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Huetor will chase a piece of history this Saturday when he tries to emulate the feats of champion galloper Rough Habit by winning three consecutive Doomben Cup titles.
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Perhaps the most memorable Doomben Cup victory in recent times was that of Zaaki, who won the 2021 edition of the Weight For Age staying feature by a mammoth seven-lengths.
With the 2022 race moved to Eagle Farm due to inclement weather, Huetor caused a major upset to defeat red hot favourite Zaaki.
He proved it was no fluke by going back-to-back last year when defeating Numerian and this year's Doomben Cup favourite Kovalica.
Only three other horses have won multiple Doomben Cups. Prior to Huetor accomplishing it last year, Scenic Shot was the last horse to achieve the feat when partnered by champion Queensland jockey Shane Scriven in 2009 and 2011.
We've provided our thoughts on every runner in the $1 million Weight For Age feature below! (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Numerian (7)
Price: $9.50
The Annabel Neasham-trained gelding created a big impression when returning in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes last start with a barnstorming win.
Despite sitting wide in the run, he charged home over the top of the same horses he meets here to win by 1.5 lengths.
The eight-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down as shown by his Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes victory over 2100m in Perth during the summer.
He finished second in this race last year to Huetor and is arguably racing in better form now, so he looks well placed to go one better in this year's race.
2. Huetor (11)
Price: $8.00
The Team Snowden-trained seven-year-old gelding already holds a piece of Doomben Cup history as one of only four two-time winners of the race.
A win in Saturday's edition of the race will catapult him into rare air occupied only by Rough Habit as a back-to-back-to-back winner of the time-honoured feature.
On face value he was a touch disappointing in the Hollindale Stakes when finishing 4.1 lengths fifth to Numerian, but he did have genuine excuses such as the speed not suiting him and an outside barrier.
The start prior he easily won the Group 3 JRA Plate by 2.3 lengths, so he is racing in good form.
Unfortunately, he once again draws badly so will need some luck, but it would be a brave person to discount him given what is on the line.
3. Kovalica (3)
Price: $3.60
The four-year-old gelding grows a leg when he comes to Queensland and that was again on show last start in the Hollindale Stakes at the Sunshine Coast.
The Chris Waller-trained son of Ocean Park turned his form around to finish 1.6 lengths third to Numerian, recording the quickest final 200m split of the race.
He'll appreciate a drier surface and the rise to 2000m, given he finished third in last year's Doomben Cup as a three-year-old and won his other start over this course and distance.
He should enjoy an economical run from barrier 3 for Nash Rawiller.
As the classic racing saying goes, he ticks a lot of boxes.
4. Detonator Jack (10)
Price: $5.00
The Ciaron Maher-trained son of Jakkalberry ventures north after agonisingly finishing second in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup after a photo didn't go his way.
Understandably there is a question mark over him handling this distance given he hasn't run over it since winning at Sandown two years ago.
However, the way he ran through the line last start and the setup he arrives here with, he looks likely of handling it superbly.
A key indicator of his chances is the booking of top jockey James McDonald.
5. Vow And Declare (5)
Price: $11.00
Age does not weary the 2019 Melbourne Cup winner.
The eight-year-old gelding is still racing at the highest level and arrives here in great form after running on strongly from the back to finish two lengths fourth to Cascadian in the Group 1 Australian Cup.
He will strip fitter third-up and maps to get a great run.
While I'm not with him to win, I do see him running a massive race…. he's a definite each way chance.
6. Serpentine (16)
Price: $20.00
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained gelding was last seen finishing fourth by 2.8 lengths in the Group 1 Sydney Cup.
It was a brave effort given he settled back further than usual and was also rising from 2000m to 3200m.
The son of Galileo will appreciate dropping back to 2000m which is a distance he's won three of five starts over including the Listed Randwick City Stakes three stars ago.
For most the outside gate would be a big issue, but he'll roll forward for top front running jockey Tim Clark.
If he doesn't have to work hard in front, he can play a role in the finish.
7. Young Werther (1)
Price: $17.00
Trainer Danny O'Brien has freshened his gelding since finishing well down the track in the Australian Cup last start.
While that is elite company, I felt that run proved he is not up to Weight For Age races at the highest level.
He should enjoy an economical run from barrier 1 but I'm happy for him to go around without me.
8. El Bodegon (15)
Price: $71.00
The five-year-old gelding resumed last start in the Hawkesbury Cup and struggled big time.
He hasn't won for 134-weeks, and this doesn't look like the race where he'll break that drought.
10. Naval College (13)
Price: $41.00
The Annabel Neasham-trained gelding can be forgiven for his first-up failure in the Hollindale Stakes where he didn't handle the heavy track.
He'll take benefit from the run and boasts an impressive second-up record which includes a win over this distance at Randwick last preparation.
The five-year-old has staying potential and demonstrated that last preparation when winning three races in a row which culminated in the Listed Australia Day Cup.
The wide barrier isn't ideal, and he needs to improve a few lengths to compete with these seasoned campaigners.
11. Bois D'argent (9)
Price: $27.00
In the Annabel Neasham-trained gelding's favour is the drop back to 2000m and Blake Shinn taking the ride.
He produced a career best performance when finishing fourth in last year's Group 1 Caulfield Cup and would need to reproduce that sort of effort to be competitive here.
Unfortunately, I can't see that happening based on recent form.
12. Fawkner Park (8)
Price: $13.00
The son of Zoffany could be the wildcard in Annabel Neasham's Doomben Cup hand.
He brings a different form line to the race, having gapped them two starts back in the Albury Cup before powering home to win the Wagga Cup last start.
The only time he raced over this course and distance, he bolted in.
Whether he is up to Group 1 Weight For Age standard remains to be seen, but he is in terrific form and that's half the battle won.
13. Hezashocka (6)
Price: $35.00
The Price and Kent Jnr-trained gelding enjoyed the heavy conditions when winning the Listed Gosford Cup last start.
That was his first win in nearly two years so I'm prepared to say he can't repeat the dose in a much harder race.
14. New Endeavour (4)
Price: $26.00
The UK import is yet to win in Australia since arriving at the Waterhouse and Bott stable in October last year.
However, he turned in his best performance last start when despite suffering from heat stress, he found the line strongly in the Group 3 Chairman's Handicap here to go down by a nose.
He should be at peak fitness now and maps to get a beautiful run for Craig Williams.
He's a knockout chance at a big price.
15. Amokura (12)
Price: $12.00
The Kris Lees-trained daughter of Kermadec returns to Queensland for the first time since winning the Group 1 Queensland Oaks during last year's Queensland Racing Carnival.
She will take improvement off her first-up run over 1500m at Rosehill and ran a ripping race when second-up last preparation when charging home to finish a neck third in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes.
That's a similar setup to how she enters this race and in her favour is the fact that big race jockey Mark Zahra takes the ride.
16. Kind Words (2)
Price: $151.00
The rank outsider of the field and it's hard to see her aiming up given her only win was a Hawkesbury maiden in October.
The JudgementKovalica ran well to finish 1.1 lengths third in last year's Doomben Cup, and I believe he's a more furnished horse this year.
The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old responds positively to the Queensland sun on his back and has never run a bad race here, winning four times including the Group 1 Queensland Derby this time last year.
I loved how he powered through the line in the Hollindale Stakes last start which suggests the rise in distance will be ideal and he's here ready to play.
Selections1st – Kovalica
2nd – Numerian
3rd – Vow And Declare
4th – Huetor
