Zaaki seeks to avenge a shock defeat in the 2022 Doomben Cup when he heads a fascinating renewal of the Group 1 feature this Friday night. Zaaki's shot at redemption includes a rematch with last year's surprise winner, Huetor, plus the challenge of overcoming some intriguingly spotted fresh opposition. While America's racing fans lament the size and quality of the Preakness field and some of Pimlico's supporting stakes, the Doomben Cup's 13 entrants make it the smallest field this Friday night at Brisbane's Doomben Racecourse. There were 137 horses (not counting also eligibles) entered across nine races, ensuring great spectacles and unparalleled wagering value. The first post is at 9:43 p.m. Eastern or 6:43 p.m. Pacific.
Regardless of how many Group 1 winners pass through the stables of Annabel Neasham, Zaaki will always hold pride of place in the young trainer's heart. Both English imports, it was Zaaki who put Neasham on the map Down Under. Within a year of attaining her license, Neasham's star was on the rise as Zaaki burst onto the scene with wins during the 2021 “Queensland Winter Carnival” – including the Doomben Cup by a whopping seven lengths.
In last year's renewal, Zaaki could manage only third as the odds-on favorite behind 15-1 winner Huetor. While Huetor has been winless since, Zaaki tuned up for the Doomben Cup by winning the G2 Hollindale Stakes for the third straight year (his 10th stakes victory, pushing his career earnings north of AU$10 million). Huetor ran him to a half-length at the finish, but Zaaki's performance was meritorious after being forced to work hard early in the race from a wide gate. The enduring 8-year-old gelding continues to perform at a high level for a trainer barely into her 30s and is a clear favorite again this year at 6-5.
Splitting Zaaki and Huetor (10-1) in the wagering is an intriguing addition to the field, Kovalica (7-1). The highly promising 3-year-old was scratched from a stakes race last weekend against his own age, due to a hoof abscess. Kovalica recovered quickly and, while his target race is next week's G1 Queensland Derby, trainer Chris Waller has entered him in the Doomben Cup against older horses in a stiff test of his potential. Bookmakers are showing Kovalica and his master trainer great respect (Waller has also entered the mare Atishu, who shares the third line of wagering with Huetor at 10-1).
Several other excellent stakes races adorn Friday night's card, including the highly competitive BRC Sprint (Race 8 at 6-3/4 furlongs), in which the top four horses in wagering are priced between 9-2 and 8-1. The winner will punch a ticket to Queensland's premier race, the AU$3 million Stradbroke Handicap, at seven furlongs on June 9. The last of nine races, The Roses, is a key prep for the the G1 Queensland Oaks on June 2. Brisbane's “Winter Carnival” of racing will see 28 stakes races (18 Graded) contested across the next four Friday nights.
The Doomben card will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV this Friday night (First Post: 9:43 p.m. ET / 6:43 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Rosehill, Newcastle and Belmont. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, FanDuel and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances, and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.
A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael's vast U.S. experience includes; race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders' Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.
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