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SYDNEY - Waikato trainer Roger James hailed it an "enormous result" after his consistent mare Gaze went within a half-length of the best win of her career at Doomben in Brisbane.
Gaze's second placing in the group one Doomben Cup (2020m) on Saturday was lost in the high
emotion surrounding the winner Cinque Cento, whose owner Stuart Ramsey's 18-year-old daughter died a fortnight ago, and the shock failures of favourites Desert War and Reigning To Win.
"It was a huge run. The winner was the first mare to win the race in 57 years and they broke the track record. That puts her in the highest bracket," James said.
Yesterday he was weighing up whether to have one more Brisbane run in the O'Shea Stakes (2200m) in a fortnight or return home for a spell before the Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings in October.
A year after winning the Doomben Roses, Gaze was $41 with bookmakers after running 10th in the Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast. James blamed it on "rider error" when Stathi Katsidis chased the tearaway leader Omnitrader.
On Saturday, jockey Michael Rodd settled Gaze third in the running on a hot pace set by $2.15 favourite Desert War. Cinque Cento took over early in the run home and Gaze chased all the way, with the other New Zealand-trained runner, Pentathon, finishing strongly for third.
"She really puts in, she tried her heart out and the other one was just too good," Rodd told Sky Channel.
The result earned A$100,000 for Gaze's octogenarian owner-breeder Melba Murfitt, from Christchurch.
The trifecta paid A$15,205 on the New South Wales TAB, with the winner paying A$28.90, Gaze A$7.50 for a place and John Wheeler's Pentathon A$27.70 in his first run since being unplaced in the Sydney Cup.
There was no New Zealand success at Doomben but some solid runs for minor placings.
Donna Logan's filly Jazzella, bidding for her sixth win from nine starts in the listed A$150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m), led nearly all the way before being pipped by the Peter Moody-trained Storm Signal.
"She was too fresh today and got a little tired towards the finish but she'll improve a lot," jockey Lisa Cropp said.
Logan confirmed Jazzella would run over 1400m at Eagle Farm in a fortnight before her main target, the group one Winter Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares, where she might clash with champion filly Gold Edition who again dealt to her 3-year-old rivals on Saturday.
"I'm hoping Gold Edition won't be there," Logan said.
International sprint star Takeover Target is fit and ready for his clash with Gold Edition in the Doomben 10,000 ahead of another assault on Royal Ascot.
Trainer Joe Janiak agrees the freakish filly is the one his horse has to beat on Saturday but believes he is up to the task following his second to Bentley Biscuit in the BTC Cup.
"Everything is spot-on with him," Janiak said. "But she is the one to beat. It was a top effort yesterday and the barrier draw will be important."
Gold Edition is now the $2.20 favourite with TAB Sportsbet for the big race ahead of Takeover Target at $2.80 with Mitanni next best at $7.
The Mike Moroney-trained Eskimo Queen and Mark Walker-trained Santagostino both ensured heavy backing for the Queensland Oaks on June 2 by running third and fourth in the group three A$175,000 Doomben Roses (2020m).
In her first Australian run, Eskimo Queen stormed home while favourite Santagostino raced handy on a hot pace and fought strongly.
In the group two A$150,000 Champagne Classic (1200m) for 2-year-olds, Robert Priscott's Octagonal filly Diamond Deck ran on well for third at her second race start.
Diamond Deck holds a nomination for the group one A$500,000 TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
* Mi Jubilee earned herself a Queensland campaign with her game win in the $40,000 Fairview Motors Sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Mi Jubilee, aided by Tasha Collett's apprentice allowance, fought hard against pacemaker Lil' Monster then keep out a gallant Baltaine and Our Umaga.
- NZPA