Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Doomben Cup

News.com.au24-05-2025

Queensland superstar Antino became the first local horse in more than 40 years to win the $1 million Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Antino's victory was the first by a Queenslander since Lord Seaman won the weight-for-age contest in 1983.
The race was billed as a two-horse war between Antino and reigning Australian Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni but it fizzled into a one act affair, with Pride Of Jenni beaten turning for home when Antino went on by.
Antino strode clear to win running away by 3-3/4 lengths with Fawkner Park finishing second ahead of Kovalica. Pride Of Jenni was beaten 11 lengths and crossed the line in 10th.
Antino is an absolute star! The Queenslander dominates the Doomben Cup for @tonygollan ðŸ�† @blake_shinn pic.twitter.com/3GtDfiSKFB
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025
The win was Antino's 13th from 26 starts and took his earnings to more than $3.1 million.
This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the Doomben Cup.
â– â– â– â– â–
1st – ANTINO (Blake Shinn) He's some horse. He told me when he wanted to get rolling about the half mile when I just pulled him off Osipenko's back and it was time to go and, yeah, it was a great feeling. He went from about seven (lengths) off them to have the race at his mercy about the 400m and I knew he'd keep that gallop up. It's great for Queensland racing to witness Antino at his best here today. It's great for Tony Gollan, and it's great to showcase a horse of his ilk. It's special to be on him.
2nd – FAWKNER PARK (Ethan Brown) Great run. He was just a bit awkward into stride. Shuffled back a bit further than what I would have liked but the way the race panned out, I don't think it really mattered. Antino was too good on the day. Good effort and he'll be suited of over 2200 next start. He is capable of turning the tables under the right circumstances.
3rd – KOVALICA (James McDonald) He ran well.
4th – MILITARIZE (Tommy Berry) He's going well. He just looks like he's looking for further now. Still hitting that flat spot from the 1600 to the 1400 and then he was really good in the straight. Something like the Q22 would suit.
5th – BOIS D'ARGENT (Ryan Maloney) He ran his good, usual honest race. Probably just a bit too sharp for him when the pressure went on.
6th – KLONDIKE (Matthew Poon) Really happy how he ran. Just a little bit further, I expect. He tried hard and ran well. Next start a bit further, he'll run much better.
7th – OSIPENKO (Kerrin McEvoy) He ran a good race. He was wide the trip and stuck on. He was quite brave.
8th – MISS JOELENE (Cejay Graham) Her toughest task to-date but I thought she ran a cracker of a race . She didn't love that horse three-deep laying in on her. She hit a bit of a flat spot at the 600 (metre mark) but she was tough late.
9th – ELIYASS (Tim Clark) Probably a little bit disappointing again. I did have to do a bit of work early from that gate in what was obviously a very fast run race. That left him a bit vulnerable late.
10th – PRIDE OF JENNI (Craig Newitt) Disappointing. She was a little bit cantankerous pre-race today, probably just in front of the crowd. She stepped slow so I had to ask her to muster up and she got into a good rhythm and everything was fine. Got to about the 1000 and started to quicken her up – a little bit like Flemington a couple of starts ago – got to the bottom pretty quick. She showed a bit of fight when straightening but when Antino went past so quick, it was almost like the white flag went up.
11th – LINDERMANN (Nash Rawiller) He had a couple of tough runs which brought out the best of him. Not everything went right the other day with that heavy track and he's shown a few signs that he's got to the end of it.
12th – MY OBERON (Jason Collett) Soft enough run but just had that distance too far.

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Gorden Tallis slams Broncos' ‘disrespectful' Selwyn Cobbo move

News.com.au

2 hours ago

News.com.au

Gorden Tallis slams Broncos' ‘disrespectful' Selwyn Cobbo move

Gorden Tallis has criticised the Broncos for prioritising re-signing two veteran halfbacks over Selwyn Cobbo, who is potentially the future of the club. Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt will both play for the Broncos in 2026 in what looms as their final seasons in first grade, but at 23, Cobbo looks like being forced out of a club he doesn't want to leave. Tallis believes the Broncos have been disrespectful to Cobbo by not leaving enough funds in their salary cap to re-sign him. 'The Selwyn Cobbo one is a bit funny to me because I think he is the future of the club,' Tallis said on NRL 360. 'They have re-signed Kotoni Staggs. They have got two 35-year-old No.7's that they re-signed as a priority and they re-signed another hooker when they have got five. 'Then they have got this young talent and they leave $300,000, which I think is a little bit disrespectful for a State of Origin player and I don't think he has lost that much mojo. 'In my opinion when Reece Walsh was out and he went back to fullback, he kept them in a The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield believes Reynolds may have forced Cobbo out of the club. 'The interesting thing is Adam Reynolds said he would not sign a new deal until the other boys had because he didn't want to force anyone out, well he has,' Rothfield said. 'I'm not blaming him, but it was a difficult decision.' Rothfield revealed the Dragons were close to making a play for Cobbo and his asking price shows how far the Broncos are from keeping him. 'Selwyn Cobbo was in Sydney two weeks ago and he visited St George Illawarra and he spoke to coach Shane Flanagan,' Rothfield said. 'They were asking for about $650,000 to $700,000 and St George were quite keen to do a deal for a little bit less than that if they could get him this year because they have had injuries in the outside backs. 'I don't think it is going to happen, but what it does show is how far the Broncos are off the pace with what the kid and the manager are looking for. They are not even halfway there.' Braith Anasta added: 'Let's be honest they think they are still a chance of keeping him, but really they are not.' The Daily Telegraph's Brent Read believes the Broncos could find more room to up their offer to Cobbo, but the problem is his best form has been in a position they don't need him to play. 'Not unless they find another $200,000 or $300,000 and clubs can do that sometimes when they need to,' Read said. 'They can move a couple of blokes and juggle some funds around, but at the moment, I know he played well at fullback for a couple of games, but they don't need a fullback. 'They need him to play well when he is on the wing and he hasn't been playing well, so that's why he is in reserve grade and the kid who has come in Josiah Karapani is doing really well.' 'Maybe he is busted,' Tallis interjected. Rothfield believes Hunt is an interesting signing because he will be trying to break into the hooker rotation when he returns from injury. 'You talk about the old halves they signed and it is an interesting one with Ben Hunt because when he comes back from injury I don't think he is going to play five-eighth,' Rothfield said. 'Ezra Mam is comfortable there and he is obviously the future, so signing Hunt for those two years, not necessarily the Reynolds extension, might be what costs Selwyn Cobbo a spot at that club long-term.' However, Read believes the Broncos are eyeing Hunt as their hooker until Blake Mozer develops into his replacement in 2027. 'I think they are looking at their spine next year with Ben Hunt at hooker and he is a pretty good hooker Ben Hunt,' Read said. 'He is probably the best hooker they have got on their roster. Obviously Cory Paix is not killing it because they are not re-signing him. 'They have obviously made a decision that Ben Hunt will be their hooker and they have got young Blake Mozer on a long-term deal.' Tallis believes the Broncos may have been better off blooding young gun Coby Black at halfback, who led the Maroons to a win in the under 19s Origin last Thursday. 'It's nothing against the two 35-year-old halfbacks, but the future of the club are not two 35-year-old halfbacks,' Tallis said. 'Queensland won the State of Origin with a young 19-year-old halfback that could sit there and get some experience.' 'He will learn off those guys and at some point he will get an opportunity,' Read interjected. 'Yeah, but it is better playing,' Tallis countered. 'It is better getting a taste and you look at the Roosters with their young halves, there is no better way to learn than at the coalface.'