The rich sprinting races roll on and it's Queensland's turn to take centre stage with the BRC’s running of the $1.5 million G1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m).
Inaugurated by the pre-merger BTC as the feature race at its grand opening of Doomben racecourse in 1933, it was won by three year old Wallun, and the year after by legendary Queensland galloper Lough Neah.
Less than a decade later In 1941 after the Pearl Harbour attack, more than a million US Military troops stationed to the Pacific descended upon Brisbane.
Until 1945, a large number of them occupied camps established at both Doomben and Eagle Farm racecourses, with tracks, infields, buildings and grandstands converted into offices and camping accommodation for the servicemen.
During this turbulent era racing continued, but was transferred to nearby Albion Park.
In 1946 in a weary nation reeling from the consecutive shocks of the Great Depression and World War II, racing returned to Doomben and - as has often happened in tough times - a truly great horse had arrived on the scene to lift the spirits of all.
The horse who had captured the hearts of firstly Queenslanders and then the nation during the bitter war years was Bernborough.
In his final season before breaking down in the Mackinnon Stakes in Melbourne (after a desperately unlucky fifth in the Caulfield Cup), Bernborough stepped out for the 1946 Doomben 10,000 carrying 65.5kg.
With the customary jaw dropping finish that had already became part of turf folklore, he stormed home from last to win running away from a field of 27 hapless rivals, setting a track record in the process.
“The Toowoomba Tornado” was then brutally re-handicapped to carry 68.5 in the Doomben Cup over 2200m a week later which he also won easily - no horse since has ever won both races - before his ill-fated journey south.
The feats of Bernborough stand alone but the Doomben crowds have witnessed some great horses and great finishes to the race down the years.
Until 1945 the race was the Doomben Newmarket Handicap.
It became the Doomben 10,000 in recognition of the prize purse of ten thousand pounds, which established the race as the richest sprint in Australia at that time.
In 1997 it became a WFA contest and until 2017 was run over 1350m.
The race was still a handicap in 1979 when another of its greatest winners Manikato won it as a three year old lumping 58kg. This was one of the most incredible wins in a turf career that will like Bernborough's, forever be revisited and marvelled at.
The young Manikato was first up in the 10,000 after a three month spell imposed by serious illness, and his jockey Gary Willetts had understandable concerns.
Approaching the winning post and having disposed of high class opposition like Imposing and Steel Blade, “The Man” was under seige from 100-1 shot Casca carrying 11kg less - but Willetts didn't pull the whip on his best mate. He knew the horse was that rare spirit which would give 150% even when not at his best.
Of course Manikato held on to win, and in doing so he equalled the weight carrying record set by Star Kingdom's magnificent colt Baguette who won in 1971.
Hometown heroes Falvelon and Chief De Beers won the race twice, as did cult hero Apache Cat - memorably storming down the Doomben straight to record his first 10,000 by five lengths in 2008 and returning to claim another the next year.
The first to do the double was Tommy Smith's champion Black Onyx in 1969 -70. In typical TJ fashion, after Black Onyx's first 10,000 win as a three year old Tommy set him the task of emulating none other than Bernborough by lining him up in the Doomben Cup. Black Onyx was great but not quite that great, and he came second. He returned to win another 10,000 the following year and became the first horse to achieve that feat.
The remarkable Sovereign Red returned from dual Derby victories at three to take the Doomben 10,000 as a four year old in 1981.
2007 provided one of the best remembered 10,000 finishes, when champion filly Gold Edition with the master of pace Jimmy Cassidy aboard led all the way and was hailed the winner - until Takeover Target hit top gear and swept the gallant grey aside.
In 2014 there was the unique spectacle of the half brothers Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom duking out a thrilling G1 finish with Spirit winning by a short neck and warhorse Buffering only a head away in third.
Buffering had just missed in 2012 when Sea Siren became the first - and still the only - filly to win the race.
