Stud bound four year old Impending is on track for back to back Stradbroke Handicap wins after scoring a thrilling first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 Hiflow Industries Victory Stakes (1200m) at Doomben last Saturday.
Impending, above, is on track for back to back Stradbroke Handicaps after a first up win in the Victory Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.
Impending took out the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben during the 2017 Brisbane Winter Carnival under the care of stand in trainer Darren Beadman but carried the famous Godolphin royal blue colours to victory on the weekend under the James Cummings banner.
A cool ride by Sunshine Coast based jockey Damian Browne saw Impending ($2.50 favourite) slice in between runners at the 250m to overhaul the Tony Gollan trained Most Important ($8.50) with the three year old filly I Am Excited ($6) running on from back in the field to fill third spot.
The Lonhro stallion is already booked in at Darley’s Woodside Park Stud for the upcoming breeding season in the Spring and another Group 1 win during the Winter Carnival will certainly enhance his popularity.
Darley and Godolphin’s Australian manager Vin Cox said that as well as chasing back to back wins in the Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben on June 9, Impending will also line up in the Group 1 $700,000 Kirin Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 12 and in the Group 1 $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) a fortnight later, both at Doomben.
“We’re delighted to bring the Stradbroke winner back and have him in form to defend that crown,” Cox said.
“He’s been working the place down at home and this win sets him up for a great campaign.
“The Doomben 10,000 shapes as a great race, with Redzel and In Her Time and then we’re here for the next two runs after that as well.”
“He is off to stud at the end of the winter and more Group Ones won’t do him any harm”
Impending only had two runs before Saturday since his Stradbroke Handicap win last year and from a light Spring Carnival campaign finished second to In Her Time in The Everest consolation, the Listed $500,000 Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 14 and the ran third behind Redzel and Terravista in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the final day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Impending is on the third line of betting at $9 for the Doomben 10,000 at Ladbrokes.com.au behind Redzel at $2.50 and In Her Time at $3.50 while in Stradbroke Handicap markets Impending is the equal second pick at $6 with Pierata behind the $5 favourite In Her Time.
Early betting for the 2018 Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 In Her Time, $6 Impending, Pierata, $7 Care To Think, $8 Osborne Bulls, Viridine, $10 The Mission, $12 Pedrena, Tribal Wisdom, Victorem, $14 Most Important, $15 Champagne Cuddles, Danon Liberty, $17 Cellarman, Clearly Innocent, Theanswermyfriend, Widgee Turf, $21 Burning Front, Jungle Edge, Mr Sneaky, $26 or better the rest.
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