Doomben Cup Tips & Preview 2023

Looking for Doomben Cup tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2023 Doomben Cup at Doomben.

DOOMBEN CUP BETTING SNAPSHOT

The 2021 Doomben Cup winner, Zaaki, is the $2.10 favourite with NEDS ahead of the three-year-old, Kovalica, at $6.50. Last year’s winner, Huetor, is at $9, while Atishu is at $11. 

Duais will be looking to recapture the form that saw her win two Group 1 races in the autumn of 2022. She is at $15 alongside Nonconformist and Zeyrek. Numerian heads the rest at $18. 

DOOMBEN CUP FORM ANALYSIS

Six runners come out of the Hollindale Stakes that was taken out by Zaaki on May 6 at the Sunshine Coast. The Anabel Neasham-trained galloper started as a $1.60 favourite and did what he had to do, overcoming a wide run early on to show his class at the business end. 

The eight-year-old went 1.2 lengths slower than standard. That figures was due to the slow tempo early on. Third up in the spring he went 9.7 lengths faster than standard when 3rd in the Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. He then ran 4th in the Cox Plate (2040m) before taking out the Champions Stakes (2000m) and is the proven galloper in this field. 

Huetor, Zeyrek, No Compromise, Bankers Choice and Atishu filled the placings from 2nd to 6th.It is hard to see that group turning the tables on the winner although Huetor did beat Zaaki in this race last year. Atishu might not have been suited by the tempo in the Hollindale Stakes and is two from three at the distance. She was backed into $3.70 second favouritism in the Hollindale and might be the improver. 

Kovalica is the stablemate of both No Compromise and Atishu and represents a bit of X-factor. The Chris Waller-trained galloper is the only three-year-old in the race and has some obvious upside. The son of Ocean Park comes off a last start win in the Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm, going 3.8 lengths faster than standard and gives the impression that the step to the 2000m will suit. He is unbeaten in two runs at 2000m and beyond. 

Duais heads into this first up and comes off a bit of a disappointing spring when failing to place in some of the major races in Melbourne last spring. She will be out to find the form that saw her take out the Australian Cup (2000m) and Tancred Stakes (2400m) a year ago but has to be a question mark while fresh. 

Nonconformist is capable of pulling out a run but is hard to catch. He was excellent when resuming with a win in the Blamey Stakes (1600m) but has finished out of the money at his past two starts. At his most recent start he was held up when 4th in the Mornington Cup (2400m) but will need some improvement to trouble the likes of Zaaki. 

Best last start benchmark figures belong to Palmetto, who took out the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at Gosford on May 6, going 4.8 lengths faster than standard. The John Sergent-trained galloper is yet to win in two runs at the trip. 

Numerian comes in with seven weeks in between runs after placing 6th in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick behind Dubai Honour. The stablemate of Zaaki was runner-up in the Australian Cup prior to that and might be one to consider at the each-way quote. 

Rough hopes go to Esti Fenny and Diamil. That pair finished 1st and 8th respectively in the Gosford Cup (2100m). Diamil probably needs a Soft to Heavy track but is unlikely to get that with fine conditions forecast in the lead in and on race day. 

DOOMBEN CUP TIPS AND BEST BETS

Zaaki is a clear top pick. He did go down as a $1.24 favourite in this race last year behind Huetor but he had two extra runs before that race, including a couple of Heavy tracks in the Queen Elizabeth and the Hollindale Stakes. Third up last time he was 3rd behind Anamoe and I’m Thunderstruck at Caulfield and he is very hard to tip against. Look for him to cross over in the early stages and attempt to dictate. Place value lies with Numerian, who comes into this on the fresh side after a couple of runs behind some of the better middle-distance horses in Australia.