The first Doomben Cup was run two days after the first Doomben 10,000 as part of the track's gala opening program in 1933 with total prize money of £1000 and a gold cup valued at £100 – fast forward to 2025 and they will race on Saturday for $1million.
A stallion called Pentheus won the inaugural race by four lengths in a form reversal that was immediately deemed outrageous enough for an inquiry to be held. Pentheus eventually kept his place in the history books as a worthy winner but his trainer was disqualified for two years.
Twenty-two of the first 23 Doomben Cups were taken out by Australian-bred stayers. The only “raider” to taste success was the Kiwi Beaulivre in 1940.
Australian and NZ-breds vied for honours through the years until recently, when a host of imported gallopers have found Doomben very much to their liking.
The Doomben Cup has been a G1 since 1980 and a WFA race since 1990.
In the early days champs like Bernborough, Bore Head, Beaulivre, Winfreux, Dark Marne, Tails, Grey Affair and Hiraji were victorious.
Later came turf heroes like Durbridge, Danewin, Juggler, Intergaze and Might And Power.
The race will be forever linked with the blaze-faced Kiwi Rough Habit, who collected three consecutive Doomben Cups in 1991 /92/ 93, having also placed in 1990. “Roughie"'s Doomben Cup three-peat was part of a stakes haul that included two Stradbrokes and a Queensland Derby during those years, and that was just in QLD.
In 1998 excitement swept Brisbane when the Might And Power show steamrolled into town. Racegoers packed out the Gold Coast and Doomben racecourses to see this freak of nature up close, and naturally “Mighty” didn't let them down.
Following a demolition job in the Hollindale he strode to the imperious victory everyone expected to see in the Cup, trouncing a great horse in Intergaze and smashing the course record in the process. Intergaze was back to win the following year.
The striking West Australian Scenic Shot won two Doomben Cups in 2009 /11, a feat matched by Huetor in 2022/23.
Earlwood had gone back to back in 1959/60, and apart from Rough Habit's hat trick no other horse has won the race more than once.
This year the grey Bois D'Argent ( Toronado) will attempt to add his name to the list of dual winners.
He's facing formidable opposition in 2025 with topliners and favourites Antino (Redwood) and Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) coming in off impressive last start wins.
Previous placegetters Fawkner Park (Zoffany) and Kovalica (Ocean Park) are back for another crack at it, along with classy imports Eliyass (Le Havre) and Klondike (Galileo).
The always-dangerous Lindermaan (Lonhro),comeback galloper Militarize (Dundeel) and tough campaigners My Oberon (Dubawi) and Osipenko (Pierro) round out the field with progressive mare Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) - taking on the big guns in by far her most difficult test to date.
The burning question is around the tactics employed to control the speed of the race, and how much pressure is brought to bear on Pride Of Jenni. The opposition don't want to let her get away but neither do they want to implode their own chances by getting into a speed battle with the free running mare.
Is Jenni, a seven year old back from a bleed, quite the same unstoppable force she was?
Eliyass will be up there with Bois D'Argent and Lindermann, all gallopers that won't have any issues with a strongly run 2000m - surely their jockeys will think it's to their advantage to make Jenni work hard?
Meanwhile, how far back is Antino getting while this is going on? Will he unleash his big finish and over run the leaders or will they refuse to tire and make his job that much harder? And he's not the only horse in the race with the capacity to swoop late.
It's a fascinating Doomben Cup in prospect and will be exciting to watch!
Top Tip: BOIS D'ARGENT
I’ve tried, and I can't find a reason to doubt Bois D'Argent’s chances of claiming back to back Doomben Cups.
He jumps from the same gate as last year and has very similar lead up form. He needs to go even better than last year but I think he can, because he was dropping back from 2400m there.
This horse stays well but he isn't a stayer in the truest sense, although he did run a brave fourth in Without A Fight's Caulfield Cup.
A fast run 2000m seems to be his favourite trip.
The lovely grey with a lovely name which translates as “silver woods” is a horse that needs racing, and he'll be at peak fitness now. He will be prominent all the way, ideally just sitting off the mare - and will much prefer a track with just a bit of give rather than the mudfest the Hollindale was run on.