Redzel in 2017 and Giga Kick in 2023 are the two Everest winners to date who have collected a Doomben 10,000. In 2024 wonder mare Bella Nipotina prevailed over I Wish I Win in another exciting finish for the ages and then landed the Everest for good measure.
Who will win the great race this year?
Carrying the number 1 saddlecloth is Bjorn Baker's Overpass, the mighty son of Vancouver on a mission to consign a shock Quokka defeat to the dustbin of history and go one better than his second to Giga Kick in 2023.
So we've got a huge field, a deteriorating track (Heavy 8 at time of writing but with plenty more rain forecast), and some of the better chances in less than ideal barriers.
Frankly there are only a couple of runners that would shock me if they won.
On a genuinely heavy track it's going to be the sprinters with some good stamina to sustain their speed, that have won beyond 1200m, which look to be advantaged - and weight can become a telling factor.
Risking Overpass, great horse that he is - because he doesn't seem to enjoy heavy ground and will probably have to do some work from his gate which could be an issue late in the piece.
Also risking boom horse Schwarz, though I'd like to talk about his breeding! - the exciting talent is bred x 3 to the great mare Shantha's Choice and is bred to swim.
But I'm put off by the awkward barrier, a bit of a race fitness query, and the fact he hasn't been seen to best advantage when he has raced in big fields.
Top Tip: BENEDETTA
She's tough, talented, a seasoned big race performer and in form.
It is a query that Benedetta has never raced on a heavy track, but she has excelled on soft and I'm going to trust that her breeding will come to the fore here.
Her sire Hellbent, her damsire Domesday and second damsire Elvstroem are all noted for their ability to sire heavy track performers.
In the case of Hellbent he does better in that department than his sire I Am Invincible, who is no slouch.
Then she has Kendor, Century, and Showdown through her tail female line - that of New Zealand's mighty “Leica” family which has produced countless topliners through the years, over all distances. But when they are sprinters they have that toughness and fortitude the family is famous for.
Stamina and speed combine in Benedetta and her pattern seems to be that she improves through a preparation. Her form this prep is outstanding even if she hasn't won and she's been a little unlucky, especially in the Newmarket.
It's fair to say she also could have more than one G1 win to her name but for a bit of luck, however there's no doubting her consistency at the elite level.
Well proven at WFA Benedetta comes back to 1200m hard fit after a nice little freshen, and gets the blinkers on.
From barrier 8 with her Goodwood winning parner Jamie Melham on board, Jason Warrington's super genuine mare is primed to run a mighty race here.
Next best: SUNSHINE IN PARIS
Was going to be my top pick until the barrier gods came up with 14 for her, but still she must rate a leading chance.
Her sire Invader was at his best on soft to heavy ground and she's out of a Zabeel mare, but Sunshine In Paris has run her best races on good tracks.
Having said that she was only 1.5 lengths off Bella Nipotina in The Everest on a soft 5 and only .07 lengths off Chain Of Lightning in the G1 TJ Smith on a heavy 8.
The Annabel Neasham - Rob Archibald trained mare didn't run to her best when she struck a heavy 10 so if Brisbane is subject to a deluge before start time that's a slight worry.
At her only Doomben start she placed on a Soft 6.
Sunshine In Paris is out of Zabeel's winning daughter Zenaida, a half to 3 x G1 winner and NZ Horse of the Year Vosnee Romanee - and a fine filly producer being also the dam of G3 winner and three quarter sister to Sunshine In Paris, Macroura - by Invader's sire Snitzel
This is the famed “Heights” family established by NZ breeder Tim Douglas and from its matriarch the mare Wuthering Heights (originally his polo pony!) descend many champions - Battle Heights, Sky Heights, Noble Heights, Royal Heights, Mapperley Heights and Bart Cumming's great stayer Viewed - plus a pretty handy sprinter Weekend Hussler.
Like “The Hussler” Sunshine In Paris is that sprinter which comes from what is primarily a top class staying family. When they do arise they are formidable racehorses with an ability to sustain their speed further than most.
