XXXX Doomben Cup (Group 1)

THE Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Huetor completed back-to-back wins in the 2,000 metre Doomben Cup in Brisbane last Saturday.

Winless between his pair of Group 1s, the French-bred Archipenko gelding came from mid-field to overpower the Irish-bed Numerian and win by a half-length as the Ocean Park gelding Kovalica was the next best of the 12 starters. The short-priced favourite Zaaki was never a factor, fading into seventh.

“Once he got out, we know he’s got a really good 300 metre finish on him, and he used that late,” said Paul Snowden.

“He’s got another run in him. Last season it probably got the better of him in the Doomben Cup into The (A$1.2 million) Q22 (2,200 metres), but I think this could be right up his alley in a couple of weeks. That is where he will head as long as he pulls up well. He’ll tell us.

“He’s pretty special because he’s the first horse we bought of the overseas horses we’ve dabbled in. He’s a dual Group 1 winner, and it gives us confidence that we’re buying the right horses to bring over.”

Royal Merchant grabs the Goodwood

The TAB Goodwood (Group 1)

THE Ciaron Maher and David Eustace roadshow kept rolling in South Australia last Saturday as they closed out the carnival winning three of the four Group 1s on offer across the past month with the filly Royal Merchant saluting in the Goodwood at Morphettville last Saturday.

In a driving finish, Royal Merchant held out the Shamus Award mare Another Award, the win providing a maiden Group 1 for her sire Merchant Navy, who was also trained by Maher and Eustace. Third was the race favourite Zapateo, by Brazen Beau.

“We were hopeful of getting a placing, but we didn’t expect a win,” said David Eustace. “It’s a credit to her as she’s incredibly tough. She’s had to dance every dance. It’s similar to Ciaron’s first Group 1 winner Tears I Cry. She’s delivered, and full credit to (jockey) Mickey Dee, who kept it nice and smooth.

Confident

“I was confident at the top of the straight she would be in the finish. She’s very, very tough. It took us a bit of time to work out what her best trip is and a strong 1,200 metres is her go. That’s a big effort from a three-year-old filly.”

The win provided New Zealand-born jockey Micheal Dee with his 11th Group 1 win and his sixth this season. On Tuesday he flew out to Hong Kong to take up a contract. “It will be an exciting opportunity,” said Dee, who will be the only New Zealand rider in Hong Kong.

“I don’t know too many trainers. I’ve got a bit of a connection with Jamie Richards and the likes of David Hayes. Once I get there it will be head down, bum up and working hard to build relationships.

THE seven-year-old Tolemac, now with his fourth trainer Symon Wilde, has emerged as a rising star of the jumps following a 12-length win in the Australian Steeplechase over 3,900 metres at Sandown last Sunday.

Formerly trained by Paul Jenkins, Francis Finnegan and Tracey Bartley, Wilde was full of praise for the Camelot gelding; “This horse is really good on soft ground, he showed a good turn of foot at Warrnambool and that was a really good display.

“I thought Will (Gordon) put him in the race at the right time, it was really good; a slow tempo, no weight, the track softer than I thought, it all worked out really well for him.”

A winner once in eight hurdle starts, Tolemac made the transition to steeplechasing with a win on debut at Warrnambool before stepping out in Sunday’s A$150,000 feature.

Impressive

“I wasn’t sure how he would handle the step up in class from his first start, but he couldn’t have been more impressive,” said jockey Will Gordon. “There was no real pace, I found myself behind the leader and I knew if I stuck with him, he would be a bit more dashing.”

On the same card, the A$150,000 Australian Hurdle saw the Blackfriars gelding Circle The Sun post a six-length win for trainer 40-year training veteran Eric Musgrove and 22-year-old first-season rider Campbell Rawiller. The trio saw off the challenge of Saunter Boy who was chasing a third consecutive Australian Hurdle. The win makes it three-from-three over the hurdles for Circle The Sun. “To win a race like that so early in his jumps career is a big thrill for me and a big effort by the horse,” said Rawiller, the son of the 67-time Group 1 winning jockey Nash Rawiller.

“He had been really well-schooled by the best trainer in Australia before he started jumping. He’s improved from win to win. It’s so special to be part of it.”