Deploy won’t be running in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap even though he is exempt from the ballot after scoring a tough win in the Group 2 $175,000 Ascot Green Moreton Cup (1200m) at Doomben today.

Deploy, above winning at Randwick, scored a tough win in the Moreton Cup at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

Deploy wasn’t among the twenty-seven first acceptors for the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben next week and trainer Gerald Ryan has picked out the Group 3 $200,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 24 as his next run.

Stable representative Sterling Alexiou was unsure what the owners would do but said that it was good to win a Group 2 race and he has the talent to win many more races.

“At this stage he is a Group 2 winner and there are a lot of races that are suitable for him that he can go on and win,” Alexiou said.

“He has always shown super ability at home and he has really come on in leaps and bounds his last two preparations and for him to come to a Group 2 today and Timmy to give him a great ride like that to get him to kick after he got headed is super.”

Jockey Tim Clark wrapped up a winning double for the day when he was able to get Deploy ($4.80 favourite) to kick back after being headed by Dothraki ($5) at the 250m mark who faded in the run to the line to fill the runner’s up spot.

Perfect Dare ($21) set the pace up front for Tegan Harrison and fought on well over the concluding stages to hold down third position.

Clark had won the previous race, the Listed $100,000 AMGROW Lightning Handicap (1050m), on the Henry Dwyer trained filly Snitty Kitty.

Moreton Cup Results