The 2023 Queensland Racing Carnival heats up this Saturday with the first of eight massive winter Group 1 races, the Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000, being run and won over 1200m.
The Doomben 10,000 has consistently been one of Queensland’s highest rating races. It’s easy to see why when the past winners list boasts such names as Falvelon, Spirit Of Boom, Takeover Target, Apache Cat and Redzel.
This year’s edition has attracted a strong field that includes past winners Mazu (2022) and Eduardo (2021) and Australia’s newest sprinting sensation Giga Kick who has opened a warm favourite for the race.
We’ve provided our thoughts on every runner in the $1.5 million weight for age feature below! (Prices listed were current at time of publish)
1. Eduardo (11)
Price: $16.00
The nine-year-old gelding is a marvel who remains a sprinting force despite his auspicious career being in its twilight.
The Joe Pride-trained son of Host won the hearts of racing fans with his battles with Nature Strip over the years. After a poor 2022 Spring Carnival by his standards, he returned with a typically tough effort in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes where he lost in a photo finish to Passive Aggressive. Last start he drew wide in the Group 1 The Galaxy and had to work overtime to find the front so understandably weakened in the run home.
The 2021 Doomben 10,000 winner’s best appears to be behind him. However, you can never count out a warhorse like him who is prepared to go to the well every time he races and he’ll need to do that again starting from the outside barrier. Nash Rawiller has developed a great partnership with ‘Ed’ and is again in the saddle.
2. Mazu (7)
Price: $9.00
The 2022 Doomben 10,000 champion returns looking to defend his title and become the first horse to do so since Apache Cat did it in 2008 and 2009.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained four-year-old hasn’t won in seven starts since claiming his maiden Group 1 title. However, the Maurice gelding has been competing against the country’s best gallopers. Last preparation he finished second to Lost And Running in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes before a super effort when third in The Everest. Second-up this preparation he finished a close third in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes to I Wish I Win.
He had a gut buster last start in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes but has been given time to get over that. With the possibly of wet weather on race day, connections will be praying that it’s a significant drop as he grows a leg in the wet.
3. A Case For You (9)
Price: $34.00
The multiple Group 1 winning import is an interesting entrant in this year’s Doomben 10,000. Prior to joining the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable earlier this year, the five-year-old had performed brilliantly overseas.
The son of Hot Streak won the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye in 2021 and the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai last year along with placing in several black-type features in Europe. He had had his first Australian race in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes in March where he charged home from the back of the field to finish fifth to Imperatriz. Last start he again ran on to finish sixth by less than two lengths in the Group 2 Victory Stakes.
Unfortunately, he again draws a wide gate which will likely see Ben Thompson settle towards the back. If the speed is on, he’ll be charging late. He has an Australian feature race in him, but this doesn’t look to be it.
4. Overpass (10)
Price: $14.00
The Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old arrives in Brisbane in great form. The son of Vancouver created history when he led and showed considerable toughness to win the inaugural The Quokka at Ascot last month.
While he has always shown ability, boasting a close second to Nature Strip in last year’s Group 2 The Shorts, a gelding operation prior to this preparation has done him the world of good and he looks ready to go to the next level. He races best fresh and he has been given time to overcome his Perth trip.
He has the ability to race on the speed which gives him a very good chance given Doomben favours those types of runners. However, barrier 10 may see him having to work overtime to find a position.
5. Vilana (1)
Price: $11.00
The four-year-old son of Hallowed Crown is a horse that the powerful Godolphin team have a high opinion of and believe that he can make some serious noise during the Queensland winter.
Under James Cummings’ tutelage, Vilana has built an impressive record of seven wins from 12 starts. He is no stranger to Brisbane racing, winning the Group 3 Fred Best Classic last year before finishing eighth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
He’s come back this preparation in fine fettle. He found the line strongly to win the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes first-up. He’ll have come on since that run and boasts a good second-up record. He’ll need to go to another level to compete with the likes of Giga Kick but the stable is astute so it would be a brave person to doubt them. Drawing the inside gate is a massive plus.
6. Prince Of Boom (5)
Price: $16.00
The Rob Heathcote-trained four-year-old gelding has always looked like a promising horse with wins in the Group 2 Champagne Classic and the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas early in his career.
However, the son of Spirit Of Boom has come back this preparation a bigger and stronger beast. He created a massive impression when leading all the way to win the Listed Ascot Handicap first-up. His talented stablemate Rothfire was just under three lengths away in second. He backed that excellent run up last start in the Group 2 Victory Stakes where he led and put up a great fight, only to get run down in the final 50m by Rothfire to finish third. The Victory Stakes has proven over the years to be a trusted form line for the Doomben 10,000.
The Adrenaline Thoroughbreds-owned sprinter will be at peak fitness third-up and will give himself every chance by going forward at a track that will suit his racing style. Queensland’s leading jockey Jimmy Orman will take the ride and has a lot of faith in the horse. If he doesn’t have to work too hard in the run, he can fight out the finish.
7. Weona Smartone (6)
Price: $61.00
The David Vandyke-trained six-year-old is a speedy customer but looks to be tested here. After finishing fifth at his first start, he went on to win eight races in a row.
