May 23rd, 2008 :
Horse Racing
The Millings Lawyers Rough Habit Plate is a $125,000 Group 3 set weight race for three-year-olds run over 2020 metres. It is named in honour of the great galloper Rough Habit who won the Doomben Cup in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
The set weight conditions are hard on the fillies, and since the race was first run in 1993 no filly has finished better than third. Last years winner was Empires Choice trained by Bart Cummings and ridden by Damien Oliver. Damien Oliver also won the race in 2002 on Distinctly Secret and in 2001 on De Gaulle Lane, giving him 3 wins from the 15 runnings so far.
There is a full field of 16 plus 5 emergencies, and the race appears fairly open. Early favourite is Moatize trained by Bart Cummings and ridden by Hugh Bowman. Other fancies are Mission Critical ridden by Damien Oliver, Pepperwood, and Circle of Fame.
Three Rough Habit Plate winners have gone on to win the Queensland Derby. These were De Gaulle Lane in 2001, Dodge in 1998 and Tenor in 1994.
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