Oakleigh Plate looms as key target for Don't Hope Do

The connections of Don't Hope Do have devoted 18 months to strategising, and now they can observe the results in Caulfield's Group 1 sprint event.

According to trainer Simon Zahra, Saturday's Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield represents the strongest prospect for Don't Hope Do to secure a Group 1 success.

He teamed up with cousin Mathew Ellerton in training to deliver Booker's win in the 2019 Oakleigh Plate, acted as assistant when Ellerton readied River Dove (2023) and Miss Kournikova (2001), and assisted John Hawkes with Sports' victory in 2000.

"Mathew and I won three, and we didn't think Booker could win," Zahra said.

"We sort of knew what type of horse it takes to win it, and whether this bloke is up to that class, time will tell, but the weight certainly helps."

With four wins from 15 starts, Don't Hope Do excels over speedy trips from 1000m up to 1100m.

He ventured into stakes racing on just two prior occasions, ending fourth in the Listed Wylie Handicap at Morphettville in September last year, and bouncing back recently with a second-place finish first-up in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 7.

"We've placed him quite well over the last 12 months, but I said to the owners, probably 18 months ago, the Oakleigh Plate was probably the race for him," Zahra said.

"The 1100 (metres) at Caulfield, he loves it, he'll get in with no weight, so that was the plan and, so far, it's worked.

"We put him up against better sprinters in the Rubiton at set-weights and thought if he can compete with them then under handicap conditions in the Oakleigh Plate, he'll run him.

"We didn't have him screwed down, we left a little in the tank in case we got into the Oakleigh Plate and we've got him there."

Meanwhile, Oak Hill and Hedged, victors of first and third spots in the Rubiton Stakes, shoulder the same imposts from a fortnight back, but Don't Hope Do lightens by 4.5kg.

Don't Hope Do has placed in every one of his three prior runs at Caulfield, including a win there in October.

"He loves it here, especially the 1100 (metres)," Zahra said.

"He might get to the front a bit easier with Jigsaw and some of those horses not running.

"We've drawn well, so we'll see how we go."

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