The Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 is one of the showpieces of the Queensland Racing Carnival.
A love affair for the feature race began from its inception in 1933, and locals, both fans and participants, have been drawn to the race ever since.
It’s not dramatic to say Queenslanders are viciously loyal, unashamedly patriotic and overly passionate.
Winning races during their centerpiece racing carnival, when the rest of the country ascends north, is not only a goal that is written into the calendar each year, but a point of pride.
In 1946, the ‘Toowoomba Tornado’ Bernborough carried 66kg and came from last in a field of 27 to win the Doomben 10,000 as a crowd of proud locals watched on.
He would then become the only horse to win the Doomben double when winning the Cup a week later over 2200m carrying 68.5kg.
Chief De Beers loved Doomben and he won the Group 1 twice in 1995 and 1998.
Remarkably, all 20 of his career wins came at Doomben.
In 2014, the Tony Gollan trained Spirit Of Boom won the Doomben 10,000 for the locals and would later make his mark on Australian racing in the most effective way as a stallion.
The reality is that Queensland horses to have won the race have been few and far between in recent times.
Is it a blight on the ability of locally trained horses or a compliment to the quality of the race itself?
No local has won the race since Tony Gollan quinella’d the race with Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom in 2014.
Manikato won the race in 1979, Apache Cat was one of the most popular winners in 2008 and 2009 and Bella Nipotina ventured north to win the race last year.
The 2025 edition of the Doomben 10,000 is littered with interstate raiders which doesn’t bode well for those passionate locals who would love to see the race claimed by one of their own.
The 2024 Champions Sprint winner Sunshine In Paris is the early favourite on Saturday out of the Archibald stable.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass failed to win his third successive The Quokka in Perth in his last outing but he is on the next line of betting for the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday.
The local hopes are limited but include Rob Heathcote’s seven-year-old gelding Rothfire who was beaten just 1.8 lengths in the Group 2 Victory Stakes two weeks ago.
Tony Gollan saddles up the progressive who will appreciate the forecasted heavy track and will jump from barrier two as well as the 2025 Magic Millions Snippets winner Zarastro who will likely make his own luck on the speed.
Another interstate victory seems likely but another outstanding edition of the race is certain.