Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newmarket and Ripon (UK) – 18 May 2025.

Three of the last Doomben 10,000 winners have gone on to claim the Everest, that’s the kind of elite company we’re talking about as the Queensland Racing Carnival hits full throttle this week with one of the planet’s premier sprint showdowns: the $1.5 million Group 1 Doomben 10,000.

This is no ordinary race. Its honour roll reads like a hall of fame: the explosive Apache Cat (twice), crowd favourite Hot Danish, international flyer Falvelon (twice), local legend Chief De Beers, and a name that still echoes through Australian racing folklore, the one and only Manikato. The Doomben 10,000 isn’t just the feature race of the world this week; it’s a true global benchmark for sprinters at this time of year.

And this year? The 2025 edition might just be the best yet.

Headlining the field is Overpass, a Group 1-winning gelding and previous Quokka champion for Bjorn Baker, a horse and stable who have made a habit of shining on the big stage. He’ll face off against Schwarz, the explosive winner of the Group 1 William Reid Stakes, with top jockey Craig Williams aboard. Mazu, the 2022 Doomben 10,000 champion and Everest placegetter, returns with Rachel King in the saddle. Add to that the 2024 George Ryder winner Veight, New Zealand’s Group 1 hero Desert Lightning, and Queensland’s homegrown superstar Rothfire, a King of the Mountain and former Group 1 champ.

But that’s just the start. Golden Mile, last year’s Golden Eagle placegetter and a Group 1 winner for global powerhouse Godolphin, is in the mix. And then there’s Sunshine In Paris, winner of the Group 1 Champions Sprint during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, teaming up again with none other than James McDonald, the best jockey in the world.

Stacked doesn’t even begin to describe this field.

The winner of Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 won’t just pocket a hefty cheque, they’ll be catapulted into sprinting superstardom, a serious contender for feature races across the remainder of the Queensland Carnival and indeed for races like The Everest, the Champions Sprint, and global recognition as one of the fastest on turf.

But that’s not all on offer at Doomben. The undercard is equally mouthwatering. The Group 2 Spirit of Boom Classic launches the QLD two-year-old Triple Crown, setting the stage for the stars of tomorrow. Then there’s the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate, a critical form guide for the Queensland Derby, now just two weeks away.

The quality is so high that once again, the World Pool will be in action in Queensland, for the first time at Doomben racetrack. Combining pools from participating jurisdictions across the globe into one mega-market, offering unparalleled liquidity and showcasing the world’s best racing to an international audience.

Eight On Eighteen has earned top spot on the Hollywoodbets Durban July Log as published by the Racing Operator earlier today. There were eleven scratchings at the time of first declarations on Monday 12 May, including Grade 1 winner Fire Attack and Gold Bracelet (Gr 2) winner Red Palace – both due to setbacks in training – while Musical Score and WSB East Cape Derby winner, My Best Shot, were supplemented on Tuesday, 13 May by their respective trainers Lucky Houdalakis and Alan Greeff.

The panel comprising Justin Vermaak, Raf Sheik, Graeme Hawkins and senior handicapper, Lennon Maharaj, have positioned My Best Shot on the fringes of the top twenty, which reflects exactly what the final field would look like if the Hollywoodbets Durban July was run today.

The Log will be updated on 10 June, following the second declaration stage on Monday, 9 June. By then, the Daily News 2000 (Gr 1); Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Gr 1); the Woolavington 2000 (Gr 2) and Cup Trial (Gr 3) will have been run, the outcomes of which could impact the status of HDJ contenders.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July will be run on Saturday 5 July.

Andrew Harrison

Stable team efforts in racing, trainers, their assistants, stable jockeys and stable staff coupled with a loyal owner base go a long way to success on the racetrack. Difficult for the smaller yards with the top jockeys hunting the best rides from bigger stables but it all paid off at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday as the five-year-old Selukwe put a smart field to bed in the  Gr3 WSB 1900.

Emotional winning rider Serino Moodley heaped praise on Plattner Racing’s head trainer Andre Nel and his KZN assistant Byron Forster for keeping faith with him as stable rider as the home-bred turned in a stunning performance. Quickening out of the pack he put the race to bed in a matter of strides. He was chased home by Narina Trogon and stable companions Underworld and Okavango who was running on stoutly for fourth.

Moodley got a 14 day suspension for his ride on Selukwe when second to I Salute You in The Sledgehammer at Hollywoodbets Scottsville which made Saturday’s win all the sweeter.

“It was tough taking the suspension but luckily I have a man like Byron (Forster) behind me and if it wasn’t for Byron I wouldn’t be here today so all credit must go to Byron and his team.

“It’s very hard to get chances in this game and if it wasn’t for Byron and his team I promise you I wouldn’t have been standing here today.

“I have to give credit to Mrs Plattner and Mr Nel. They stick by me and they don’t take you off horses. I often come back and tell Byron that I made a mistake and I’m really sorry and he understand that.

“It was hard to let Cape Eagle go but this horse is on the up and perfectly placed.

Of his mount he said, “He really showed his class today and going forward he is really exciting.

