The imported Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Huetor made history on Saturday becoming just the fourth dual Doomben Cup winner with his upset victory in the Brisbane classic.

Huetor (pictured in Sydney) made history going back-to-back in the Doomben Cup 2023 on Saturday in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart.

Last year the top-class gelding scored a boilover defeating the previous season’s champion Zaaki (3^rd) home at Eagle Farm before the event returned to its traditional home at Doomben Racecourse in 2023.

After a brilliant second to Zaaki at the Sunshine Coast when charging through the line in the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) last start Huetor was fit and firing over the 2000m for his second Group 1 $1 million XXXX Doomben Cup victory.

With the success Huetor joined Scenic Shot (2009, 2011), Rough Habit (1991, 1992 & 1993), and Earlwood (1959, 1960) as the only multiple Doomben Cup champions since the race first ran back in 1933.

Ryan Maloney gave the eventual winner a perfectly-timed ride settled off the pace mid-field throughout as the short-priced favourite Zaaki ($2.15F) led them around after getting away well and coming over to hit the front.

Zaaki was still in front at the turn but was quickly joined by the challengers and dropped right out with a furlong to go eventually finishing a well-beaten seventh.

Maloney went through the gears on Huetor ($10) who came down the outside and went stride-for-stride with Zaaki’s stablemate, the fellow Annabel Neasham-trained Numerian ($9.50) giving him a big fight over the final 100m.

In the end Huetor was too strong and celebrated his second Doomben Cup victory with Numerian holding for a brave second.

“When he was bottled up in between runners around the 700m, 600m mark we knew we had a fair bit still to offer,” co-trainer Paul Snowden told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-win.

“He’s got a really good 300m finish, and he used himself really well late.”

Coming up the inside to snare third and complete the Doomben Cup trifecta was Chris Waller’s Group 2 Queensland Guineas winning three-year-old Kovalica ($13) who is likely to back-up in Saturday week’s Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).

It was a mixed Doomben Cup result for Waller with another of his runners, Group 1 winning mare Atishu, running last throughout before failing to finish when pulled up 50m before the line.

Snowden confirmed next-up plans for Huetor to return on Stradbroke Handicap Day in a fortnight for another shot at the Group 2 $1.2 million The Q22 (2200m), which he ran a disappointing eighth to Numerian in last Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

“I honestly think he’s only coming good now,” Snowden said.

“He has another run in him.

“This (the Q22) could be right up his alley in another couple of weeks.

“I see no reason why we can’t. So hopefully we’ll be here.

“He’s just continued to build and here we are with a result today.

“He’s pretty special to us.”

The 2023 The Q22 runs on Saturday June 10.

2023 Doomben Cup Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.