On Saturday leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller lines up his star import My Kingdom Of Fife for a fourth time on the Aussie turf and it is the sole Queensland-trained horse in this year’s Doomben Cup and not the equal favourite and fellow import that Waller tips as the main danger to Fife’s unbeaten streak in the southern hemisphere.
Shoot Out is the horse Chris Waller tips as the danger to My Kingdom Of Fife in the Doomben Cup
Six-year-old My Kingdom Of Fife, formerly owned by the Queen of England, has already enjoyed a hat-trick of wins since joining Waller at his Rosehill stables and is looking to keep their flawless Australian race record intact in the $500,000 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m) on Saturday.
Already a Group 1 winner in Oz thanks to their victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, last start My Kingdom Of Fife held on to defeat Glass Harmonium by a quarter length in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m).
Adding to the pressure on My Kingdom Of Fife to perform this weekend is that he would become just the third horse since the Doomben Cup became a weight-for-age feature in 1990 to take out the Queen Elizabeth / Hollindale / Doomben Cup triple.
The two horses to do it before him were superstars – Might And Power (1998) and Rough Habit (1992).
“You need good horses to win the Queen Elizabeth and the Hollindale Stakes,” Waller said.
“Good horses don’t fluke winning those races.”
Waller is vying for back-to-back Doomben Cups after Metal Bender’s success 12 months ago.
“I thought My Kingdom Of Fife was a bit above himself when he won the Hollindale last run,” Waller said.
“I might have been a little too soft on him after he won the Queen Elizabeth and he’s improved quite a bit since the Hollindale.”
Triple Honour is also lining up for Waller in the feature on Saturday, looking to improve on their third to winning stablemate Metal Bender in last year’s Doomben Cup.
The Hollindale was the Australian debut for Michael Moroney’s Glass Harmonium, and the imported duo are now the $3.80 equal favourites in the latest Doomben Cup markets.
While there has been plenty of love from the punters for Glass Harmonium to become the first horse to beat My Kingdom Of Fife in Australia, Waller is more worried about Gold Coast galloper Shoot Out.
John Wallace’s dual Group 1 winning High Chaparral four-year-old Shoot Out is third favourite for the Doomben Cup paying $5 after drawing well with gate three and comes off a fourth place in the Hollindale after being disappointed for a run.
“Shoot Out is a serious Group One horse and he’s our danger,” Waller said.
“I liked his Hollindale Stakes run and he’ll go a lot better on firmer ground.”
Shoot Out’s trainer John Wallace is also firmly in his horse’s camp telling race fans to “keep the faith” in his galloper after six unplaced runs.
“Unlike a lot of people, I was rapt in his last run and really happy with the way that he has trained on since,” Wallace said.
“I’m really confident he will run a terrific race.
“He’s just getting fit – that’s all.”
Following the Doomben Cup, Waller will likely spell My Kingdom Of Fife before targeting the Group 1 features during the spring.
“He could be a leading hope in the Caulfield Cup and hopefully he’ll get that far,” Waller said.
