A host of the early fancies in Saturday’s 2017 Queensland Guineas field have suffered a blow drawing double-digits for the mile showdown at Doomben Racecourse.
Stradbroke Handicap fifth emergency Oak Door looks set to extend out over a mile in the 2017 Queensland Guineas field on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Stradbroke Handicap Day card has been transferred from Eagle Farm for 2017 and the $350,000 Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) is now scheduled as Doomben Race 5 at 1:40pm (AEST).
The set weights clash has attracted a capacity field of middle-distance three-year-olds including Niccanova out in gate 12 coming off a win in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
The Nicconi gelding is prepared by Toowoomba trainer Steve Tregea and has won all but one of his five career starts to date.
He is proven over the mile at Doomben having enjoyed a nearly two length win at the track and distance back in late February and is now also a Group 3 winner after his latest run on May 27.
In the Fred Best Classic, the traditional Queensland Guineas lead-up, Niccanova overcame barrier 16 of 17.
He is drawn wide for Saturday, but if the four emergencies in the Queensland Guineas field fail to get a run the favourite will come into barrier nine with Anthony Allen booked for the ride.
The fifth emergency for the $1.5 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) on Saturday, Robert Smerdon’s gun colt Oak Door is unlikely to gain a run in the elite level and is also accepted for the Queensland Guineas against his own age.
Smerdon has concerns about how his son of Commands will go over the 1600m, a distance Oak Door sees for the first time since his ninth to Hey Doc at Flemington on March 4 in the Group 1 Australian Guineas.
He comes off a first-up fourth down the Flemington straight on May 20 and is also drawn wide for the Queensland Guineas with Craig Williams to ride from barrier 14 (possibly into 11).
One closer to the fence and out to atone for an unplaced run when 11th in the Fred Best Classic is John Zielke’s gelding Dreams Aplenty.
Prior to his last start flop the youngster enjoyed four straight wins including the Toowoomba Guineas (1625m) and Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m).
He is two-from-three over the Queensland Guineas distance and also has solid Doomben form with a win and two seconds from four previous runs at the track he returns to this weekend.
Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds is still to confirm the Stradbroke Day target for his Real Saga filly Sylpheed who is accepted for both the Queensland Guineas as well as a run against the older mares in the $200,000 Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m).
Last seen running second to Niccanova in the Fred Best Classic from barrier 15 of 17 beaten just a neck, Sylpheed is an improving filly but she’ll be wide again if she runs in the Guineas drawn barrier 19 (possibly into 15) with Jeff Lloyd on standby for the ride.
Other key Queensland Guineas contenders include the Paul Messara-trained perennial fourth placegetter Caerless Choice drawn a treat in barrier two and Niccanova’s stablemate Rhyming coming off a Sunshine Coast win over 1400m.
See below for the full Queensland Guineas 2017 field, barriers and jockeys before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for the updated Group racing odds online this weekend.
2017 Queensland Guineas Final Field & Barrier Draw
Doomben Race 5 (1:40pm) – 10/06/2017
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5x0x211110 | DREAMS APLENTY | John Zielke | Ms Tiffani Brooker (a) | 13 | 57kg | 88 |
| 2 | 63211419×4 | OAK DOOR | Robert Smerdon | Craig Williams | 14 | 57kg | 89 |
| 3 | 340x17x185 | OINK | Kelly Schweida | Paul Hammersley | 10 | 57kg | 80 |
| 4 | 131×11 | NICCANOVA | Steve Tregea | Anthony Allen | 12 | 57kg | 90 |
| 5 | 111×1444 | CAERLESS CHOICE | Paul Messara | Tommy Berry | 2 | 57kg | 77 |
| 6 | 0x42602x40 | CRACK ME UP (NZ) | Liam Birchley | Damian Browne | 20 | 57kg | 72 |
| 7 | 314436×394 | SALSONIC | Jason Coyle | Hugh Bowman | 11 | 57kg | 73 |
| 8 | 23x113x278 | BILLY THE KID | John Meagher | Luke Dittman | 5 | 57kg | 72.5 |
| 9 | x132715x07 | VOLPINO | Les Kelly | Opie Bosson | 16 | 57kg | 68 |
| 10 | 3112×769 | REALING | Matthew Dunn | Ronnie Stewart | 8 | 57kg | 68 |
| 11 | 0x1157 | TOP OF THE RANGE (NZ) | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 18 | 57kg | 68 |
| 12 | 1x2526x274 | RIVER RACER | Les Ross | Robbie Fradd | 6 | 55kg | 79.5 |
| 13 | x147x46622 | SYLPHEED | Toby Edmonds | Jeff Lloyd | 19 | 55kg | 82 |
| 14 | 22513×3180 | SAVVAN (NZ) | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 1 | 55kg | 73 |
| 15 | 1D33x5x361 | RHYMING | Steve Tregea | Larry Cassidy | 15 | 55kg | 69 |
| 16 | 42310×6317 | LIPSTICK LOVER | Tony Gollan | Jim Byrne | 4 | 55kg | 68 |
| 17e | 5×65741242 | CONGELATOR | Paula Cartledge | TBA | 9 | 57kg | 59 |
| 18e | 50×1441 | CHIEF JOSEPH | Kevin Kemp | James Orman | 17 | 57kg | 66 |
| 19e | 63 | NETTOYER | Wendy Roche | Kerrin McEvoy | 3 | 55kg | – |
| 20e | 1×020 | FLYING FRED (NZ) | Evan & Jennifer J Rayner | Leith Innes | 7 | 57kg | 62 |
