The ongoing battle continues between It’s Somewhat and Articus for favouritism for the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben today.

Articus, above, is in a battle for Doomben Cup favouritism with It’s Somewhat. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The two highly fancied gallopers have been alternating positions at the top of the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au since the final field for the Doomben Cup was released on Wednesday with the Darren Beadman trained It’s Somewhat regaining the number one spot on race morning at $4.20 just ahead of Darren Weir’s German import Articus at $4.60.

Weir’s other two Doomben Cup runners are also well in commission with Star Exhibit being solidly supported, firming in from $12 to be on the third line of betting at $7 just ahead of his stalemate Amelie’s Star who is also a firmer in the betting from $13 to $8.

Also under the $10 mark is the in-form mare Single Gaze and the Kris Lees trained Sense Of Occasion who are both marked at $9.50.

It’s Somewhat is going for four straight wins in the Doomben Cup and is coming off a last start all the way win in the Group 2 $358,000 Attwood Marshall A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago.

And the heavy 9 rated Doomben track won’t worry the six year old who also led all of the way two starts back on a heavy track to win the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 1.

The heavy conditions will also suit Articus who had wet track form in Europe before heading to Australia and the five year old has found winning form with a last start victory in the $100,000 Chairman’s Club Handicap (1800m) at Flemington on May 6.

Single Gaze has also found her best form at the right time with a win two starts back on a soft Doomben track in the Listed $100,000 Tails Stakes (1600m) on April 22 followed by a head second to It’s Somewhat in the A.D. Hollindale Stakes.

McCreery at $21 is the only Chris Waller runner left in the Doomben Cup after the scratchings of Preferment and Vanbrugh and the premiership winning trainer says that the five year old gelding will handle the wet surface okay and expects a better performance than his last start ninth in the A.D. Hollindale Stakes.

“His run was questionable last start. I would like to put a line through that run, I just thought that the way it was run, sit and sprint, he got a couple of bumps when they straightened,” Waller told Sky Racing.

“He lost a bit of interest after that. The wet will certainly suit. He will handle the track no problem and I guess the barrier draw now on a heavy track is not as significant.”

To get all the best odds for the Doomben Cup meeting go to Ladbrokes.com.au.