Consistent sprinter Dothraki will have the blinkers back on when he lines up in the Group 2 $175,000 Ascot Green Moreton Cup (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Dothraki, above, will have the nose roll replaced by the blinkers in the Moreton Cup at Doomben.
Dothraki last wore the blinkers when eighth in the Listed $100,000 Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Randwick in September 2013 when prepared by Gerald Ryan.
The Triple Crown Syndications owned six year old gelding now races under the Team Snowden banner and Peter Snowden said the addition of the blinkers has sharpen up the six year old as he indicated with a recent win in a 900m Rosehill barrier trial.
“Dothraki trialled well at Rosehill on Friday and the addition of blinkers have clearly sharpened up his work,” said Peter Snowden who trains in partnership with his son Paul.
The Moreton Cup was originally set down to be run over 1300m at Eagle farm but when the Queensland Oaks meeting was transferred to Doomben because of the unsatisfactory state of the Eagle Farm track, the distance was reduced to 1200m which Snowden says will suit Dothraki better.
“The changes made to the Moreton Cup with it now being run at 1200m have opened up this opportunity for him and we’ll look to capitalise,” Snowden said.
“He’s in good shape, and I couldn’t be happier with how he has worked since his third at Scone.”
Dothraki is the winner of six of his thirty-six starts plus another fifteen placings with earnings of over a $1 million but hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since October 2015 when he took out the Listed $150,000 City Tattersalls Club Lightning (1100m) at Randwick.
The son of Mossman has been amongst the minor prizemoney at his last two starts with a second to stablemate Artisrty in the Group 3 $150,000 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on March 11 followed by third behind Quatronic and Deploy in the Listed $150,000 Arrowfield Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 13.
Hugh Bowman takes over from Tye Angland on Dothraki who has been allocated the top weight of 59kg and will jump from around the middle of the pack in the field that has been reduced to thirteen runners following the early scratchings of Elegant Composure and Bonny O’Reilly.
Both Elegant Composure and Bonny O’Reilly will take their place against th fillies and mares in the Listed $100,000 IPG Marketing Solutions Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m).
Dothraki is well in contention in the market order for the Moreton Cup at $7.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au, not far behind the $5 favourite Depoly.
Also high up in the betting is the Chief De Beers winner The Virginian at $5.50 and Dothraki’s stablemate Attention at $6.50 while Team Snowden will also saddle up $21 chance Snippets Land.
