Brisbane trainer Steven O'Dea is looking to raid some Victorian country riches with Doubt Defying (Not a Single Doubt) in the Listed Ladbrokes Sale Cup on Sunday.
The 5-year-old gelding, owned by Aquis Farm, is coming off a last start win at Randwick, and is looking for his first stakes win, having won seven of his first 16 starts.
O'Dea will be hoping success in the $200,000 feature can be a portent of things to comex with Doubt Defying's half-brother Sesar (Sebring) to contest the G1 Coolmore Stud S. next Saturday.
Lindsay Park's Fastnet Tempest (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) looks his main rival off his second behind Iconoclasm (Toorak Toff) in the Listed Weekend Hussler S. last start.
Iconoclasm has won again since as has third-placed Sircconi (Nicconi) franking the form further for Fastnet Tempest as well as top-weight Grande Rosso (Written Tycoon), who was fourth in that event.
The Team Hawkes prepared Kingsguard (NZ) {Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) was down the track in the G1 Toorak Hcp last time, but was only narrowly beaten in the G2 Shannon S. before that and looks well placed in the Sale feature.
Al Passem (Al Maher) finished alongside him in the Toorak Hcp and is also given a strong chance on the minimum of 54kgs.
There is also black-type racing at Northam in Western Australia where the Listed XXXX Northam Cup is held over 1600m.
Achenar Star (Gingerbread Man) and Royal Star (Redoute's Choice) are the main contenders.
