Saturday's G1 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup shapes up as somewhat of a rematch of the Gold Coast's G2 A.D. Hollindale S., with most of the leading contenders here exiting that 1800-metre contest May 7. Leebaz (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) won the Hollindale for the second straight year, rebounding from a 13th-place finish in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at The Championships, which came on the back of a win in Caulfield's G3 Easter Cup over this trip. The Team Hawkes-trained Leebaz finished second in this two years ago, but beat just one home last year after leading early. Godolphin's Hauraki (Aus) (Reset {Aus}) was second in the Hollindale and has been consistent all season, hitting the board in all but one of five tries, including twice in Group 1 company, but he has not won for over a year and needs to prove once again that he wants to get his head in front. Trainer John O'Shea, who also saddles Hollindale fifth It's Somewhat (Dynaformer), will add blinkers to try to get that little bit more about of Hauraki, and he said, “Hauraki has been a very honest horse for us right from the start. He's also a Group 2 winner and a Derby placegetter, and he's run well in some of this country's best races, so he deserves a Group 1 against his name. He ran very well last start, he had to make a very long run and it just told a bit at the end. But he's drawn ideally this time and we'll put the blinkers on just to help him focus better.”
Volkstok'n'barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was third in the Hollindale, and returns to the trip over which he won last year's G1 Rosehill Guineas, as well as the G1 New Zealand S. in March. Volkstok'n'barrell could manage only 10th of 15 in the G1 Doncaster Mile Apr. 4, but was finishing well in the Hollindale to suggest he retains his top-class form.
An interesting proposition here is yet another Chris Waller-trained import in the French group winner Spiritjim (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}). The Sun Bloodstock colourbearer was just seventh in the Hollindale but certainly wants more distance, with Saturday's trip likely still being the minimum he wants to contest.
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