Interim head Godolphin trainer Darren Beadman is chasing his own unique page in the Doomben Cup 2017 history books on Saturday as he prepares to saddle-up the favourite in Brisbane’s Group 1 classic.
Now Godolphin head trainer Darren Beadman is out to be just the second man to both ride and train a Doomben Cup winner saddling up It’s Somewhat in the 2017 edition this weekend. Photo: Taron Clarke.
A former champion jockey, Beadman enjoyed success on the other side of the saddle riding the Gai Waterhouse-trained Juggler to victory in the 1996 edition of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival feature.
This weekend he is out to join Maurice McGarten as the only other former hoop to also train a Doomben Cup winner.
McGarten was aboard three Doomben Cup champions during his years as a hoop with success on Pentheus (1933), Whittington (1934) and Beaulivre (1940).
He then went on to train Tossing for a Doomben Cup victory back in 1952.
Beadman gets a chance to join McGarten in Saturday’s edition of the $650,000 Group 1 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) with the top fancy in betting It’s Somewhat.
English hoop James Doyle is booked to ride the in-form Dynaformer six-year-old who sits top of the latest Doomben Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $4.
Winner of the Doncaster Mile two back in Sydney, It’s Somewhat was last seen winning the traditional Doomben Cup lead-up race – the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) – at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago.
Streama (2014) was the last horse to complete the Hollindale Stakes – Doomben Cup double and the money is on It’s Somewhat to be the next after drawing well in barrier six (into five) for Saturday.
Beadman replaces John O’Shea for Godolphin after the latter’s surprise resignation as leading Australian trainer for the powerhouse operation.
Should It’s Somewhat salute for the punters this weekend, it will see Beadman secure his first Group 1 success as a trainer.
It will also be just the third time in the past decade a Doomben Cup favourite gets the job done following the success of Metal Bender (2010) and Pornichet (2015).
“He galloped very well at the Gold Coast this week and appears to have retained his fitness since the Hollindale,” Beadman said of It’s Somewhat speaking to Racing Queensland.
“He always gives 100 per cent and he still seems to have some freshness in his legs.”
Last year It’s Somewhat ran fifth to Leebaz in the Hollindale Stakes before his close third behind Our Ivanhowe in the Doomben Cup results.
He comes into the race in far superior form 12 months on and shapes-up as the one to beat.
His biggest danger looking at the Doomben Cup odds comes from Darren Weir who saddles-up his progressive French import Articus ($4.60).
Articus was originally to have run in the Hollindale Stakes, but missed a flight to Queensland and instead was last seen winning an 1800m handicap at Flemington under 60kg on May 6.
Weir has a total of three Doomben Cup acceptors with Articus joined by stablemates Star Exhibit and Amelie’s Star.
All three of Weir’s hopefuls have now touched down in the sunshine state.
Articus and reigning Perth Cup winner Star Exhibit arrived on Wednesday, while his five-year-old Testa Rossa mare Amelie’s Star caught a flight on Thursday.
She was last seen winning the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville a fortnight ago and is out to join the aforementioned Streama (2014) as the only other Doomben Cup winning mare since Cinque Cento (2007).
To check out the full Doomben Cup 2017 odds head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.
