Silent Achiever has been included in the 2015 Doomben Cup nominations, but the talented mare remains no certainty to contest the Group 1 event at Doomben on May 9.
Silent Achiever remains a chance to contest the 2015 Doomben Cup after being included in the nominations for the Group 1 event. Photo by: Steve Hart
Silent Achiever was sent to Queensland for the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 25, but she produced the worst performance of her autumn campaign to date to finish eighth and trainer Kerrin McEvoy told stewards after the race that he was disappointed with the performance of the six-year-old.
The O’Reilly mare suffered a colic attack on the float home from the races, but trainer Roger James did not blame that for the poor Hollindale Stakes performance of Silent Achiever and he said that connections will decide in the next week whether she presses on to the Doomben Cup or is retired to serve as a broodmare at stud.
The Hollindale Stakes is always the key lead-up race to the Doomben Cup and the 2015 edition of the race is set to be no exception as a number of Hollindale Stakes runners have been included in the Doomben Cup nominations.
Leebaz stamped himself as a leading Doomben Cup contender when he returned to winning form in the Hollindale Stakes and he will have the chance to go one better than he did in 2014 when he finished second behind classy mare Streama.
Sir Moments hit the line strongly to finish second in the Hollindale Stakes and he will press on to the Doomben Cup, while the likes of Escado, Foreteller, Green Moon, Hawkspur, I’m Imposing, Moriarty and Precedence are also set to back-up from the Group 2 event.
Hopfgarten and Pornichet are set to run in the Toowoomba Cup this weekend and are a chance of running in the Doomben Cup, while Kourkam and Malice could head to Queensland after running in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) this weekend.
One of the most interesting runners in the 2015 Doomben Cup nominations is talented mare Gypsy Diamond, who returned to winning form with a fast-finishing victory in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 18.
The Not A Single Doubt mare made a slow start to her autumn preparation, but she relished the step-up to 2000 metres in the JRA Plate and could be advantaged if there is any moisture in the Doomben track on Doomben Cup day.
Kiwi hopeful Addictive Habit, Mornington Cup winner Banca Mo, Chairman’s Handicap winner Epingle, Darlene Duryea-trained Ongoing Venture and imported galloper Weary round out the Doomben Cup nominations.
