Annabel Neasham’s evergreen eight-year-old Zaaki is the weight-for-age star to beat this weekend chasing another elite level win in Brisbane’s Doomben Cup 2023.

Zaaki is dominant favourite in 2023 Doomben Cup betting to win the race for the second time in three years. Racing Photos.

The action of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival continues at Doomben Racecourse on Saturday with a stellar edition of the Group 1 $1 million XXXX Doomben Cup (2000m).

Zaaki won the race two years ago and was third in last year’s Doomben Cup trifecta.

This season the marvel is nearing odds-on territory in Doomben Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to make it two trophies in the event in three years.

Drawn barrier 11 with super hoop James McDonald aboard Zaaki is at a current quote of $2.

He presents fit third-up and ready to fire having last been seen winning the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m), run this year at the Sunshine Coast, for the third straight year.

Neasham also saddles-up Numerian from barrier nine with Jason Collett aboard the $14 shot.

The Melbourne Cup performer was good earlier in the autumn when runner-up to Cascadian at Flemington in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), and he was last seen running sixth to Dubai Honour at Randwick in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at a big price.

The danger occupying the second line of betting at Doomben Cup odds of $7.50 is the widely-drawn Chris Waller-trained Kovalica jumping from the outside alley.

James Orman has the ride on the super consistent Ocean Park gelding who is out to be the first three-year-old Doomben Cup winner since Akhenaton (2000) over two decades ago.

Despite the poor record of three-year-olds in the race the bookies are taking no chances with this youngster who has won five of his seven starts to date including a last start Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) win at Eagle Farm on April 29.

Waller has won the Doomben Cup three times previously most recently in 2018 with Comin’ Through.

Along with the young gun Kovalica the master Sydney-based horseman also saddles-up classy Queen Of The Turf winning mare Atishu ($10) and last year’s Group 1 The Metropolitan winner No Compromise ($31) in this year’s Doomben Cup field.

Peter & Paul Snowden meanwhile saddle-up the reigning Doomben Cup champ Huetor in gate seven as a $10 shot to become the first dual winner since Scenic Shot (2009 & 2011) and the first to go back-to-back since the Rough Habit three-peat in 1991-93.

Huetor defeated Zaaki home last year and was good last time out when only a quarter-length off Saturday’s favourite in the Hollindale at $20.

The Doomben Cup 2023 is set to run as Doomben Race 7 at 3:17pm (AEST) with full markets thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.

2023 Doomben Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.