“At the thousand he was climbing all over them. I had Okavango in front of me and saw that he was under pressure and I needed to get off his heels. I went to the outside and it was so easy, I don’t think he got to his top.”

Forster said, “It’s all fallen into place these last eight months. He’s been a little unlucky along the way too but to say that he was going to win a group race nine months ago you would probably have said we were off our head but it’s just the progression he’s made.”

Of the Hollywoodbets Durban July Forster said, “I’ll  just carry on training him and I will leave it up to Andre and Mrs Plattner and they can make a decision but he was impressive today.”

The Gr3 WSB 1900 has undergone a number of name changes over the years, starting off as the Gr2 Gordon’s Gin to the Gr2 Republic Day Handicap but lost its Gr2 status a few years back.

However, in recent editions the race has attracted high class fields with winners or placed runners going on to win or feature prominently in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and the race fully deserves an up-grade. 

Clinton Binda can be unconventional in his training methods as there are not many modern trainers that run their horses unshod. That does not faze Binda who has his own private training facilities  on the Highveld and is well supported by Hollywood Racing.

Ziyasha has not managed a feature race win in his 20 starts to date but has found the winner’s enclosure seven times in spite of a high merit rating garnered by running close-up to some smart opposition in feature races. 

The KRA Cup was a 1000m dash but he gave notice that the Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint to be run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville early next month, where he finished eighth last year four lengths behind winner Lucky Lad, could change all that. Winning at long odds at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last time out, not a venue that Binda visits often, a hoof abscess  set his charge back and it has been six months between that win and Saturday’s victory.

“We put a lot of pressure on him (Ziyasha) and ourselves,” said Binda post-race but it was an exceptional win under joint top weight against some smart short-cut specialists.

Ziyasha quickened out of the pack off a decent gallop and although five furlongs appears to be his optimum trip he must surely go into the Golden Horse with a realistic chance of a feature race victory.

Surprise package was Hithemhardsunshine who tried hard  to make up the deficit starting at long odds with Future Variety coming from a long way back to snatch third in an eye-catching showing. He could be a better proposition for the Golden Horse should Candice Bass-Robinson elect to take that route.

Justin Snaith is looking for a 3-year-old to represent his stable in the Hollywoodbets Durban July. The race will tell whether it could be the exciting Okavango or Native Ruler as they take on older horses in an open contest.

Trainer Comments in current market order :

8️⃣ Okavango :”A big jump in class. He’s got a low weight of 52kgs. He’s has an okay draw at 8 and over this distance it shouldn’t be a problem. He is fit”, Justin Snaith.

9️⃣ Native Ruler : “Very well weighted. If he gets the run of the race, he could be the horse they all have to beat”, Justin Snaith.

6️⃣ Future Swing : “He’s missed quite a bit of work. He’ll be wearing a tongue tie for the first time which I’m hoping will get a couple of lengths out of him”, Justin Snaith.

1️⃣0️⃣ Holding Thumbs : “He’s a serious horse and probably one of the best I’ve trained for a long time. We’ve nominated him for the July. If we can qualify him at bottom weight, he’ll be very dangerous”, Glen Kotzen.

5️⃣ Underworld : “He is extremely fit. He has come on all of a sudden. He is the dark horse in the race”, Justin Snaith.

1️⃣ Shoot The Rapids : “He’s got a good draw, but quite a bit of a weight though. He carried 61 ½ and won the other day, so 58 is a bit lighter than that. He’s in a good space,” Frank Robinson.

4️⃣Narina Trogon : “He’s in a very good space and we’re expecting a big run from him”, Lilli Christiansen.

7️⃣ Madison Valley : “I gave him two 1600’s to get him back into shape and now he is spot-on. Look for a big run from him”, Frank Robinson

1️⃣3️⃣ Selukwe : “He’s in the right space to take on a field like this. He’s drawn deep and needs a pace to settle off. Nicely weighted and he’ll run an honest race”, Byron Foster.

1️⃣1️⃣ Cape Eagle : “He needed his first run this year and in his last, he was very gutsy in the finish. He’s versatile as he can race forward or from off the pace. He’s a fitter horse now”, Byron Foster.

1️⃣4️⃣I Salute You : “It’s a big step up in class for him. He does come in with bottom weight of 52, which will assist his cause. He’s only ever run up to a mile, but I’ve always thought he wants ground. He does everything right in a race”, Peter Muscutt.

3️⃣ Infinite Wonder : “Third run after 18 months off the track. Finished 6 lengths off Let’s Go Now in the Gr2 TAB Colorado King Stakes last time out,” Racing News.

4️⃣ Thunee Playa : “A winner in January, but will need to find on his last 2 runs to be competitive here”,

Racing News. 🏇🏽Race 7 : 15:15 : Hollywoodbets Greyille : Saturday 10 May 2025 👍🏽

CLICK for racecard : https://m.hollywoodbets.net/betting/8…

🎥: Nkululeko Mbhele

🎤: Michele Wing Racing News Social TV

📷: Candiese Lenferna