Doomben 10,000 preview
Group One racing continues in Brisbane with the running of the Doomben 10,000. Some crowd favourites like Takeover Target (2007), Apache Cat (2008/09) and Hot Danish (2010) have all won this race, with Beaded (2011), Sea Siren (2012) and Epaulette (2013) the most recent victors.
Darley won it in 2011 and 2013, with John O’Shea winning it in 2012 and that newly formed combination line up this year with Knoydart. He won three on the trot when returning from a spell including the Listed Canterbury Classic and Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington. Since then he’s been placed in three Group One’s, most recently the BTC Cup behind Famous Seamus when runner-up. His overall record of five wins and ten placings from 18 starts reads well.
Buffering won three on the trot last campaign and all were at Group One level. Since then, he too has been placed in Group One’s and whilst that might be impressive for most horses, he’s been somewhat off the boil.
Trainer, Gary Portelli, was openly very confident with Rebel Dane before heading into the Group One All Aged Stakes and subsequently disappointed with his 3.5L fifth behind Hana’s Goal. His impressive first-up run in the TJ Smith on a heavy track might have taken greater toll than first expected, and last preparation he did win a Group One Rupert Clarke Stakes when third-up. Barrier ten won’t help his cause though, especially if the track plays like last week.
Spirit of Boom has four seconds and a win to his name from his last five starts while half-brother Temple of Boom has also been in good form of late. He won two starts back when holding off a fast-finishing Spirit of Boom and ran a nice fourth in the BTC last start, both runs with apprentice Tegan Harrison on board. Interestingly, neither has won at Doomben; Spirit has been placed six of 11 starts there whilst Temple has four placings from 8.
Famous Seamus was the rank outsider in the BTC Cup at his last start but relished a return to a dry track and drawing wide but he’s drawn barrier three this time in. Hugh Bowman returns from Hong Kong and reunites with Hot Snitzel who he won on two starts back in the Hall Mark Stakes. He’s won three times and been placed a further three from 11 rides on the gelding.
Driefontein is one who will need a dry track to perform at her best, and she’ll be suited by any leader bias. She was a strong winner of the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes two starts back before failing on a soft track in the Goodwood – the old pair of Nash Rawiller and Gai Waterhouse combining again with this bonny mare. Peron hasn’t shown much in her two runs from a spell but should strip fitter after six months off before that; Conservatorium has been out of form of late but has a win and two seconds in three Queensland starts so might enjoy the trip north, while Scream Machine’s last win was around this time last year in the Wagga Cup.