Annabel Neasham has claimed her second win in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), with Bos D’Argent (+2500) causing a major boilover on Saturday afternoon.
Her recently retired Group 1 star, Zaaki (2021), was her only previous winner in the race prior to Saturday, as Bois D’Argent made-all to collect his first-ever Group 1 prize, courtesy of a front-running masterclass by Blake Shinn.
He pinged the lids from barrier eight, taking his time to cross to the lead, with a group of six or seven horses spread across the track.
It was the eventual winner that would end up getting across comfortably in the end, while stable companion Naval College (+4000) and Peter & Paul Snowden two-time Doomben Cup winner Huetor (+1200) lobbed into lovely trailing positions.
Detonator Jack (+400) cruised across into the one-one under James McDonald, with other leading chances Kovalica (+250) and Numerian (+750) holding positions slightly worse than mid-field turning into the straight.
Bois D’Argent gave a strong kick under Shinn as a wall of horses mounted a late challenge, with New Endeavour (+1000) getting the split as Craig Williams pulled the whip.
It was a head-bobbing go on the wire, but there was a slight margin in favour of the inside as Bois D’Argent fended off another honest performance by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained import.
2024 Doomben Cup replay – Bois D’Argent
Annabel Neasham was on course to represent the stable and credited everyone involved in her team for the victory.
“Well, he was the one I was saying was way over the odds,” said Neasham.
“You pick back through his form and he’s no worse than the rest of these better horses in this field. He ran fourth in a Caulfield Cup where he was a bit unlucky, the Tancred didn’t really work out for him that day but he ran really well, and I’m just do happy for Grant Morgan and his team cause he’s been a good support and a great bunch of owners in him.
“A beautiful ride by Blake (Shinn), he rated him beautifully, and New Endeavour kept us honest with a flashback of last week, but it was small margin, but a margin nonetheless.
“I’m just so happy for the team, they’ve done a great job to get four horses here and they all looked to run really well, so, delighted.”
Blake Shinn was emotional as he spoke post-race about the win and what it means to snag his second Doomben Cup as a jockey.
“I’m a bit emotional for this one because obviously my last one was Streamer with Guy Walter, so after I realised I’d won it, straight in my mind was Guy, so it was pretty touching to be able to do it,” he said.
“The horse was amazing, full credit to Annabel, she’s a lovely woman and to win a race for her of this magnitude is pretty special.”
“It was a great race and Annabel was very confident that he would run well. Anyone could have won this race today and he was fortunate he too good. I’m absolutely thrilled.”
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