Darren Weir’s in-form Kiwi expat Mongolian Wolf is one of the exciting 2017 Queensland Derby nominations taken for the Stradbroke Handicap Day feature this winter.
The Darren Weir-trained Kiwi expat Mongolian Wolf is a key 2017 Queensland Derby nominee this winter. Photo: Steve Hart.
Due to run at Eagle Farm Racecourse as one of three elite levels on June 10 this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, the $600,000 Group 1 Channel 7 Queensland Derby (2400m) drew a bumper 98 entries at nomination stage.
A standout among the three-year-old stayers tracking towards a run in the mile and a half classic is the former New Zealand-trained Mongolian Wolf now prepared in Victoria by Weir.
The son of Pluck took his career record up to four wins from nine starts, blitzing his down under debut at Randwick on April 15 in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) and further franking the form out of this year’s NZ Derby.
Weir is after his maiden Queensland Derby win and has also nominated for five other youngsters including Rockstar Rebel who could have an earlier run in Adelaide’s Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) on May 13.
The New Zealand three-year-olds dominated proceedings in Sydney over the autumn and there are another of other exciting Kiwi-trained runners out to do the same in the sunshine state over the cooler months.
Ruakaka trainers Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs have a trio of Queensland Derby nominees this season led by the flying Tavidream.
The Tavistock gelding has enjoyed three wins to date, most recently on April 22 at Ellerslie in the Group 2 Thorndon Mile (1600m) earning his trip to Queensland.
He could be ed in the Queensland Derby field 2017 by stablemates Jake The Muss and Comin’through.
Progressive Bullbars gelding Comin’through has also been in top form back home posting back-to-back wins over the 2100m at Ellerslie in March and looking like he’ll run out a strong 2400m.
With the fillies traditionally contesting the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) the week before the Derby, the last female galloper to beat home the boys in the former was Dariana (2010).
Of the Queensland Derby-nominated fillies this winter key entries include Crown Oaks runner-up in the spring Harlow Gold, the fellow Lindsay Park-trained Sebring Dream and James Cummings’ improver Savvan.
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller enjoyed a win in the Queensland Derby with Hawkspur back in 2013, the galloper jumping equal favourite after a lead-up victory in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes, and returns with nine entries this year.
Among Waller’s best Queensland Derby hopes in 2017 are the likes of Veladero who ran second to Mongolian Wolf in the Frank Packer, last start Kembla Grange winner Tumultuous and Sizzling Bullet.
The Queensland Derby first acceptances are out on May 31, 2017.
Check out the full Queensland Derby 2017 nominations below before backing your early Group 1 Eagle Farm race selections online at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Queensland Derby Nominations
Eagle Farm Racecourse – 10/06/2017
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13×7543 | AD FINEM | C | 3 | Trevor Rogers |
| 2 | 43451×4936 | ADATTO (NZ) | G | 3 | Lee & Anthony Freedman |
| 3 | 3x9850x651 | ALL OUT OF LOVE | G | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 4 | 76×24182 | BEDFORD (NZ) | G | 3 | Lee & Anthony Freedman |
| 5 | 7×225 | BIT OF A LAD | G | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 6 | 7624121×16 | BLACK ON GOLD | G | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 7 | 69x35311x2 | BRINGIT | C | 3 | Matthew Dunn |
| 8 | 111×144 | CAERLESS CHOICE | G | 3 | Paul Messara |
| 9 | 14×2 | CARE TO THINK | G | 3 | Matthew Dunn |
| 10 | 61275×8021 | CASTA | G | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 11 | 525×4221 | CHARLTON | C | 3 | Robbie Griffiths |
| 12 | 9x | CHEROKEE (NZ) | G | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 13 | 2x4122x031 | CLIFF | G | 3 | Joe Cleary |
| 14 | 87×23 | COLORADO MISS | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 15 | 764410311x | COMIN’THROUGH (NZ) | G | 3 | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs |
| 16 | 92 | CRAFTY LION (NZ) | G | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 17 | 506×00 | DATUK ZADRAGON | G | 3 | Chris Anderson |
| 18 | x109500332 | DAZZLE EM SID | G | 3 | Matt Kropp |
| 19 | 6762×46 | DIVISIONAL | G | 3 | Gillian Heinrich & Ben Rodgers |
| 20 | 9×42213 | DODGE CITY | G | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 21 | 7x54861x | DRUMMERS CHANCE | G | 3 | Brad Herne |
| 22 | 67x2213x | FALLACY | F | 3 | Toby Edmonds |
| 23 | 096564×325 | FLIGHT PRINCE | G | 3 | Brian Smith |
| 24 | 1x | FLYING FRED (NZ) | G | 3 | Evan & J J Rayner |
| 25 | 764x17014x | GARBHAN | G | 3 | Mitch Newman |
| 26 | 6887×00 | GLAMOUR BOY | G | 3 | Gillian Heinrich & Ben Rodgers |
