Downpour to help track
OFFICIALS hope predicted rain will take the fire out of the Doomben track for the Melbourne Cup day meeting.
On Saturday, Doomben started out a good four but after the first race was upgraded and again after the third race to firm.
The rating was reflected in race times with four class records and a course record run during the day.
Several horses were late scratchings because of the hard track including three- year-old race favourite Miss
Exfactor.
“She needs the sting out of the track and I don’t want to risk her,” trainer Tony Gollan told stewards.
Doomben will host three meetings in seven days and staff could not risk the surface by heavy watering last week.
The track will be watered in the next two days and rain is predicted for Melbourne Cup day tomorrow when a large crowd is expected at the Brisbane course.
On Saturday, a rare trip to Brisbane from the Gold Coast for jockey Scott Galloway paid off when Manaya won the a Class 6 (1200m).
Manaya won the Woodland Stakes at Scone at her first start and has performed in some handy races without winning since.
She was a well beaten fifth at Doomben first up on a wet track but atoned with a strong win on Saturday.
The $3.80 favourite continued a trend of fast times, clocking 1 minute 18.34 seconds for the 1350m which would win most open company races in Brisbane.
Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa wasn’t at Doomben but Galloway said Manya was able to win in better company.
“She has a few quirks and can be hard to handle in the barriers. She also likes to kick anything that gets near her but she was on her best behaviour,” Galloway said.
Meanwhile, My Giuliano surprised even his connections by running a course record over 2040m at Doomben.
The tough stayer ($6.50) came from the tail of the field to beat Endless Days ($8.50) by a long neck with Monteux ($6.50) third in the Lite ‘N’ Easy Handicap.
The victory continues a good recent run for Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable. It was his seventh metropolitan winner in the past six weeks.
My Giuliano’s 2min 3.70 second was more than a second faster than the previous record for 2040m which surprised Waller’s Queensland manager Paul Shailer.
“I wasn’t worried when he was back near the tail early because they were flying. But as for the course record, well, his best form is on a soft track so it is a surprise,” Shailer said.