D'Avila's Cairns Amateur Cup confidence grows

By Glenn Davis

A perfect barrier has boosted trainer Sharlee D’Avila’s confidence of claiming her biggest win of her career with Maquereau in the Cairns Amateur Cup at Cannon Park on Saturday.

Maquereau - a Lacey Morrison mount - drew barrier five and is now a $9 chance in latest TAB markets for the 2100-metre feature.

D’Avila also will saddle up $81 outsider Bruxton who drew gate 17.

Maquereau claimed the scalp of rival Brilliant Mind over 1500 metres in Cairns three starts back before beating one runner home in the Townsville Cup won by Fortification on August 7.

Since then, the seven-year-old stormed home to finish second to the Janel Ryan-trained Tutelage over 2100 metres in Cairns on August 28.

“He was bred by Ben Ahrens at Beaudesert and Ben told me the other day his name is French for pimp,” D’Avila said.

“It’s strange as all his five wins for me have been for girls – Kate Southam and Lacey Morrison.

“It all comes down to luck in running in these races but he’s drawn well and he’s even stronger in his work now.”

D’Avila believes she may have erred sending Maquereau to the Townsville Cup.

“In hindsight I may have pushed him a little as he had a foot abscess not long before the race and he seems to like Cairns a lot better than Townsville.”

Meanwhile Caloundra trainer Darryl Hansen is confident Doctor Zous can claim another northern winter feature in the TAB Cairns Amateur Sprint over 1400 metres.

Doctor Zous has been a revelation during the TAB Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, taking out the Cairns Newmarket after a courageous second to Master Jamie in the Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville last month.

“I sent up three horses – Doctor Zous, Boombrasstic and Fast Train and all have gone well so I can’t complain,” Hansen said.

“I’ve just sent up another horse Go Deep and he ran second at Townsville and Mackay earlier this month.”

Hansen is bullish that Doctor Zous can replicate his Cairns Newmarket win, when he downed the Georgie Holt-trained Langhro at Cannon Park on August 21.

“There’s no reason why he can’t win this race,” Hansen said.

“He goes up a little in weight but he’s drawn well in barrier two and he’s thriving.”