WYONG trainer Kristen Buchanan will be anxiously awaiting acceptances on Wednesday morning for Saturday’s Doomben meeting.
But she isn’t expecting last week’s Gosford winner Smashing Rosie to make the field for the $1m Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1050m).
“Smashing Rosie has done really well since the Gosford race, and we will accept for Doomben,” Buchanan said on Tuesday morning.
“However, she is 20th in order of ballot, and the field is restricted to 12 starters, along with five emergencies.
“I haven’t tried to book a rider as she isn’t guaranteed getting into the field, but I’m sure I won’t have any trouble securing one if by chance we do make it.”
Smashing Rose, a homebred filly by Brave Smash, and the first foal of the Sepoy mare Sepplime, whom Buchanan trained for her five starts, was successful in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1100m) at Gosford at only her second start.
Whilst Buchanan in unsure about a Brisbane start with her filly, fellow provincial trainer, Hawkesbury’s Blake Ryan, is weighing up his weekend options with another last start winner Kote.
He has nominated the pacy four-year-old for races in both Sydney and Brisbane on Saturday, and intends accepting in both places.
Kote, who won the $200,000 Thunder Thousand (900m) – a Benchmark 78 Handicap – with 60.5kg at the Gosford stand-alone meeting held at Newcastle on May 11 at only his third start for his new trainer, has been given an extra 2.5kg for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
He has also been nominated for the Listed Chief De Beers and Benchmark 85 Handicap (both 1110m) at Saturday’s Doomben Cup meeting.
“At this stage I intend accepting at Randwick and also the Benchmark 85 at Doomben, and will see how many acceptors there are for the Chief De Beers just before the 9am closing time on Wednesday,” Ryan said.
“Koby Jennings, who won on Kote at Newcastle, isn’t available for Randwick as he is riding at Newcastle on Saturday.
“Kote is not really an apprentice’s horse, and I’ll probably go for a senior rider even with 63kg if we run at Randwick.
“Mark Du Plessis has been booked for the Benchmark 85 at Doomben.
“Track conditions and barriers will have the final bearing on where we go.
“There is a float to Brisbane on Wednesday night if we decide to head north.”
Ryan said he has been pleased with Kote’s progress since his Newcastle victory when he upset odds-on favorite Passeggiata, despite conceding her 4kg.
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Newcastle’s Kris Lees has accepted with both Amokura and Kind Words for Saturday’s $1m Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m).
Melbourne jockey Mark Zahra has been booked for Amokura, on whom now retired fellow Melbourne ace Damien Oliver won last year’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
Kind Words is the sole three-year-old filly in the Cup field, but was also entered for Saturday’s Group 2 Doomben Roses (2000m) against her own sex, where she is 20th in order of ballot (16 can run).
Story John Curtis, May 21, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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