Shootoff Ready for Doomben Duel

May 19, 2011

Shootoff Ready for Doomben Duel

Graeme Rogerson’s Duelled gelding Shootoff is in-form and fighting fit ahead of his attempt at a third straight win in this weekend’s Doomben Cup.

Group 1 placegetter and early favourite for the upcoming Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm, three-year-old Shootoff was one of 10 acceptors for Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m) when the final field was released on Wednesday.

Despite having won their past two starts over 2000m and 1900m respectively by impressive margins, Shootoff sits as a double-figure outsider paying $10 to cause a Doomben Cup upset after drawing wide with barrier eight.

Doomben Cup betting is dominated by quality imports Glass Harmonium and My Kingdom Of Fife, while Gold Coast galloper Shoot Out also well-liked in the markets as the third single-figure shot.

After Shootoff was comprehensively beaten in his two earlier Group 1 assignments this year finishing ninth to Ilovethiscity in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and then 11th to Jimmy Choux in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Rogerson is now confident he has discovered the right racing tactic with the emerging stayer.

Early in his career Shootoff was known as a backmarker but since being given a more forward racing position in his recent runs, the revitalised gelding has been able to win back-to-back races.

“He just did everything so casually and wasn’t putting in in his races,” Rogerson’s foreman Roger Elliott said of Shootoff in the early stages of his career.

“We changed the way we have been riding him and it has been just amazing what he has done.

“We wanted him to know he was in a race and the penny has dropped with him now.”

Firstly Shootoff scored a three and a half length victory in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick before an equally easy three length win in the Canterbury Lord Mayor’s Cup (1900m) a fortnight ago.

“He has done really well since his last win,” trainer Rogerson said.

So well that Shootoff has surged into the $5 favourite to take out the Group 1 Queensland Derby next month and only needs to run well on Saturday to maintain their dominance in the market.

History, however, is against both Shootoff and Anthony Cumming’s fellow three-year-old Shadows In The Sun to win the Doomben Cup.

It has been 11 years since a three-year-old succeeded in the Doomben Cup, Akhenaton the last of this age group to salute.

Still, Rogerson and Elliott are convinced Shootoff can break this drought having been especially pleased with their win at Canterbury.

“The last win was particularly pleasing because it showed us he can go just as good on top of the ground as he did when he won the Packer Plate in the heavy,” Elliott said.

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off