Leebaz is on top of the 2015 Doomben Cup tips of ratings expert Dean The Trial Spy and he believes that the talented gelding deserves to be favourite in betting markets for the Group 1 event that will be held at Doomben tomorrow.
Leebaz is one of a number of winning chances in the 2015 Doomben Cup this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Leebaz finished a close second behind Streama in the 2014 edition of the Doomben Cup and he stamped himself as a leading contender for this year’s race when he recorded his first race win for almost a year in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 25.
The innovative racing analyst believes that Leebaz and Pornichet will fight out the finish in the Doomben Cup, but he feels that the odds of the leading duo should be swapped heading into the $650,000 event tomorrow.
“I do think that it is a race that will be dominated by the two favourites, but I have Leebaz slightly on top,” he told RSN.
“I have Leebaz marked at about $4 compared to the $5 that is available, while I have Pornichet at about $5 and there is $4 available.
“Leebaz ran second in the race last year and this looks a similar class to that field on my ratings.
“The Hollindale win was really impressive and he continued to push forward.
“Pornichet needs to prove himself a bit, he just did the job in the Toowoomba Cup and he still has to prove that he is up to Group 1 level.”
While Dean fancies the chances of Leebaz in the 2015 Doomben Cup, he also believes that consistent gelding Foreteller is another horse that represents value at his current Doomben Cup odds of $10.
Foreteller produced slightly disappointing efforts in both the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 14 and the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28, but he returned to his best form with a fast-finishing fourth in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 25.
The Dansili gelding was not beaten far by Adelaide in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) last year and Dean said that the veteran gelding could be the one to take advantage if Leebaz and Pornichet fail to fire in the Doomben Cup.
“The one I thought were a bit of value at around the $9 mark is Foreteller,” he said.
“He just continues year in year out to run big races in Group 1 races and he won the Underwood last prep and then ran an unlucky fifth in the Cox Plate when he arguably could have won with a clear run.
“I was impressed with his run in the Hollindale last start, he got back and was shifted out wide on the turn and was held up a bit and then he ran home really strongly for fourth.”
Pornichet is currently available at 2015 Doomben Cup odds of $4.20 and he is a narrow favourite from Leebaz ($5), I’m Imposing ($8), Silent Achiever ($8.50) and Foreteller ($10).
