The latest lead-up for the 2013 Queensland Derby will run at Eagle Farm Racecourse on BTC Cup Day this Saturday with nominations for the $125,000 Group 3 Mittys Rough Habit Plate (2100m) now out.

Usainity (inside) is one of two New Zealand raiders in the Rough Habit Plate entries this year. Photo: Steve Hart.

There were 22 official nominations taken for this year’s Rough Habit Plate, the majority of which are heading towards the lucrative $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) back at the track on June 8 on Stradbroke Handicap Day.

Current favourite in the Queensland Derby odds at $6 is Survived who is nominated to race in the Rough Habit this weekend.

John Bary’s New Zealand raider Survived has won five of their seven starts back home including their past two at Group 3 level with the Zed gelding taking out the Manawatu Classic and the Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup over 2000m and 2200m respectively making them a proven pick over the distance.

Another Zed gelding from NZ who is nominated for the Rough Habit is the Murray Baker-trained Usainity who is a $10 chance for the QLD Derby.

Yet to finish out of the money in their seven start career with four wins and three minor placings Usainity, unlike Survived, has already debuted in Australia with the Manawatu Classic runner-up debuting here to defeat a smart field in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on Sydney Cup Day.

The other best fancied Rough Habit Plate 2013 nominees in the latest Queensland Derby betting markets are then Frank Packer runner-up Honorius ($11) from the Sydney stables of David Payne, Chris Waller’s fellow Sydneysider Hawkspur ($15) and Lucky Lucky Lucky ($15) who ran a good first-up second to Proverb in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Doomben late last month.

Also in the mix for a run in the Rough Habit this Saturday are then local Desleigh Forster-trained gelding Carmora; and six from the stables of John Thompson including last start winners New Spur and Varanasi.

Check out the full Rough Habit Plate nominations below then to access the best early Queensland Derby markets before prices firm after this weekend’s racing, head to bookmaker.com.au who are the number one provider of Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival markets.

2013 Rough Habit Plate Nominations

Eagle Farm Racecourse – 11/05/2013