Golden chance in Doomben 10,000
Dave Murray
15 May, 2025
A favourable barrier draw and three runs under his belt give Golden Mile an opportunity to notch his second G1 victory in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 in Brisbane.
The former G1 Caulfield Guineas winner had an inspiring last-start, third in the G2 Victory Stakes over 1,200m at Eagle Farm.
From barrier 16, Golden Mile came from 12th at the 400m pole to be beaten just 1.7 lengths behind speedsters Libertad and Jedibeel.
To jump from barrier one on Saturday with Ryan Maloney taking the reins, Golden Mile gets a chance to race closer to the lead and he has a liking for rain-affected going.
Although unplaced in his only start in heavy ground, the James Cummings-trained gelding has three wins and two placings on soft surfaces and must be nearing peak fitness.
A winner of more than $4 million in prize-money, Golden Mile looks suited under the weight-for-age conditions and a good performance could secure him a start in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap 1,400m at Eagle Farm next month.
Champion jockey James McDonald will ride Kin and Pisces for Cummings at Doomben.
Kin tackles the Listed Magic Millions Bright Shadow Stakes over 1,110m, with Pisces to run the QTIS 3YO Plate at 1,350m.
Kin is second-up from a spell following a third in the Listed Gold Rush at Hawkesbury, while Pisces takes on the three-year-olds at set weights and will strip fitter after three runs back from a break.
At the Scone metropolitan meeting, Zeitung steps out in the G3 Dark Jewel Classic over 1,400m with Andrew Adkins to ride.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Godolphin filly Elba is also an acceptor, but is second emergency for the race.
Cummings is planning a four-pronged assault on the Listed Ortensia Stakes over 1,100m via Contemporary (Chad Schofield), Pisanello (Kerrin McEvoy), Renosu (Dylan Gibbons) and Fleetwood (Alysha Collett).
Schofield will also ride Photograph and Braith Nock will be aboard Thames in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes over 1,100m, while Tamerlane tackles the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at 1,300m with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.
