Mr O’Ceirin and Akzar remain on track to contest the 2014 Doomben Cup in Brisbane next weekend after connections paid the late entry fee for the Group 1 event.
Mr O'Ceirin will take his place in the 2014 Doomben Cup field in Brisbane on May 17. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Akzar and Mr O’Ceirin were the notable omissions from the 2014 Doomben Cup first acceptances that were released this morning and their respective trainers, Darren Weir and Ciaron Maher, admitted that they were unaware that first acceptances for the race were required so quickly after the nominations for the race that were required last week.
The connections of Akzar and Mr O’Ceirin were originally expected to pay a late entry fee of $23,100 to get their horses into the race, but Racing Queensland officials made a slight modification and allowed both horses into the field for the weight-for-age event for a fee of $11,550.
Akzar is currently on the second line of 2014 Doomben Cup betting markets after producing a string of impressive performances since joining the Weir stable in January.
The Selkirk gelding scored three straight wins in the Mitchelton Wines Handicap (2000m) at Moonee Valley on January 24, the Hilton Nicholas Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on February 15, and the VRC 150th Celebration Race (2000m) at the same venue a fortnight later and, after finishing second behind Our Voodoo Prince in the Community Raceday Handicap (2000m) and Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on April 19, he returned to winning form with a dominant six lengths victory in the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) last Thursday.
Mr O’Ceirin is currently available at 2014 Doomben Cup odds of $6.50 and will be taking strong form race into the race after finishing second behind outright favourite Streama in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 3.
Gerald Ryan also missed the Doomben Cup first acceptances with Angel Of Mercy, who finished eighth in the Hollindale Stakes last weekend, and the veteran trainer told Brisbane Racing Club officials that he will have a discussion with connections before deciding whether to pay the $11,550 fee.
Ten horses were originally included in the Doomben Cup first acceptances this morning; with Junoob, Leebaz, Moriarty, Slow Pace, Floria, Kitten On The Run, Fat Al, Vilanova and Perfect Start all remaining in contention for the race.
This is not the first time trainers have been caught out by the Doomben Cup acceptances after local trainer Robert Heathcote forg0t to include Solzhenitsyn in the first acceptances for last year’s race.
