A slashing last start third in the Hollindale Stakes has seen Man Of His Word emerge as a chance for the locals to claim the winning trophy in the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Man Of His Word, above, has emerged as a top local hope for the 2018 Doomben Cup at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Man Of His Word is till quoted as one of the outsiders of the Doomben Cup field at $34 with Ladbrokes.com.au even though he made up many lengths from the back of the field to run third behind Oregon’s Day and Tom Melbourne in the Group 2 $358,000 Attwood Marshall A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 5.
The Mick Price trained Oregon’s Day is the second pick in the betting at $6 behind the Anthony Freedman trained Ambitious while Tom Melbourne is also in contention at $10.
Gold Coast trainer Bruce Hill has Man Of His Word peaking at the right time and said that the 2000m of the Doomben Cup was the five year old’s ideal distance.
“I have been saying for the past couple of years that Man Of His Word wouldn’t be at his best until he got out to 1800 to 2000 metres,” Hill told AAP.
“He didn’t have the best of luck again in the Holindale but was finishing better than anything. Galio Chop is obviously a very good horse and even with him out it is a strong field.”
“But I think my bloke will be right in the finish and I just hope we draw a barrier which allows him to get cover.”
Man Of His Word has shown plenty of promise in the past but hasn’t been in the winner’s stall since beating Cylinder Beach in the Listed $100,000 Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Doomben over the 2016 Summer Carnival.
Man Of His Word has since been placed four times at Listed level but his last start third at Group 2 level in the A.D. Hollindale Stakes is definitely his best effort to date.
The forced scratching because of injury to the early pre-post favourite Gailo Chop has seen Ambitious elevated to the top of the Doomben Cup market order at $4.20 at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Oregon’s Day at $6 and the Chris Waller trained Satono Rasen at $6.50.
Waller also has the next four in the betting with Egg Tart and Tom Melbourne at $10, Comin’ Through at $11 and Life Less Ordinary at $13.
The final field for the 2018 Doomben Cup will be released on Wednesday, May 16.
Early betting for the 2018 Doomben Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Ambitious, $6 Oregon’s Day, $6.50 Satono Rasen, $10 Egg Tart, Tom Melbourne, $11 Comin’ Through, $13 Life Less Ordinary, Our Century, Roman Son, $15 Abbey Marie, $17 Tradesman, $21 All In Vogue, $26 It’s Somewhat, One Foot In Heaven, $34 Bedford, Consenuous, Ecuador, Man Of His Word, Rising Red, Sixties Groove, $41 or better the rest.
