The 2014 Doomben 10,000 is set to be one of the most competitive races of the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival after 46 sprinters were included in the nominations for the Group 1 event that will be held at Doomben on May 24.
Rebel Dane has been included in the nominations for the 2014 Doomben 10,000 despite failing to perform at his best in the All Aged Stakes last weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Rebel Dane is one of a number of Group 1 winners that have been entered for the Doomben 10,000 and trainer Gary Portelli confirmed that the son of California Dane would contest the race despite failing to fire in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick last Saturday.
The four-year-old resumed with an impressive second behind Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 and was well-backed in the lead-up to the All Aged Stakes, but faded in the final stages of the race to finish a disappointing fifth behind Hana’s Goal.
Sydney-trained sprinter Epaulette won the 2013 Doomben 10,000 and a number of New South Wales-based trainers have including leading sprinters in the nominations for the 2014 edition of the $650,000 race.
Driefontein broke through for a maiden win at Group 1 level in the Robert Sangster Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on April 26 and is on track to contest the Doomben 10,000 next month, while Darley will be chasing their second straight win in the race with Knoydart and Sidestep.
Knoydart and Sidestep were both also included in the nominations for the BTC Cup and are set to be the first Group 1 runner for the Darley operation under the care of John O’Shea, who will take over as head trainer at the end of this weekend.
A Queensland-trained sprinter has not won the Doomben 10,000 since Falvelon went back-to-back in 2001 and 2002, but there will be plenty of local hopes in this year’s race.
Buffering will be having his fourth straight start in the Doomben 10,000 and trainer Robert Heathcote will be hoping that his star galloper can finally record a win in the race after finishing seventh in 2011, second in 2012 and third in 2013.
Spirit Of Boom is another veteran of the Doomben 10,000, finishing fourth in the past two years, but is arguably racing in career best form after finishing second in both the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 22 and the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8 before winning the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 21.
Belltone, The White Hope, That’s The One, Temple Of Boom, Saluter, Lucky Hussler, Londehero and Buakaw are among the other locally-trained horses that have been included in the Doomben 10,000 nominations.
