New Zealand horses have a tremendous record in Australia, especially during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Flying the flag today is The Hombre and according to the bookies he’s well and truly a contender in the Premier’s Cup at Doomben.
Australian markets actually have him as an equal favourite, surprisingly his quote his longer in his homeland.
Trainer John Bary is in no doubt about his capabilities though and is expecting another win for the kiwi’s later this afternoon.
“I think he’s a real chance to win,” Bary said.
“He did all the donkey work in front in that very good field last week and Jonathan [Riddell] said he felt terrific as if he was going to win halfway down the home straight.
“He blew out the last bit and he’s a better horse this week.”
That run was in the Group 1 Doomben Cup so it’s a big drop in grade today and in addition he also loses 4kgs which he’ll definitely notice.
Riddell has unfortunately lost the ride due to the 55kg weight with Jim Byrne picking up the mount.
The Hombre isn’t the only kiwi horse to run today either with Shanghai Bund contesting The Phoenix two-year-old race, also at Doombem.
He ran sixth in his first Australian run but things didn’t all go his way and trainer John Sargent thinks he’ll be up to it here.
He’s another which is battling for favouritism on the TOTE meaning Brisbane could be well and truly dominated by kiwi’s today.
Shane Scriven takes the ride and all reports are his work during the week was first class.
His last start was hampered by a wide gate draw but from five today there shouldn’t be too many excuses at the end.
Things didn’t start off the best for the kiwi’s though with another joint favourite Milo failed to figure in race one of the day.
It was his first run in Australia and he never got into the race with very little pace on early.
That made it very tough for the back markers and the first three across the line were the first three around the bend.
The feature race of the day is the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and no New Zealand trained horses are in the final field of seven.
