Wyong’s Kim Waugh is considering a rise in grade for her veteran galloper Our Century with the 2018 Doomben Cup an appealing option this weekend in Brisbane.
Last start Lord Mayors Cup winner Our Century could line-up in the 2018 Doomben Cup field this weekend in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart.
News last week that the Darren Weir-trained Gailo Chop would miss the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) due to injury has opened the weight-for-age winter feature right up.
It also has Waugh seriously looking at an acceptance for her Montjeu seven-year-old Our Century who won the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) over the distance at Rosehill last start on May 5.
“We just thought we’d keep our options open when we saw that [Gailo Chop was out],” Waugh told the media this week.
“He’s a nice horse. He goes really well. We’ll just weigh it up as the week progresses.”
The Lord Mayors Cup victory was the lightly-raced import’s first victory since the Wangaratta Cup (2000m) in March of last year.
Updated pre-field Doomben Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au list the former Lloyd Williams-owned Our Century as a $15 chance despite the horse being untested in Brisbane and without a Group 1 start since May of 2014 back in Europe.
Our Century has had just the two runs for Waugh, who also has the Listed $150,000 WJ McKell Cup (2400m) at Randwick on May 26 as a possible next-up run for the galloper.
That would still serve as a stepping stone to a Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival assignment in the Group 2 $300,000 Brisbane Cup (2200m) on Stradbroke Handicap Day, June 9.
Ambitious is the new $4 favourite in early Doomben Cup betting, the Anthony Freedman-trained Japanese import racing for the first time since his eighth to Winx in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) from mid-April.
The other major player before Wednesday’s final acceptances is the Mick Price-trained Domesday mare Oregon’s Day at $6.50 following the four-year-olds Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) win at the Gold Coast at the start of the month.
Another galloper with the 2018 Brisbane Cup in sight who is likely to bypass the Doomben Cup meanwhile is the Richard Freedman-trained Roman Son.
The in-form four-year-old has won his past two starts in April, the latest over 2100m at Hawkesbury by over two lengths carrying 58kg, but his trainer has been unable to secure a suitable jockey for the Doomben Cup.
“I’ve considered it but I think we should stick with our original plan, which is to go around on Saturday in the Benchmark 85 [at Rosehill],” Freedman said of the Group 1.
“I can’t secure a jockey that suits me for the Doomben Cup.”
“If he runs well, we’ll go to the Brisbane Cup.
“If he doesn’t run well then we’ll probably go to the paddock. But I think he probably will run well.”
Freedman still has Group 1 ambitions for Roman Son, but believes the top level more likely awaits the up-and-comer in 2019.
“This year he’s probably not experienced enough to beat those weight-for-age horses,” he said.
“If it was a handicap I’d be going.
“I think he’s eventually going to make that level.
“He’s got a few issues that need to be managed, soundness-wise and things like that.
“So that’s why I’m hesitant to push him too fast too quick.”
To back your favourites for the Doomben Cup 2018 and other Brisbane winter races at the right price head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.
