With a drama packed start to the Stow Robotics Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield after the late withdrawals of No Confetti and Rebel Tuesday who broke through the barriers, a photo finish once the line was reached saw Doubtland gelding Doubt Time get up to defeat the race favourite.
Backed in from 30/1 to start at 8/1, Nick Ryan’s Doubt Time had been readied for his debut with five jump outs, most recently finishing third behind Milsons Point, one of his rivals on Saturday.
Settling with just one behind him in the run, apprentice jockey Luke Cartwright was content to allow Doubt Time to race slightly wide on the soft six track while the Tom Dabernig trained Brazen Panda went forward to lead.
Forced to race wide after jumping from the outside barrier, Ciaron Maher’s last start G1 Blue Diamond fifth placed Ghana’s Akan was getting no favours in the run compared to the race favourite Resolutely who was getting a lovely run closer to the rail
Jockey Craig Williams allowed Resolutely to slide up along the inside as the field turned for home where the daughter of Hellbent found herself taking the lead.
Kicking clear at the 200m mark, Resolutely appeared as if she would break her maiden status after a recent debut second.
Flying down the outside after being one of the last turning for home, Cartwright powered to Resolutely aboard Doubt Time with the pair hitting the line locked together.
While many thought the favourite had held on, the race photo finish showed a different result as the Doubtland gelding produce an outstanding winning debut performance.
“It’s what it’s all about isn’t it,” said an elated Nick Ryan after the win.
“I galloped him Thursday morning on the inside grass at Flemington and I just pushed the button a little bit for the last 50 (metres) and nearly fell off the back of him.”
“He’s a nice horse,” said Ryan. “He’s very much like his father. His father won his first start on a soft 7 on the Kensington (Randwick) and he came from the back and he balanced up and just had a monstrous stride.”
As for where next for the gelding, Ryan felt he would be heading to the paddock.
“He’s two and we are going to have to see how he is in the morning - how his shins are etc,” Ryan said. “He’ll definitely be in the paddock regardless next week.”
“Let’s just see how he pulls up, but gee that was pretty impressive.”
Having not been in the saddle in any of his jump out efforts, jockey Cartwright was suitably impressed by the win.
“It was a massive effort from this horse to come here at his first start and put a performance on the racetrack like that,” he said. “It was some win.”
Purchased by Sharona King and Nick Ryan Racing from the Flinders Park Stud draft at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $140,000, the Bridsan Bloodstock bred Doubt Time is the third winner from three to the races out of the Hinchinbrook mare Hinchin Time.
From the family of G2 winner Caste, G3 winners Speedy Natalie, Sweet And Speedy and Bases Loaded, Hinchin Time was covered in the spring by Darley’s dual G2-winning, multiple G1 placed Traffic Warden in his first season at stud.
Doubt Time is one of six 2yo winners this season from just 11 runners for the G2 Danehill Stakes winner Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt) who will stand at a fee of $11,000 (inc. GST) at Widden Stud’s Victorian property.
