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A diminutive but top-class line-up of just seven winter gallopers will face off in Brisbane’s Doomben Cup 2026 field this weekend where markets are dominated by two horses – Half Yours and Pride Of Jenni.
The second elite level of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, the Group 1 $1 million XXXX Doomben Cup (2000m) may be lacking in numbers but the anticipation surrounding the showdown between the reigning Spring Cups hero and Ciaron Maher‘s front running queen remains high.
Half Yours currently sits top of the latest Doomben Cup odds at $3 through Ladbrokes.com.au to return to winning form third-up and getting up in trip.
Tony & Calvin McEvoy‘s St Jean gelding proved a revelation last prep when completing the rare Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double.
He’s had two runs this time in, the latest of which saw him cross some four lengths back fourth behind the marvel Pride Of Jenni in the Gold Coast’s Group 2 AD Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on May 9.
Set to relish the step up in trip at this stage of his campaign, the well-supported five-year-old is tipped to turn the tables on his last start conqueror.
Jamie Melham sticks aboard the $9.2 million earner boasting a lovely association with the galloper who will jump from barrier 7 of 7 for his Doomben debut.
The danger is obviously the mare that easily accounted for him in the Hollindale, Pride Of Jenni continuing to defy her age and stay in favour with the punters.
Maher’s eight-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai was back to her brilliant best when returning to winning form in the Hollindale for the first time since her Group 1 Empire Stakes victory at HQ last Cup Carnival.
She had nearly a length to spare on the line over the next best in that traditional Doomben Cup lead-up and is now out to extend her brilliance to the 2000m and atone for her 10th to Antino in the race last year.
The last horses to complete the A.D. Hollindale Stakes – Doomben Cup double were the mare Streama (2014), star import Zaaki (2021) and Antino (2025).
Pride Of Jenni’s regular ride Declan Bates sticks aboard from a favourable barrier four draw and the mare currently sits on the second line of Doomben Cup betting at $3.60.
In a wide-open market, a further three of the final Doomben Cup acceptors can be found at single figures for the win including the Chris Waller-trained Birdman ($4.40).
Waller has prepared three Doomben Cup winners since 2009, most recently Comin’ Through in 2018, and saddles-up three chances to collect his fourth trophy this weekend led by Birdman.
An Irish-bred son of Free Eagle, Birdman is yet to race in Brisbane but put the writing on the wall with his brave second in the Hollindale.
With winning form up to 2615m, the 2000m looks ideal for him now and from his three previous runs over the distance he boasts a win and a second placing.
The other Waller-trained Doomben Cup hopefuls this season are the in-form Asterix ($15) and the rails-drawn Kovalica ($26) who is the rank outsider in the markets.
Tavistock seven-year-old Asterix is racing in terrific form of late and chases a hat-trick now having scored notable upsets at big starting prices in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick and the Listed Gosford Cup (2100m) at his latest two starts.
Kovalica meanwhile comes via a fifth in the Hollindale with the Ocean Park six-year-old winless since his narrow Group 2 $1.2 million The Q22 (2200m) win at Eagle Farm last June.
Saturday marks Kovalica’s fourth straight time contesting the Doomben Cup, and he’s already got two top three runs on his CV in the race from 2023 and 2025.
The field is completed by the Grahame Begg-trained She’s A Hustler ($6) and Vauban ($8) from the Waterhouse/Bott yard.
Five-year-old Ace High mare, She’s A Hustler, has proven very effective over the 2000m in the past (3:1-2-0) and presents fit third-up on the improve after a last start third in the Hollindale.
Vauban, to be ridden by Tim Clark, is also coming off two good runs this time in when resuming with a Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) victory at Rosehill before his third when finishing a well-beaten margin behind Aeliana up in trip for the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) on March 28.
2026 Doomben Cup Field & Odds
| 1. 6. Pride Of Jenni (4) | ||
| 2. 1. Half Yours (7) | ||
| 3. 4. Birdman (5) | ||
| 4. 7. She’s A Hustler (3) | ||
| 5. 2. Vauban (6) | ||
| 6. 3. Asterix (2) | ||
| 7. 5. Kovalica (1) |
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