2016 Queensland Derby nominations includes local hope Cylinder Beach

Local three year old Cylinder Beach is among the one hundred and seven nominations for the 2016 Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) to be run at Eagle Farm on June 11.

Cylinder Beach, maroon and gold colours above, is among the nominations for the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Cylinder Beach, maroon and gold colours above, is among the nominations for the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Desleigh Forster trained Cylinder Beach threw down the gauntlet to all the Brisbane Winter Carnival invaders with a first up win in the Group 3 $125,000 ANTEC Gunsynd Classic (1630m) at Doomben on April 30.

An excited Foster said after that tip top performance that Cylinder Beach would be winning the Queensland Derby and that he would beat any challengers from the big southern stables.

“They can bring whatever they like from down south, but they won’t beat Cylinder Beach in the Derby,” Forster said.

“He’s a good horse. All jokes aside, he probably should have won a Group 1 race last winter.”

Forster has also nominated Captain Sonador three year old I’m Belucci for the Queensland Derby.

Some of those southern invaders will come from the John O’Shea stable which has nominated twelve three year olds for the Queensland Derby.

O’Shea’s well performed filly Ambience heads the Godolphin team which also includes Baveno, Diambra, Divine Sanction, Lunaar Spin, Montignac, Raitza, Seltzer, Tarquin, Unbiased, Unbreakable and Urrac.

Ambience is also nominated for the Queensland Oaks and comes to Queensland with first class Spring and Autumn form.

The Street Cry filly won the Group 2 $300,000 Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on the first day of the 2015 Melbourne Cup Carnival and then five days later ran third behind Jameka and Honesta in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington.

And during the Sydney Autumn Carnival Ambience ran second to Sofia Rosa in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on the day two of ‘The Championships’ on April 9.

Premierships winning trainer Chris Waller is also looking for strength in numbers and has nominated eleven three year olds for the Queensland Derby – Austin, El Novio, Encosta Line, High Wind, Hursley, Montauk, Mr Darcy, Multifacets, Rodrico, Scandal Sheet, and Trafalgar.

Leading Victoria trainer Darren Weir has nominated six, Accreditation, Duke Of Boneo, Howard Be Thy Name, Praecereus, St Rumon and Zandarral, while Lee and Anthony Freedman have only two entries in Cool Chap and Dreaded.

Cool Chap put himself into Queensland Derby contention with an impressive staying performance to win the Listed $200,000 VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on April 25.

The final field for the Queensland Derby will be released on Wednesday June 8, 2016.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.