Bois D'Argent is lightly raced for his eight years with 35 starts to his name and over $1,5 m in earnings. The Neasham - Archibald trained galloper always seems to be over the odds. It's true he only has the one G1 from 6 attempts but for a bit of luck could have had a couple more. And the Doomben Cup is one of those races that bring to mind the phrase “horses for courses”.
Bois D'Argent descends from Light Of Hope a full sister to the noted sire Alzao by Lyphard - a tail female line to one of the greatest producers of all time, Pocahontas.
The immediate family is responsible for G1 performers Arapaho Miss and her daughter Miami Bound, iron stayer De Little Engine, Heartsareforlove, Red Aces, and Declarationofheart.
This is also the damline of Pride Of Jenni!
Bois D'Argent's half sister Grand Glory was a champion middle distance horse and like him a late maturing type. Their dam Madonna Lily was out of a stakes placed Machiavellian mare.
Bois D'Argent is bred 5m x 5m,4m to Mr Prospector but his damsire Daylami's line is through the noted distaff influence Miswaki which balances this linebreeding.
Daylami from whom Bois D'Argent inherited his grey coat, is a noted nick with both Sadler's Wells and Darshaan who combine in Toronado's sire High Chaparral. In this part of the world Daylami wields lasting influence as the damsire of Pierro.
Toronado was a great choice for Bois D'Argent's dam bringing in that High Chaparral class and a great turn of foot through both sides of his pedigree.
G1 winning jockey Ryan Maloney who knows both Doomben and Bois D'Argent well, takes the ride from barrier 8.
Can Bois D'Argent do it again?
Next best: ANTINO
Antino steps up to 2000m for the first time, and when you look at his pedigree it's difficult to doubt his ability to run the trip out strongly.
It could easily be the pedigree of a Caulfield Cup winner not a fantastic miler.
Trainer Tony Gollan has stated that this is the first time he has trained the horse to get over a bit of ground.
All's going to plan so far with a last start demolition job on the opposition in the Hollindale, even if he was probably flattered somewhat there in the atrocious conditions.
But Antino is well proven on good tracks and significantly he has shown a liking for Doomben.
Antino was a cheapie buy at the 2020 NZB Ready To Run sale being picked up for $27,000 and has now earned over $2.5 m!
The handsome gelding is bred 3f X 3m to the great Mr Prospector son Woodman.
Antino's unraced dam Mahamaya by Bahare is a full sister to two G1 middle distance winners - Hurrah and Best Gift (HK Carlisle Bay) - she is also closely related to Trocane, G1 Avondale Cup 2200m.
The sire Redwood’s pedigree is all class being by High Chaparral from champion Jolypha by Lyphard, a full sister to champion racer and sire Dancing Brave.
Interestingly, most of his stakes winners have been exactly like himself - top class milers able to perform up to 2000m - a number of them, well beyond that.
Antino's female line is a ripper and it goes back to the Rockefella daughter Easter Rock. This branch of NZ's famous “Bride” family has produced such notables as Romanee Conti, Ethereal, Darci Brahma, Stony Bay, Happyanunoit, Mr Prudent, Burgundy, Blackfriars and more.
It's tough Kiwi staying blood and it should serve Antino well at this longer trip. He has a half brother who has won to 2200m.
One of the interesting features of Antino's pedigree is his second damsire Inviting - a half brother to Shirley Heights - High Chaparral's broodmare sireline.
Antino has good third up form and champion jockey Blake Shinn to steer from barrier 11.
Though it seems a given he'll get back and run on, he has actually won in the past by leading - wouldn't that make things interesting!
Roughie: MILITARIZE
It was unfortunate that this beautifully bred son of Dundeel had his stud career ended through no fault of his own, but here he is, gelded and looking to reclaim the G1 form which made him a vastly superior 2YO and top class 3YO.
Doubts have been expressed at his ability to run 2000m. I can't see it. His one try was the Cox Plate as a 3YO for goodness sake, he raced far too keen but still finished it off and ended up 8th of 12 and 2.3 lengths off Romantic Warrior. Much harsher judges than me rate that as a flop!
