A cool ride by Sunshine Coast based jockey Damian Browne sees Impending on track for back to back Stradbroke Handicaps with his win in the Group 2 $200,000 Hiflow Industries Victory Stakes (1200m) at Doomben last Saturday.

Impending, above winning the 2017 Stradbroke Handicap, returned to Doomben to win the 2018 Victory Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

The James Cummings trained Impending, carrying the Godolphin royal blue colours, was hemmed in when heads were turned for home but Browne didn’t panic on the $2.50 favourite and when Supido to his outside started to give ground, Browne seized the opportunity and shot the four year old through the gap to go on and record a long neck win over the Tony Gollan trained Most Important ($8.50).

The three year old filly I Am Excited ($6) made a late bid out wide from back in the field to claim the third spot.

Darley and Godolphin’s Australian manager Vin Cox said that Impending is booked to start a stud career at Darley’s Woodside Park Stud in the upcoming Spring breeding season and as well as chasing back to back wins in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 9, the Lonhro stallion will also contest the Group 1 $700,000 Kirin Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 12 and the Group 1 $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) a fortnight later, both at Doomben.

“We’re delighted to bring the Stradbroke winner back and have him in form to defend that crown,” Cox said.

“He’s been working the place down at home and this win sets him up for a great campaign.

“The Doomben 10,000 shapes as a great race, with Redzel and In Her Time and then we’re here for the next two runs after that as well.”

“He is off to stud at the end of the winter and more Group Ones won’t do him any harm”

Impending only had two runs before Saturday since the Stradbroke Handicap last year and from a light 2017 Spring Carnival campaign finished second to In Her Time in The Everest consolation, the Listed $500,000 Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 14 and then ran third behind Redzel and Terravista in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the final day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Impending is on the third line of betting at $9 for the Doomben 10,000 at Ladbrokes.com.au behind Redzel at $2.50 and In Her Time at $3.50 while in Stradbroke Handicap markets Impending is the equal second pick at $6 with Pierata behind the $5 favourite In Her Time.

Early betting for the 2018 Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 In Her Time, $6 Impending, Pierata, $7 Care To Think, $8 Osborne Bulls, Viridine, $10 The Mission, $12 Pedrena, Tribal Wisdom, Victorem, $14 Most Important, $15 Champagne Cuddles, Danon Liberty, $17 Cellarman, Clearly Innocent, Theanswermyfriend, Widgee Turf, $21 Burning Front, Jungle Edge, Mr Sneaky, $26 or better the rest.

2018 Victory Stakes Results