Huetor Wins Back-to-Back Doomben Cups

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Huetor became only the fourth horse to win two Doomben Cups (G1) as he produced a stunning late effort to register back-to-back victories in the group 1 feature in Brisbane.

Huetor has done it again, winning two Doomben Cups for @SnowdenRacing1.

He becomes only the fourth horse in history to achieve the feat.

Bring on the Q22. pic.twitter.com/SbjMoQypaY

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 20, 2023

Huetor, who has made a remarkable comeback from a life-threatening eye injury suffered last year, rewarded his connections' patience by once again scooping the AUS$1 million (US$665,100) contest on May 20, joining three-time scorer Rough Habit, Earlwood, and Scenic Shot as a multiple Doomben Cup winner.

Providing the Snowdens with their 20th group 1 win as a training partnership and stretching his prize-money haul to beyond the AUS$1.6 million (US$1,064,160) mark, Huetor hugged the rail in midfield throughout most of the race under Ryan Maloney.

Turning into the home straight, Maloney angled the son of Archipenko  away from the inside and wound up his mount for a challenge down the outside of the 11-runner field.

With odds-on favorite Zaaki  fading tamely in the closing stages, just as he did a year ago, Huetor came with his winning effort at the 100-meter marker and fought off the game challenge of Numerian to score by a neck at the line. The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old Kovalica finished a further three-quarters of a length behind in third, with Zaaki eventually beaten five lengths in finishing seventh.

"When he was bottled up between runners about the 600-, 700-(meter-mark) I knew he had a fair bit to offer," Paul Snowden said.

"He's got a really good 300-meter finish on him and he used himself really well late. I honestly think he's only coming good."

The win, Huetor's first since the 2022 Doomben Cup, arrived on the back of a runner-up effort in the Hollindale Stakes (G2) and Snowden said that the Q22 (G2), in which he finished eighth last year, at Eagle Farm June 10 will be the next target.

"Last season it got the better of him after the Doomben Cup in the Q22, but I think this could be right up his alley in a couple of weeks," said Snowden.

A French import, Huetor began his career with Chantilly-based trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias and, after two wins and a placing during his time in France, the 6-year-old took his record to seven wins and four placed efforts from 22 starts.

Bred by Sarl Darpat France, Huetor is a half brother to the 2019 Prix de l'Opera (G1) winner Villa Marina  and the stakes-placed Aguafria .