Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott came away victorious with an upset Doomben 10,000 result in 2018 by their gun mare English who put forward her claims for the spring’s The Everest.

English (pictured winning the Challenge Stakes in 2016) returned to Group 1 winning form in the 2018 Doomben 10,000. Photo: Steve Hart.

The talented daughter of Encosta De Lago broke a notable winning drought with her eye-catching victory up the inside in the Group 1 $700,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) in her maiden Brisbane assignment.

It was the first turf triumph for English since she knocked off Redzel in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) in March last year, the subsequent Peter & Paul Snowden-trained The Everest winner tipped as the one to beat in the Doomben 10,000.

Redzel won the Brisbane sprint classic last year and was short-priced favourite to go back-to-back.

He led the field around going forward quickly to set the pace in the weight-for-age Doomben 10,000, while in-form jockey Tim Clark had English positioned closer to the speed than the mare usually sees after she jumped well from the inside barrier.

One off the rails in front, Redzel ($2.50) was looking to go all-the-way but was facing heat from the likes of the Kris Lees-trained triple Group 1 winner Le Romain ($16) who went forward midrace out wide to get up on the outside in second.

Redzel just held the lead swinging for home, Le Romain on his outside and market mover English ($13 into $10) who had travelled well in the box seat throughout putting herself right in the mix on the inside.

The other late danger was the James Cummings-trained Impending ($12), last year’s Stradbroke Handicap champ finishing fast on the back of a lead-up win in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at the same track and distance a fortnight ago.

In a tight finish it was English that drew forward late to defeat Impending and Le Romain in the Doomben 10,000 trifecta, beaten favourite Redzel having to settle for fourth.

“She’s been hindered a little bit by bad barriers and her manners a little bit,” Clark, who celebrated his second Doomben 10,000 win have also ridden fellow mare Hot Danish to victory in 2010, said.

“Today they kept her nice and calm, she was able to get out and travel really well behind them.

“She needed a little bit of luck on the turn, getting on Redzel’s back…but she was strong to the link.

“She’s got a dynamite turn of foot, but it’s only about a furlong [200m] so it’s important she’s not too far off them.

“A big thrill to get another Doomben 10,000.”

English now races on in Brisbane with her next assignment scheduled as the Group 1 $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m), the former BTC Cup to run on May 26.

She also holds a nomination for Queensland’s richest race, the Group 1 $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) held on June 9 and could also drop back to fillies’ and mares’ grade for the Group 1 $500,000 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) on June 23.

“She’s been a hugely talented mare throughout her career,” co-trainer Bott said.

“Throughout the last 18 months we’ve been able to make genuine excuses for her every time she’s gone around.

“It’s good to see it all fall into place once again for her.

“We came up here very confident that she was feeling well within herself.

“The bit of give in the ground today has probably been the key as well.

“It’s fantastic to see.”

English was at $15 in pre-field Kingsford-Smith Cup 2018 betting at Ladbrokes.com.au before her upset win saw her firm to $10, markets led by Redzel, and $13 in futures Stradbroke Handicap odds that have Impending on top at $7 to go back-to-back.

“We’ll keep her up here now, obviously races like the BTC Cup and she’s got a nomination for the Stradbroke,” Bott said.

Of course the big race in 2018 on the agenda for English is the $13 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick in October, which she placed under three lengths back sixth to Redzel in last year for the inaugural running of the world’s richest turf race.

To back English next race and to access all the best winter racing odds and offers across the coming weeks, head to Ladbrokes.com.au.

2018 Doomben 10,000 Results & Finishing Order

Doomben Race 8 – 12/05/2018