as he has done countless times before.”