Ryan Maloney lands Doomben double ahead of Sydney mission

Queensland’s loss will be Sydney’s gain over the spring, as premier jockey Ryan Maloney showed he is a man in form when he looks to strike in some of Australia’s biggest races over the coming months.

Maloney will set up shop in Sydney at the end of this month, but is making hay while the sun shines in Brisbane, booting home a double at Doomben on Saturday, headlined by his win aboard the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Blaze A Trail in the Class 6 Plate (1350m).

Boasting form behind Antino and Lady Of Honour at stakes level, Blaze A Trail appeared to be the horse to beat, but punters had their heart in their mouth, after Maloney was slow away and caught wide in the early stages.

“I had to take my medicine, he didn’t begin that well and we wanted to be positive, so that wasn’t ideal,” Maloney said.

“After that, I was able to get a bit of cover from Teagan (Harrison) and they ran along at a good, genuine tempo.

“His ability came to the fore really, a lesser horse wouldn’t have been able to do what he did, his form looked good on paper and it was.”

Maloney also won earlier in the day aboard Count Da Beans in the QTIS 3YO Handicap (1350m).

Meanwhile, the Victorian-based team of Anthony and Sam Freedman were able to hit the mark in Queensland once again with expensive yearling Skidamarink in the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 78 (1200m).

The father and son training duo have had a team of horses in Queensland over the winter, headlined by new Caulfield Cup fancy Without A Fight, but have enjoyed success around the fringes with a host of horses.

Skidamarink was a $1.2m Magic Millions purchase and has been off the scene since November, however she put in a tough-as-nails performance under in-form jockey Jaden Lloyd to return in style.

“She is a lovely horse, with having so long off, she was feeling it a little bit in the last 200m but she showed a lot of heart,” Lloyd said.

“I was trying to lead, but there was a query on her leading first up, so I was conscious of that and took a nice sit behind a few.

“She is only going to get better off that as well.”