A bruised and battered Michael Cahill has given himself the all clear to ride Leebaz in the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Jockey Michael Cahill, above, has declared himself fit to ride Leebaz in the Doomben Cup at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Cahill had a heavy tumble from Artlee as the field crossed the line in the Group 1 $500,000 BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben last Saturday and was suffering from concussion before heading off to hospital for further tests.
“I had a CAT scan on Saturday night and that came up all clear. I’m a bit stiff and sore but I can probably count myself pretty lucky,” Cahill told The Courier-Mail.
“I will make a final decision (Monday) but I will most probably ride on Wednesday and I will definitely be right for Saturday.”
Artlee actually crossed the line before Cahill was dislodged and was officially placed in seventh spot behind the Lee and Anthony Freedman trained Malaguerra.
Racing Queensland stewards opened an inquiry into the fall and took early evidence from Jason Collett (Delectation), Paul King (Two Blue), Glen Colless (Malaguerra) and Blake Shinn (Dothraki) and will reconvene the inquiry when Cahill is available to give evidence.
Cahill is booked to ride Leebaz in the Doomben Cup after he partnered the six year old to a one length win in the Group 2 $358,000 All-New Jaguar F-Pace A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 7.
The Team Hawkes trained Leebaz made it back to back Hollindale Stakes wins and has found winning form at the right time heading towards the Doomben Cup with two wins from his last three starts.
Leebaz was also successful three runs back when he led all of the way to win the Group 3 $150,000 Le Pine Funerals Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on March 26 but then finished thirteenth to Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on the second day of ‘The Championships’ April 9.
The Zabeel six year old has raced in the last two Doomben Cup with mixed results with a second to Streama in 2014 but he was only able to beat one runner home last year when fourteenth to the Gai Waterhouse trained French import Pornichet.
In early betting for the Doomben Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au Leebaz is listed at $10 in the market order that has the John O’Shea trained Hauraki at $3.80 and It’s Somewhat at $5 as the two top picks.
Early market order for the Doomben Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.80 Hauraki, $5 It’s Somewhat, $6 Raw Impulse, Volkstok’N’Barrell, $7 Spiritjim, $9 Noble Protector, $10 Leebaz, $13 Messene, Our Ivanhowe, $15 Lady Le Fay, Maurus, $17 Junoob, $41 Honey Toast, $101 Shotover River.
