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TRAINER Gai Waterhouse is keen to back up So Assertive
in Saturday’s $500,000 XXXX Doomben Cup after
his courageous win in the Triple M Chairman’s
Handicap at the weekend.
Top jockey Chris Munce on So Assertive emerged a
half head victor after a titanic battle with Darren
Beadman on another Sydneysider, Domine.
“He’s paid up for the Cup and provided
he recovers well I will back him up,” said
Waterhouse, who completed a double on the day with
Munce. The duo also won the Listed Glenlogan Park
Stakes with Martique.
Munce said the return to a firm track had helped
So Assertive improve sharply on his previous start
sixth at Eagle Farm behind Out of Options in heavy
going.
“He is hopeless in the wet and he ran accordingly.
Weight-for-age next Saturday is a bit tougher again
but he’s fit and well, so why not run him,” Munce
said.
Waterhouse is hoping that So Assertive, a brother
to unbeaten Group One winner Reset, can replicate
the effort of Juggler, which won the Doomben Cup
for her in 1996.
Earlier in the day, Martique backed up after finishing
fifth in the Gold Coast Guineas the previous Saturday
to win the Listed Glenlogan Park Stakes.
Waterhouse was full of praise for the daughter of
Danehill. “If you look at the Guineas at the
Gold Coast she was the only filly to finish in the
first five. That was a very good run.
“She is bred in the purple and, while it does
seem that she might like the shorter trips at this
stage, she is likely to go further as she matures,” Waterhouse
said.
Martique fought back after being headed half way
down the straight by the Graeme Rogerson-trained
mare, Fair Embrace, to score by a half neck. Star
of Flight was third.
Owner Bob Emery decided not to travel north after
Martique drew wide but Munce offered special thanks
to him for the ride – and there was good reason.
Mr Emery owned and raced Champagne, the dam of Martique,
which Munce beat home when he rode Jezabeel in the
1998 Melbourne Cup.
QUEENSLAND Racing carnival news: John Lingard – May
24.
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SO ASSERTIVE (Chris Munce)
scores a narrow
win
over Domine (Darren Beadman)
in the
Chairman’s
Handicap at NCF Doomben
on Saturday.
(Noel Pascoe photo) |
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