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English has claimed her first feature win in over two years after taking out the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained runner was coming off some decent form in Group 1 company without winning, her last success coming in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes over a year ago.Settling off the leaders in fourth for much of the race, Tim Clark found clear room at the top of the straight along the inside, getting the better of her rivals over the final 100m to claim a narrow win over Impending in second with Le Romain third.
English ran to a Timeform figure of 118, one pound above her second placing in the Group 1 Galaxy two starts back and her highest rating since running to 121 in the 2017 TJ Smith Stakes behind Chautauqua.
The five-year-old is the first filly or mare to win the race since Sea Siren in 2012 who returned a Timeform figure of 121 with 2017 winner Redzel also running to 121 when beating Counterattack.
Impending was very good in second place running to a new career peak Timeform figure of 121, two pounds above his win in the 2017 Stradbroke Handicap last year.
The James Cummings-trained runner looks well placed again going into this years renewal of the Stradbroke as does English, In Her Time and Le Romain all out of this race.
The last runner to complete the Doomben 10,000/Stradbroke double was Campaign King back in 1988 showing how hard it is to win the two feature races.
The race prior saw the progressive Youngstar run on well from back in the field to take out the Group 2 Magic Millions The Roses (2000m) over Another Dollar a length away in second and Highway a further two lengths away in third.
The Chris Waller-trained runner has now won her last three and she came into the race off an easy win in a Benchmark 68 over 1885m at Newcastle the start prior.
Youngstar returned a new career peak Timeform figure of 105p, 14 pounds above her previous outing and will now more than likely head towards the Queensland Oaks (2200m) on May 26.
The daughter of High Chaparral is the equal highest rated winner of the race since Scarlett Lady in 2011 who returned a Timeform figure of 109.
Other recent winners to run to 105 are Arabian Gold in 2014 and Bohemian Lily 2015 with 2017 winner Kenedna running to 102.
Youngstar has certainly come along way in a short time and going from the provincials to a Group 2 win, the filly is open to more improvement as she goes up in trip.
The feature race of the day for two-year-olds saw Zousain win the Group 2 Moet & Chandon Classic (1200m) for Chris Waller.
With just one previous win to his name, Zousain was only fair when midfield in the Group 2 Pago Pago the start prior but off a freshen up was much improved after getting back in the field from a wide draw.
Finding a gap at the 200m, Zousain ran on very well over the concluding stages to win by two and a half lengths from Mishani Hustler in second with Blue Book third.
Zousain returned a new career peak Timeform figure of 109p, two pounds above his fourth placing in the Skyline Stakes earlier in the year.
Zousain ran three pounds above 2017 winner Tangled and just one pound below Winning Rupert who beat Attention in 2016.