| 27 | 8x544x2 | HANCOCK | G | 3 | Darryl Hansen |
| 28 | 1562x3434x | HARLOW GOLD (NZ) | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 29 | 2×3331 | HE EKSCELS (NZ) | G | 3 | Richard Laming |
| 30 | 1 | HELLO BEAUTY (NZ) | F | 3 | Gerald Ryan |
| 31 | 47×21 | HOT MONEY | G | 3 | Kurt Goldman |
| 32 | 5x67716x15 | HUNDRED | G | 3 | Brett Lunney |
| 33 | 86×24 | IVORYMAN (NZ) | G | 3 | Joseph Pride |
| 34 | 56×231364 | JAKE THE MUSS (NZ) | G | 3 | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs |
| 35 | 328×3 | KING OF MONACO | G | 3 | Melissa Leitch |
| 36 | 24122×2344 | KUBIS | G | 3 | Robert Heathcote |
| 37 | 7×645573 | KUNMING | G | 3 | Gary Moore |
| 38 | 1x252L011x | LET ME SAY THIS | G | 3 | Steven O’dea |
| 39 | 02×3231 | LILYMORN (NZ) | F | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 40 | 216 | MAKFI LASS | F | 3 | Brett Cavanough |
| 41 | 5x116x092 | MANDALAY BAY | G | 3 | Matt Laurie |
| 42 | 42×1 | MIA ROSA | F | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 43 | 936×14625 | MISS STRATHALLAN | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 44 | 77×41 | MOJESTIC | F | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 45 | 1644221×07 | MOLA RAM | G | 3 | Barry Baldwin |
| 46 | 4231×2 | MONASTERIO (NZ) | G | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 47 | 1408×11301 | MONGOLIAN WOLF | G | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 48 | 0x9 | MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (NZ) | C | 3 | Brian McGrath |
| 49 | 2×1224 | NETHERFIELD (NZ) | G | 3 | Mick Price |
| 50 | x3672x8152 | OCTAVIAN AUGUSTUS | G | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 51 | 216 | ONLY CHOICE (NZ) | G | 3 | Kurt Goldman |
| 52 | 4213×5 | ORDER AGAIN (NZ) | G | 3 | Brian Smith |
| 53 | 554 | PEDRO XIMENEZ | G | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 54 | x54410x421 | PETER JOHN (NZ) | G | 3 | John Sargent |
| 55 | 351x62027x | PRIZED ICON | C | 3 | James Cummings |
| 56 | 3112×76 | REALING | G | 3 | Matthew Dunn |
| 57 | 5x123x4454 | ROCKSTAR REBEL | C | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 58 | 896×152231 | ROTHABYE | G | 3 | Trevor Miller |
| 59 | 95x227x | ROYAL RECEIVER | G | 3 | David Vandyke |
| 60 | 112×52242 | RUTHVEN | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 61 | 27813 | SAHARA EAGLE (NZ) | G | 3 | John Sargent |
| 62 | 45×3511 | SAN PABLO | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 63 | 345×33141 | SAN VINCENZO | G | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 64 | 22513×31 | SAVVAN (NZ) | F | 3 | James Cummings |
| 65 | 0732x | SAVVY DRESSER (NZ) | G | 3 | Mick Price |
| 66 | 2 | SAVWELL (NZ) | G | 3 | David Vandyke |
| 67 | 5651618×83 | SCRAPS | G | 3 | Heath Conners |
| 68 | 6520×18343 | SEBRING DREAM | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 69 | 422×13 | SHADOW VISION | G | 3 | Kurt Goldman |
| 70 | 416×506206 | SHINE TAK STAR | G | 3 | John Sargent |
| 71 | 64122×2 | SHOCKING LUCK (NZ) | G | 3 | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
| 72 | 6×423 | SIDETRIP | G | 3 | John Morrisey |
| 73 | 91×31192 | SIZZLING BULLET | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 74 | 5x29322x44 | SMOOTH WHISKEY | G | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 75 | x310x61433 | SO POYSED | G | 3 | Richard Laming |
| 76 | 53 | SOLO HEART | G | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 77 | 0x341x4379 | SPARKLE | F | 3 | Heath Conners |
| 78 | 50 | STRIKER THOMAS | G | 3 | Jeffrey Chan |
| 79 | 5374 | SULIEN | G | 3 | Mitch Newman |
| 80 | 12×11 | TAVIDREAM (NZ) | G | 3 | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs |
| 81 | 0x621x52 | THE BARRACUDA | G | 3 | Matt Kropp |
| 82 | 76x1x3 | THE HARROVIAN | C | 3 | Jim Conlan |
| 83 | 2112 | THINK BABE | C | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 84 | 0x11 | TOP OF THE RANGE (NZ) | G | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 85 | 610×3271 | TRAVANCORE (NZ) | C | 3 | Bryce Heys |
| 86 | 22×3 | TRULY HIGH | G | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 87 | 65640×9431 | TUMULTUOUS | G | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 88 | 2×5010 | UBER COUGAR (NZ) | F | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 89 | x61533x018 | VALENTINO ROSSA | G | 3 | Jason Coyle |
| 90 | 1144×48832 | VELADERO | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 91 | 45×31 | VILLARRICA | F | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 92 | 632×5 | VINDEX | G | 3 | Matthew Smith |
| 93 | 2828×64462 | VIOLATE | C | 3 | Brent Stanley |
| 94 | 2215×5174 | VOLATILE MIX (NZ) | C | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 95 | 960×4581 | WAKE UP VICTA | G | 3 | Lindsay Gough |
| 96 | 5533 | WE’LL MEET AGAIN (NZ) | G | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 97 | x846242115 | WU GOK | G | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 98 | 116×7 | ZAMEX | C | 3 | Matthew Dunn |
