Ghisoni Saved for Possible 2016 Doomben 10,000 Bid

Despite holding an entry for this Saturday’s BTC Cup, Godolphin trainer John O’Shea has confirmed plans to save smart filly Ghisoni for a fortnight’s time to possibly tackle the 2016 Doomben 10,000.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Doomben 10,000 second favourite Ghisoni will bypass the 2016 BTC Cup in Brisbane this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

A winner of three of her five starts to date, the daughter of Lonhro is one of 19 official nominations for the $500,000 Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) that kicks off elite level racing this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

O’Shea said he would be tempted to give her a shot in the weight-for-age classic if jockey James McDonald, aboard for her brave last start fifth when 1.3 lengths off Japonisme in Randwick’s Arrowfield 3YO Sprint, was available for the ride.

McDonald however is set to head to Scone for this weeks’ Scone Cup Carnival riding a number of livewire hopes on Friday and Saturday for the stable, bypassing BTC Cup Day in Queensland.

That means Ghisoni will not tackle her last start conqueror, the Chris Waller-trained Japonisme, in the BTC Cup field.

Instead she’ll head to the Sunshine State on May 28 for a shot at the $750,000 Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m), a race O’Shea won in 2012 with another smart filly Sea Siren or the $150,000 Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) for fillies and mares if she doesn’t look up to the Group 1.

Sea Siren however won the Doomben 10,000 having previously taken out the race Ghisoni misses this winter, the BTC Cup where Victory Stakes winner Fell Swoop is the early $4 favourite through Ladbrokes.com.au to win.

“She is such a special filly, we want to make sure everything is spot-on when we go to the races and James is an integral part of making that happen,” O’Shea told Racing Victoria.

“He’s got seven or eight really strong rides at Scone and our resources are spread quite thin with feature racing in several states.

“I wouldn’t be afraid to run her in the BTC Cup but I’m happy to wait.”

Ghisoni will trial at Warwick Farm this coming Monday before her Doomben 10,000 Day assignment.

“I’m adamant the filly is not fully furnished and with that in mind I’ve always been of the opinion that I want to be kind to her this campaign,” O’Shea said.

“Being kind means that we will nominate for the Doomben 10,000 to have a look but the most likely option would be to run against her own sex in the Glenlogan Park Stakes.”

From there Queensland’s richest race, the $1.5 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11 is a viable option.

“If she then gets a start in the Stradbroke, she would only likely have 50kg on her back,” O’Shea, winner of the 2003 Stradbroke with Private Steer, said.

“Like running in the Coolmore Classic with 50kg, that is being kind, that isn’t too stressful on her at this stage of her career.”

All-in Doomben 10,000 betting is led by the Ciaron Maher-trained mare Azkadellia ($5) with Ghisoni the $7 second favourite.

Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Azkadellia ($4.80) also leads the futures Stradbroke Handicap odds, while Ghisoni is at $11 for the classic.

To back Ghisoni over the winter at the right price make sure you’ve got an account open online now at Ladbrokes.com.au where new players that deposit $50 and quote the code BONUS150 will enjoy an extra $150 in bonuses for a short time only!