Shaune Ritchie’s Queensland Derby-bound Kiwi raider Glorious Lad looks one of the top chances in the Rough Habit Plate 2014 at Doomben Racecourse on Saturday.
Pheidon is one of the 2014 Queensland Derby hopes in Saturday's Rough Habit Plate field. Photo: Steve Hart.
A key event on the BTC Cup Day line-up, this year’s $125,000 Group 3 Mittys Rough Habit Plate (2000m) has drawn a final field of 14 three-year-olds.
Many are looking to secure a start in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on Stradbroke Handicap Day at Eagle Farm on June 7.
One of those is Falkirk gelding Glorious Lad who makes their Australian debut in Saturday’s Rough Habit Plate from barrier six with Kiwi expat James McDonald booked for the ride.
Glorious Lad has been in top form back home finishing out of the money just once in their nine career starts so far that have produced a trio of wins.
Third behind Puccini and subsequent ATC Oaks winner Rising Romance in the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) back on March 1, Glorious Lad was last seen finishing second to Telepathic in a Benchmark 85 over the mile on Anzac Day.
They’re tipped to improve as they get back up in distance in Brisbane however starting with the 2000m in the Rough Habit.
The horse that beat Glorious Lad home last start, Telepathic is also nominated for the 2014 Queensland Derby and runs in the Rough Habit Plate this weekend.
Donna Logan’s Mossman filly is two from two this time in and along with the Queensland Derby, is also one of the top early fancies for the $400,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.
Saturday is also Telepathic’s first run on Aussie soil and she will jump from barrier seven with Mark Du Plessis over for the ride.
Another top Queensland Derby hope looking to stake their claims in the Rough Habit is then the Gai Waterhouse-trained Pheidon with the inside running from gate one.
Nash Rawiller replaces Tommy Berry on the Al Maher gelding who comes off a second behind Arabian Gold in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick from April 26.
Before that they were sixth in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) when struggling on a Heavy-rated track on the back of a Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) win at Moonee Valley on a Good (3).
Saturday is likely to be run on rain-affected ground however and so Pheidon will have to be at their best to overcome the unfavourable conditions.
Another top Sydney trainer with a top chance in the Rough Habit is then Chris Waller who won the race last year with Hawkspur who went on to claim the Queensland Derby trophy as well.
Waller is represented this year by Vilanova in barrier two with Kerrin McEvoy riding, the Commands gelding last seen running third to Destiny’s Kiss at Warwick Farm on Anzac Day.
Also coming via good form are the likes of the Helen Page-trained Red Dazzler gelding Rudy last seen finishing third in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic, Trevor Bailey’s Gunsynd runner-up Avalanches and the Tony Gollan-trained Amexed in gate three coming off a Sunshine Coast win over the mile.
See the table below for the full Rough Habit Plate 2014 field, barriers, jockeys and set weights.
Rough Habit Plate betting is set to open at Ladbrokes.com.au shortly so head over to the country’s fastest growing bookie to open your today and get in on the action!
2014 Rough Habit Plate Final Field & Barrier Draw
Doomben Race 6 – 3:05pm (AEST) – 10/05/2014
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Br. | Wgt. | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0x33771653 | VILANOVA (NZ) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 57kg | 86 |
| 2 | 1123162 | PHEIDON | Gai Waterhouse | Nash Rawiller | 1 | 57kg | 88 |
| 3 | x61885x113 | RUDY | Helen Page | Ms Tegan Harrison (a) | 9 | 57kg | 84 |
| 4 | 121214332 | GLORIOUS LAD (NZ) | Shaune Ritchie | James McDonald | 6 | 57kg | 83 |
| 5 | 2419×1289 | CADILLAC MOUNTAIN | Peter G Moody | Stephen Baster | 12 | 57kg | 75 |
| 6 | 413615×06 | BODEGA NEGRA | Bruce W Hill | Jim Byrne | 8 | 57kg | 72.5 |
| 7 | 8634536112 | AVALANCHES | Trevor Bailey | Scott Galloway | 4 | 57kg | 73 |
| 8 | 1453431550 | CASARATI | Bruce W Hill | – | 5 | 57kg | 68 |
| 9 | 6×11987 | SAGUARO (NZ) | Peter G Moody | Chris Munce | 14 | 57kg | 67 |
| 10 | 4202×31 | AMEXED (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Michael Rodd | 3 | 57kg | 64 |
| 11 | 462×11 | ARKI | Kelly Doughty | Damian Browne | 13 | 57kg | 65 |
| 12 | 6042×6215 | ROCK SCENT | Kelly Schweida | Michael Cahill | 11 | 57kg | 62 |
| 13 | 0x355x19 | ALWAYS A GIBBERER | John P Thompson | Timothy Bell | 10 | 57kg | 61 |
| 14 | 212x5x11 | TELEPATHIC (NZ) | Donna Logan | Mark Du Plessis | 7 | 55kg | 76 |
