Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Can Birdman turn the tables on Pride Of Jenni
While naturally a lot of the attention towards this year’s running of the G1 Doomben Cup is focused around Ciaron Maher’s mighty front-running mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), and rightfully so, Chris Waller attacks the small seven-horse field with three runners of his own in Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and what looks his leading hope, Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}).
Birdman was a fast-finishing second behind Pride Of Jenni in the G2 Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast, getting within three-quarters of a length at the line, and the rise to 2000 metres looks ideal for the gelding. Another factor worth noting is that Pride Of Jenni has not won two races in succession since November, 2023.
Birdman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Champion trainer Chris Waller is confident his trio will run well, though the respect he has for Pride Of Jenni is clear.
“He (Birdman) was good in the Hollindale and he finished his race off well, I'd love to see the track get back to a six or better for him. It’s very important for Birdman, he gets stuck in the mud, he doesn't have webbed feet,” Waller told his Chris Waller Preview show.
“Asterix has been awesome winning the Gosford Cup and before that in the JRA Plate, although he hasn't run against Pride Of Jenni before, and Kovalica has ran third in the race the last two years, so if you are having a bet he is a very good place chance.”
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It is a small field, but it shapes as an entertaining contest. Bates reunites with Pride Of Jenni chasing more feature success, while none of the seven runners appear outclassed. The Grahame Begg-trained She’s A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High) has been building nicely, as has G1 Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup hero Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}), while Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) goes particularly well fresh and is far from out of the race.
Can the Heathcote train keep rolling with Abounding?
After the highs of last week, when Rob Heathcote’s stable star Rothfire (Rothesay) delivered in style as an 8-year-old in the G1 Doomben 10,000, attention now turns to Abounding (Rich Enuff) in the G3 BRC Sprint after she was scratched from last week’s feature due to an elevated temperature.
“She gave us a little scare last week because she had a temperature spike and that's why I scratched her from the 10,000,” Heathcote told racenet.com.
“It's not uncommon, the vets said to me there have been a few illnesses going around but we're very pleased that she's bounced back in good order.”
Abounding | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Heathcote has a clear idea on what is going to be his major winter aim for Abounding - the $700,000 G1 Tattersall's Tiara for fillies and mares over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm later in the carnival.
“It's a Group 1 I've won with Startantes (in 2022) and this mare is every bit as good as her,” Heathcote said.
It looks a quality and even field of genuine Group 3 sprinters on Saturday over the 1350 metres. If Midnight Dynamite (Pierata) gains a start from the ballot he shapes as the one to beat, while the Kiwi Sweynesday (NZ) (Sweynesse) should take improvement from his first-up Australian run despite drawing wide on Saturday, while Lord Of Biscay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) could prove the value runner.
Robert Heathcote | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Kiwi filly brings class edge into The Roses
As the clear highest-rated filly in the G2 The Roses, the Andrew Forsman-trained Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh) looks extremely well placed in the set-weights contest for 3-year-old fillies over 2000 metres. If the race were a handicap, she would be giving the second-highest-rated filly, Paltrow Miss (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire} a significant 4kg advantage.
Single Red has been ultra-consistent throughout her career, recording three wins in New Zealand while also producing quality placings at Group 1 and Group 2 level behind dual Group 1 winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}). She also produced a strong Australian debut when second in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet behind Nightline (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).
Single Red (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“She came over here with improvement. We thought the Bracelet was a race we could win, but knowing that she would take good improvement out of it,” Forsman told the NZ Racing Desk.
“So we didn't quite get the job done, but she's trained on nicely and I think from when I last saw her, when she left New Zealand, she was just starting to turn in the coat a little bit. But she really has come right, and she's settled in really well to the environment over here.
“We didn't do a heap with her in the week leading into the Bracelet and that day out will have improved her,” Forsman said.
“We have targeted these races as when she ran in the New Zealand Oaks, she ran very well for third behind a couple of smart horses, but we felt maybe she didn't really run out the 2400m as strong as some others.
Andrew Forsman | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“I think the 2000m on Saturday and the 2200m of the Queensland Oaks will suit for sure.”
The hardest to beat may prove to be fellow New Zealand-bred Chispa (NZ) (Savabeel), who was a brilliant winner in the Pencarrow Stud colours at a lower level on the Kensington at her last start. She looks bred to improve over further ground, while Paltrow Miss brings strong Group 1 form after her placing in the G1 Australasian Oaks behind Panova (Trapeze Artist).
Katoto chasing black type and potential JJ Atkins ticket
The beautifully bred 2-year-old filly Katoto (Wootton Bassett {GB}) lines up for the powerful combination of trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald in Saturday’s Listed Bill Carter Stakes over 1350 metres at Doomben.
She was a narrow but impressive winner at Kembla Grange over 1300 metres late last month, and that form has already been franked. Stablemate Unhinged (Snitzel), who finished second, has since placed again, while third-placed Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}) subsequently scored impressively in the race Unhinged placed in.
Katoto as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The form around Katoto is strong, while her sharp second at the Rosehill trials under a hold on May 11 behind Attorney General (Snitzel) suggests she is primed for a big performance at Doomben and could potentially book herself a place in the G1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm later in the carnival.
“I think she will be very hard to beat, she is a very good filly,” Waller told his Chris Waller Preview show.
“I think she (Katoto) will be very hard to beat, she is a very good filly.” - Chris Waller
“Katoto and Miss Black Betty will be a couple of our better fillies in the spring.”
The biggest threats to the Waller duo may be the Bjorn Baker-trained I Am Dirty (I Am Invincible), who was a strong winner at Gosford last start, while Auric Star (Star Turn) appeals as the best rough hope after two encouraging runner-up finishes from as many career starts for trainer Matthew Dunn.
Uncertain Glory chasing another step towards spring ambitions
Trainer Michael Freedman has resisted the temptation to send exciting 2-year-old filly Uncertain Glory (Zoustar) to Queensland, instead opting to continue her education at Randwick on Saturday following her maiden win at Warwick Farm earlier this month.
Freedman holds the well-bred filly in high regard and believes this assignment will reveal whether she can develop into a genuine spring prospect over further distances.
Uncertain Glory | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I gave some thought to going to Queensland but I decided to keep her here and give her a try on a big track from the 1200m,’’ Freedman told racingnsw.
“We’ll see how she goes, we probably wouldn’t go too deep into the winter with her with a view to something in the spring.
“She’ll need to have a bit of downtime but we’ll see how things pan out.
“If she can stretch, come spring as a 3-year-old, to 1400m and maybe a mile that would open up a lot of options. She’s built that way. She’s a big, lean, immature physically, type but a nice filly just the same.”
She was an impressive winner at Warwick Farm on May 6 when defeating Palmanova (Tassort) by just under half a length.
Michael Freedman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I thought it was a nice effort the other day at Warwick Farm where she did a few little things wrong, particularly at the start, but she got herself into a good spot and showed a nice turn of foot,’’ he said.
“Tommy (Berry) said she sort of floated a bit when she got to the front. When the favourite of McEvoy's (La Barrita) came at her she grabbed the bit again.
“She’s still learning and I’d say Saturday will be another step in that direction but I think she’s a progressive type. She’s a lovely, scopey filly and she’s been very straightforward.”
“She’s (Uncertain Glory) a lovely, scopey filly and she’s been very straightforward.” - Michael Freedman
As always, metropolitan 2-year-old races look even affairs with plenty of chances. The biggest threat to the Zoustar filly could prove to be the beautifully bred Lady Catanova (Written Tycoon), who backs up seven days after her third in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone while Thyme To Go (I Am Invincible) showed promise last preparation and looks a chance.