Then there's his 2YO form - no juvenile wins the G1 Sires then the G1 Champagne sitting three wide no cover the entire trip on a soft track without having more than decent stamina reserves.
Dundeel was a great WFA performer and the damsire of Militarize is the mighty Dubawi.
His damline is regal- he is the grandson of superb racemare and G1 winner Satwa Queen ( who had a 3200m G1 winning half brother) and his dam is half sister to Important Time who foaled G1 winner Nations Pride.
Militarize's dam Amerindia is also half sister to Queen Of Carthage, dam of champion and exciting young shuttle sire Lucky Vega.
Notably Lucky Vega's first Australian stakes winner Within The Law was second in the G1 Champagne at two and is out of a Dundeel mare.
Militarize is bred 5m x 5m to Never Bend's grandson Shirley Heights while another line of Never Bend comes through Riverman carried by his dam.
Chris Waller brings the classy son of Dundeel here well and truly fit, and knows the sort of horse it takes to win this race.
It has understandably taken Militarize a few runs to get back to race fitness and he showed his first real glimpse of form in the Hollindale running on stoutly, but his efforts since resumption of his career have been better than they look on paper. He is still only four years old and from a generally late maturing family - his best might even be yet to come!
Militarize likes soft tracks but he's also a G1 winner on good ground.
Tommy Berry stays on after the Hollindale - from barrier 10 the pair should be able to slot in midfield somewhere and stay out of any crazy speed battles.
Blowout: MISS JOELENE
While it would undoubtedly be a bit of a surprise if Kelly Schweida's progressive young mare won the race, I won't be surprised if she can run top four.
Miss Joelene is from a great female line - her branch has been quiet for a little while, but she might be one to revitalize its fortunes.
Her dam Cellargirl by More Than Ready was a stakes winner at two (at Doomben) who trained on to be a top class 3YO, placed in a Tea Rose and Flight Stakes.
Cellargirl's half sister Cellarmaid by Husson won to 2020m and placed in the G2 Roses at Doomben.
They and Cellarman, a G3 winning gelding by Mossman were foaled by the unraced Cape Cross mare Vintage Blend.
In turn she was a daughter of unraced Danzero mare Dane Vintage, producer of Listed winner Vintner and Perfect Drop who placed in a G1 AJC Oaks.
Dane Vintage is half sister to the great filly Triscay and her sisters who have founded a wonderful family which descends from Malcolmia the dam of NZ’s all-time great sire and broodmare sire of stayers, Oncidium. Exciting young sire Tassort and his half brother Astern are of this family through Triscay's great daughter La Baraka.
But many fine stayers including Doomben Cup winner Defier, Adelaide Cup winning mare Demerger and warhorse Majestically also hail from this tribe.
Miss Joelene was a $20,000 buy at the 2022 MM Gold Coast Yearling by her trainer, who also purchased her Vinery-bred dam at the 2016 sale for $90,000.
She is the first foal from the mare.
A few things most appealing about Miss Joelene's pedigree are that it creates multiple lines to stallions descending from Sir Ivor mares meeting up with his son Sir Tristram on her tail female line;
Danehill x 4m x 5m and a line to his close relation Halo;
Danzig 5m x 5m
Mr Prospector 5m x 5m
Southern Halo and his relative Miswaki meet in this pedigree.
Miss Joelene's sire Russian Revolution is a member of the famous family to which belong Flying Spur, Encosta De Lago and a host of other fine stallions known to sire everything from Golden Slipper winners to Cup contenders.
Miss Joelene's pedigree looks to balance stamina and speed and it's been a successful mating - fourth in the JJ Atkins at two, placed in The Roses here at 2000m and a good third in the G1 QLD Oaks at three.
Placed in very good company at 1800 and 2200m last prep, she seems to have now matured to another level and comes into this off two stakes placings and was really good in the Hollindale.
What she does like is Doomben, only once unplaced in her eight starts here.
Cejay Graham is on board from barrier 7.
It's Miss Joelene's most epic assignment to date, but this is one genuine mare who always gives her absolute best.
