Racing Queensland has released the nominations for seven Group 1 races to be held over the 2018 UBET Queensland Winter Racing Carnival - headlined what shapes as the strongest edition of the Doomben 10,000 in the modern era.
Nominations closed at 11am on Tuesday for the 10,000, Doomben Cup, Kingsford-Smith Cup, Queensland Oaks, Queensland Derby, Stradbroke Handicap and JJ Atkins.
Racing Queensland Chief Handicapper Nathan Bourke said this year’s Doomben 10,000 (formerly the BTC Cup) was stacked with quality.
“The nominations are headlined by last year’s winner Redzel, reinging Stradbroke champion Impending, Le Romain and In Her Time,” Mr Bourke said.
“Some of the locals nominated include Houtzen, Most Important, Monsieur Gustave and Care To Think. While the weight-for-age conditions of the Doomben 10,000 will be testing, they appear to be runners to watch under handicap conditions in the Stradbroke.”
Mr Bourke said the Doomben Cup also looked likely to be one of the strongest in recent years, with the likes of Gailo Chop, Tom Melbourne and Comin’ Through all nominated.
“Gailo Chop is, arguably, the second-best horse racing in Australia at present, especially at 2000m. He has won two Group Ones this season and beat all home barring Winx in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April,” he said.
“Given his racing pattern he certainly looks the horse to beat in the Doomben Cup.”
The crown in Queensland’s winter carnival jewel is the $1.5 million UBET Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben on June 9 – with 119 nominations received.
Weights for the time-honoured event will be released on Monday 28 May 2018.
Nominations for the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara close on Monday 18 June 2018.
See the nominations below:
May 12 - Doomben 10,000 Nominations
May 19 - Doomben Cup Nominations
May 26 - Kingsford Smith Cup and QLD Oaks Nominations
June 9 - Stradbroke Handicap, QLD Derby and JJ Atkins Nominations