Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Fawkner Park is the forgotten horse in the chase for the 2025 Doomben Cup
With all the attention focused on what's expected to be an epic battle between Queensland hero Antino and majestic mare Pride Of Jenni in this week's Doomben Cup, Rob Archibald says his stable is happy to 'sneak in behind them' with two top chances.
Brisbane Racing Club has promised to shout the bar if either Antino or Pride of Jenni wins Saturday's Group 1 race at Doomben.
But Archibald and co-trainer and wife Annabel – who won the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on Saturday with gun mare Sunshine In Paris – are confident they will again be the ones popping the champagne corks.
Heading betting for the $1 million Doomben Cup (2000m) is reigning horse of the year Pride Of Jenni ($3.50) ahead of the Tony Gollan -trained local Antino ($4), with Chris Waller 's Group 1 winner Buckaroo at $6.
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'Antino's shown that he's right up there with the best horses going around and Pride Of Jenni needs no introduction,' said Archibald, whose Doomben Cup charge will be spearheaded by Fawkner Park ($8) and defending champion Bois D'argent ($15).
'We're quite happy being the slight underdogs.
'I know what our horse (Fawkner Park) is capable of if he gets the right set-up and I know he can mix it with those two if we get the right conditions and he's there in his best order.
'I like the focus being on those two and hopefully we can just sneak in behind them.'
Fawkner Park wins the Q22 in style! @BrisRacingClub @G1TySchil @ANeashamRacing pic.twitter.com/nlqAfU4Cr2
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024
Jockey Ethan Brown will stick with six-year-old gelding Fawkner Park, who is coming off a gritty runner-up finish behind Antino in this month's Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on a bottomless track at the Gold Coast.
'I thought he was excellent considering he doesn't love that ground,' Archibald said.
'He seemed to cope with it OK and I thought he was tough late.
'It's good to see him produce that kind of performance leading up to what's likely to be two tougher assignments (the Doomben Cup and as defending champion in the $1.2m Group 2 Q22 over 2200m at Eagle Farm on June 14).
'He'll appreciate 2000m and then he'll appreciate 2200m after that leading into the Q22.
'He's in good order and once he gets back on a good surface we'll see more of his turn of foot.'
Antino wins the TAB Hollindale Stakes in dominant fashion! ðŸ'Š @tonygollan pic.twitter.com/MMTxA1UANY
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025
My Oberon, Firm Agreement, Naval College and Port Lockroy.
But only the first three are set to run in the race, with Firm Agreement bound for the Queensland Derby on May 31, Port Lockroy 'unlikely' and Naval College heading for a spell.
Although Fawkner Park is clearly the stable's best hope of Doomben Cup glory, Archibald believed Bois D'argent was capable of jagging back-to-back crowns.
The eight-year-old gelding won the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Rosehill just four weeks ago before finishing sixth in the Hollindale Stakes on May 10.
'I thought he was excellent in the Hollindale considering he doesn't like it heavy,' Archibald said.
'He was a good winner two starts ago and he won the race last year. He's capable of winning it again.'
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