Perhaps the rain drenched surface, surely superior to the Gold Coast last Saturday, will swing the balance to favour Mazu in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000, a sprint equal to The Everest.
Yes the Brisbane Group one, now worth $1.5 million, paltry on modern standards, is second best in Queensland to the Stradbroke but compares favourably with Royal Randwick’s $20 million extravaganza that has overwhelmed the Australian turf with ballyhoo and promotion.
Should he triumph, six-year-old Mazu would not enhance the Doomben 10,000’s reputation. Under the previous development of Peter Snowden, a major player in both races, Mazu won the Doomben 10,000 in 2023.
Mazu has been placed in The Everest but Snowden left his mark on the rich dash with Redzel successful in the first two.
Redzel, though, notched a Doomben 10,000, which has benefited considerably since being switched from 1350 metre, dating back to 1933, to 1200 metres in 2017. It went to Takeover Target superior, in my opinion, to the brilliant Nature Strip, the best to win The Everest.
Bella Nipotina captured the Doomben 10,000 – The Everest double last year emulating Redzel and a double Giga Kick, winner of the Everest (2022) and the Doomben 10,000 the following year.
Few if any can improve on Snowden but Joe Pride has a knack with old timers. Mazu scored in the Hallmark at Randwick last start, much weaker than Saturday. And the gelding won a Doomben 10,000 for Snowden but at Eagle Farm on a heavy. Will he be as slick in the Doomben mud?
The ability to handle different ground after rain is a query, particularly with Sunshine In Paris, the class in the Doomben dash with the services of James McDonald.
If you want to see the equivalent of a scintillating Latrell Mitchell field goal on horseback view J-Mac steering Hellbent On You over the Kensington circuit last Wednesday.
J-Mac navigates Sunshine in Paris from a wide gate (14) with Mazu one inside her. Heavy tracks take away the importance of barriers, emphasised at the Gold Coast last Saturday, due to a heavy, sticky surface that many horses didn’t handle. Antico did in the Hollindale Stakes, began bad from the outside, was wide throughout and still bolted in. Favourite Buckeroo who should have been comfortable in the conditions went like a camel in a swamp.
Mazu has Rachel King on board and with the Pride influence appeals at the odds. Pride is sticking with females as Jamie Melham scored on him at Randwick recently. Melham handles Benedetta on Saturday. I am not comfortable how well the mare will handle the ground. New Zealander Desert Lighting is an outsider who should.
Hopefully the under-hoof at Scone, the outstanding Saturday stand alone in New South Wales, will be better with a feature being the Denise’s Joy Stakes in which the promising Gerringong, part-owned with John Singleton, and including former Eel heavyweights, Mick Cronin, Bob O’Reilly and Peter Wynn, will be strongly fancied.
Tuned by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Gerringong will have the services of wee Winona Costin, so good at Gosford last Saturday on their import Les Vampires.
Gerringong has only had three starts for two wins and a seventh, beaten under five lengths by Private Harry and Lady Of Camelot on the Gold Coast after being wide throughout.
Private Harry, with Ash Morgan in the saddle, is a possible The Everest candidate as is Lady Of Camelot. Like Morgan, who is very good, Costin is getting opportunities on better mounts with the top jockeys in Brisbane.
