Buffering Headlines 2014 Doomben 10,000 Field

The 2014 Doomben 10,000field and barrier draw has been released; with 11 talented sprinters set to contest the Group 1 event at Doomben on Saturday.

Buffering is set to start the 2014 Doomben 10,000 this weekend as one of the favourites, despite finishing a disappointing third in the BTC Cup.

Buffering is set to start the 2014 Doomben 10,000 this weekend as one of the favourites, despite finishing a disappointing third in the BTC Cup. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Headlining the Doomben 10,000 field is champion Queensland sprinter Buffering, who is still chasing his maiden Group 1 victory in front of his home fans in Brisbane.

Buffering has recorded three wins at the highest level of racing in Melbourne and Perth, but has had no luck in Group 1 events in Queensland and finished a disappointing third after starting the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben just under a fortnight as a dominant favourite.

Trainer Robert Heathcote revealed last week that Buffering had pulled up with a chiropractic issue following the BTC Cup, but is confident that he will be fully fit when he jumps from barrier eight in the Doomben 10,000 this weekend.

Famous Seamus (barrier three) scored a shock win over Buffering in the BTC Cup and the Noel Mayfield-Smith-trained gelding will have the chance to score his second straight Group 1 victory in the Doomben 10,000.

The son of Elusive City produced the best performance of his career in the BTC Cup, but may need to produce an even better effort when he steps up to 1350 metres for the first time since he finished 13th in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) last year.

The Tony Gollan-trained duo of Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom will also be backing up from the BTC Cup and, like Buffering, are chasing their maiden Group 1 wins in Queensland.

Temple Of Boom (barrier four) returned to winning form with an upset win in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 26 and finished a fair fourth in the BTC Cup, while Spirit Of Boom made up plenty of ground late to finish second in both races.

Spirit Of Boom has had little luck with barrier draws during his 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival to date, but jockey Michael Rodd will have a number of options when the Sequalo entire jumps from barrier two on Saturday.

One sprinter that did not fare as well in the 2014 Doomben 10,000 barrier draw is Gary Portelli-trained Rebel Dane, who will jump from barrier ten in the Group 1 event.

Rebel Dane started his autumn preparation with an impressive second place finish behind Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 and went into the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) as the same venue a fortnight later as a clear favourite, but failed to fire and finished a disappointing fifth.

Trainer Gary Portelli admitted that he was extremely disappointed by the poor effort of Rebel Dane in the All Aged Stakes, but is hoping that the son of California Dane can return to his best form in the Doomben 10,000.

Darley sprinter Knoydart was defeated as a short-priced favourite in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 26, but the More Than Ready gelding was one of the most consistent performers during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing; finishing third behind Lankan Rupee and Spirit Of Boom 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.

The John O’Shea-trained gelding will be making his Queensland racing debut in the Doomben 10,000 and will be stepping up to 1350 metres for the first time since he was gelded at the end of his winter campaign last year.

Other key 2014 Doomben 10,000 barrier draws include Hot Snitzel (barrier nine), Conservatorium (barrier 11), Scream Machine (barrier one), Driefontein (barrier five) and Peron (barrier seven).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.