It's notable too that this is a family that often improves with age so Sunshine In Paris, lightly raced for her five years, is likely around the peak of her powers.
She gets the blinkers ON for the first time, and as she is out of a Zabeel mare that might be a significant gear change for her.
“Sunshine” is fourth up into this - last time in her fourth run was her win in the G1 Champions Sprint in which she powered to the line ahead of a field at least the equal of this.
She comes through the class formline with three top performances and was probably unlucky not to win first up.
Like Benedetta, dropping back to 1200 now is ideal - and J-Mac is back! If anyone can steer her to victory from the tricky gate he can.
Roughie: DESERT LIGHTNING
An intriguing prospect here, especially in heavy conditions.
Pride Of Dubai can sire a genuine wet tracker - and Desert Lightning's damsire High Chaparral is one of the best.
High Chaparral is Pride of Dubai's top nick - no surprise as he had a champion half brother in South Africa by the sire.
Desert Lightning's second dam Murjana, a speedy G2 winning juvenile, is a three quarter sister to the dam of Schwarz! - this line of Best In Show coming through Redoute's three quarter sister Twyla. You just can't ever underestimate the class factor of this damline.
Although a G1 winning miler and G2 placed out to a middle distance in his homeland, Desert Lightning does have a turn of foot and has run some big races over shorter trips when fresh as he is here.
He’s a talent and seems to possess that quality common to many by his sire Pride Of Dubai - they like to roll, and roll on strong.
From his ideal barrier I can envisage Desert Lightning who can get keen, sitting somewhere behind the leaders enjoying the hot speed all the way.
While he doesn't have the brilliance to match it with the best of these on top of the ground, on a very soft track he may just keep charging to the line as others are tiring and find himself in the finish.
A proven weight carrier and wet tracker, the five year old comes here off a really decent first up run in the All-Aged and was a strong winner second up over a quality field second up last time, over 1500m.
Finally there's the choice of trainer made by Desert Lightning's NZ connections when they sent him to Oz. Is there a better stable than Moody - Coleman when it comes to conditioning these mature miler types to win over sprinting trips?
Thomas Stockdale takes the ride from barrier 4.
Blowout hope: VEIGHT
Even though his trainer Tony McEvoy has said Veight is “a duffer on heavy tracks” - and it seems arrogant to question the great trainer who actually knows the horse! - Veight's only start on testing ground was as a 2YO on a heavy 8 in the ATC Sires Produce - he wasn't disgraced at all in fourth behind Militarize, and was second up there.
On a really heavy track his breeding suggests he may surprise and as he's attracting a bit of support at longer odds it seems other pedigree nerds might be thinking the same way I am.
Veight burst onto the scene as a young horse showing any amount of ability and competed with distinction at Group level culminating in his well earned G1 in the George Ryder Stakes.
Then his hormones got the better of him and he lost form at four.
Now gelded, the striking son of O'Reilly's son Grunt out is out of Neena Rock (Fastnet Rock) from a US family.
His sire Grunt by O'Reilly out of a Van Nistlerooy daughter of Ocean Park's dam Sayiida by Zabeel, only ever raced on good tracks but wet-loving genes abound.
Grunt's son Pocketing won the G2 Tulloch Stakes on heavy and other of his progeny have also saluted on that surface.
Grunt is bred on a cross of his third dam Eastern Princess meeting up with O'Reilly's dam Courtza, her three quarter sister. Courtza won the Golden Slipper running away on a very wet track.
Veight's dam Neena Rock a G3 winner placed on a Heavy 10 and the feats of Fastnet Rock as a broodmare sire and a wet track sire don't need any elaborating upon.
Simply put, if the track is a heavy 9/10 I can't for the life of me see how Veight wouldn't be loving it - on breeding. We know he's got the ability, has always been a good fresh horse and has that combination of speed and stamina a race like this demands.
He's drawn a good barrier and has Andrew Mallyon in the saddle.
But if it keeps raining, will he be scratched?