Last preparation he ran a cracking race to finish a close third in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes before finishing just two lengths behind Private Eye in the Nature Strip Stakes. He was spelled after that and returned with a long last in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes in March. He found form last start when leading until late when third in The Archer.
He’ll go forward but ultimately will feel the pinch in the final furlong at this level. He’s hard to have.
8. Giga Kick (4)
Price: $1.80
The Clayton Douglas-trained sprinting sensation is the hot favourite for Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 and for good reason. The three-year-old gelding has quickly established himself as one of, if not the best sprinter in Australia.
After a close win in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes during the Melbourne Spring Carnival, he ventured north to Sydney for The Everest. The aptly named race appeared to be a monumental step for him but he handled it like a pro. The son of Scissor Kick unleashed a powerful finish from a rearward position to run down the likes of Nature Strip, Private Eye and Mazu.
He’s come back this preparation in just as good form, if not better. He placed in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes first-up before narrowly being beaten by I Wish I Win in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes. Last start he displayed his brilliance when running down Zaaki to easily win the Group 1 All Aged Stakes by 1.66 lengths.
Douglas has trained him to perfection and is bullish about his star gelding winning. He’s four weeks between runs and looked slick in a trial win between runs. He has options from the good draw and can race on the speed or come from behind. He’s a stronger animal now, which makes it very difficult to see him getting beaten in this year’s Doomben 10,000.
9. Aft Cabin (3)
Price: $6.50
The Godolphin colt is one of the most talented three-year-olds in Australia. He earned that reputation during the spring when he won the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude in dominant fashion by 3.5 lengths. Unfortunately, he suffered a bleed prior to being able to take his place as the hot favourite of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and was sent for a spell.
Trainer James Cummings largely kept him to sprint trips during the Sydney Autumn Carnival and it paid dividends. The son of Astern won the Group 3 Eskimo Prince first-up before being beaten as favourite in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes and Group 1 Randwick Guineas. He bounced back to his best last start when storming home to win the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint.
Champion jockey James McDonald has a high opinion of Aft Cabin and will take the ride on Saturday. He has a habit of being slow away so will need to be on his best behaviour, particularly from barrier 3, as he won’t be able to give these sprinters a start. However, with the ability he possesses, he is one of the leading contenders.
10. Mariamia (8)
Price: $20.00
The Joe Pride-trained mare is racing in career best form this preparation. The six-year-old won by a chin hair when resuming in a Benchmark 88 Handicap in January before steaming home to win the Group 2 Expressway Stakes by 2.63 lengths second-up.
She proved that maiden black-type victory was no fluke when sprinting hard and fast to win the Group 1 The Galaxy where she defeated Uncommon James and Eduardo. Last start she was far from disgraced when working home well for fifth in the T.J. Smith Stakes after drawing a wide gate.
The daughter of Toronado races well fresh so will appreciate the four weeks since her last run. She looked good in a recent tick over trial that will. With the breeding barn calling her name, the Doomben 10,000 could very well be Mariamia’s final race. If that’s the case, you can be assured that Pride will have her in A1 condition and ready to fire on Saturday.
11. Centrefire (2)
Price: $101.00
The Chris Munce-trained daughter of Shooting To Win is the rank outsider of the field but don’t be fooled by her triple figure price. The six-year-old mare is like a fine red wine, she has gotten better with age.
She was unlucky at times last winter but did win the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic and finished second in the Listed Chief De Beers. Earlier this year, she provided her connections with their biggest win when she defied the odds to go forward and tough out a huge win in The Syndicate race on Magic Millions Day.
She kicked off this preparation with a very good run to finish third by three lengths to Prince Of Boom and was just a nose behind Rothfire in the Ascot Handicap. There is no doubt she faces a massive task in her first Group 1 race. However, she always puts herself into a race by going forward and she’s drawn perfectly for that in barrier 2. She’ll go to the wall for her jockey Sam Collett and could be a sneaky place chance at monstrous odds.
The Judgement
It’s very hard to go past race favourite Giga Kick. He’s arguably Australia’s best sprinter and scarily for his opposition, is getting better. He’s a big race performer having won The Everest at just his fifth race start. His win in the All Aged Stakes last start was outstanding and will have topped him off nicely for this. He’s settled in well in Brisbane and his work on Tuesday was unbelievable. It would seem that only bad luck will get him beaten.
Take Giga Kick out of this race and this year’s Doomben 10,000 is wide open.
The decision by James Cummings to keep Aft Cabin to sprinting distances has proven to be a masterstroke. He enters this race in fine form after running on powerfully to win the Arrowfield Sprint. He maps to stalk what looks a strong speed.
Vilana looks a genuine Stradbroke Handicap horse for Godolphin but can run a bold race from the inside gate in the Doomben 10,000. He’s a winner, pure and simple. While this is a big step up in class, he’s won seven of 12 starts and was excellent in the Hallmark Stakes when things didn’t go his way.
Mariamia is racing in the form of her career despite life as a mother beckoning. She won the Group 1 The Galaxy just two starts ago and has been kept fresh for this. You just have to think that Joe Pride would love nothing more than to send this girl out a winner.
Overpass was dealt a blow when barrier 10 came up for him. He was super when winning The Quokka last start. The gelding operation after last preparation has had the desired effect and he’s clearly a better horse this time in. If he can get across without having to work too hard, he’s a live chance.