New Doomben 10000 draws big guns
The field for the first Group 1 of the 2017 Brisbane Racing Carnival is set, and it is no surprise to see big names Waller, Weir and Snowden feature on multiple occasions in the $700,000 James Boag's Premium Doomben 10,000 (1200m).
Darren Weir actually has the two lowest-rated horses in the race, though, with Sooboog (barrier four) and El Divino (11) acceptors.
Chris Waller has drawn the innermost barriers with his pair Japonisme (one) and Counterattack (two), with Larry Cassidy and Opie Bosson booked respectively.
Peter and Paul Snowden are not far away, with their chances Redzel (three) and Russian Revolution(five) also drawing handily.
Waller will no doubt have a close eye on start wondering, who won three races from five starts for the leading Sydney trainer in the 2015-16 season before heading back home to NZ, where he has been crowned a two-time Group 1 winner in 2017 alone.
NZ trainers Evan and J.J. Rayner had contemplated taking the six-year-old to Hong Kong for Sunday's Chairman's Sprint Prize, but instead they're now in the 10,000 - with regular hoop Johnathan Parkes on board from barrier eight.
Lindsay Park are unleashing colt derryn(six) in another open grade weight-for-age sprint, after giving him a crack at the T.J. Smith during the Sydney Carnival when he was six lengths off Chautauqua.
The 10,000 has transformed from a 1350m race to a 1200m dash - as Brent Zerafa pointed out at the time, it is basically the old BTC Cup - but music magnet is looking to go back-to-back nonetheless, the Bjron Baker-trained galloper starting in seven for star Brisbane hoop jeff loyd.
Four-year-old mare In her time (13) takes her spot for trainer Ben smith and jockey josh parr, having won twice at Group 2 level among her own sex in Sydney in February, and was a game fifth in the Group 1 Coolmore at her last start on March 11.
By Ritesh Jamkhedkar - ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com