Racing Queensland received 35 Doomben Cup 2017 nominations for the Group 1 weight-for-age clash that will take place on Saturday May 20 during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

It’s Somewhat is one of the key 2017 Doomben Cup nominations for the May 20 Group 1 in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart.

One of the early elite level features of the festival and the sole major for the staying types, this year’s $650,000 Group 1 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) will likely be contested by a host of horses coming out of a Gold Coast run in the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) this Saturday.

The Hollindale Stakes has produced more Doomben Cup winners than any other lead-up in the past 30 years with the double most recently completed by Streama (2014).

One of the key Hollindale Stakes runners and Doomben Cup nominees for the season is the John O’Shea-trained It’s Somewhat.

The six-year-old son of Dynaformer chases a third straight win on the weekend heading towards the Brisbane Group 1 a fortnight later after his upset win as a $31 roughie in Sydney’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last time out.

The import ran a brave third behind Our Ivanhowe in last year’s Doomben Cup trifecta and will be out to go two better in 2017.

His biggest danger both this weekend at the Gold Coast and in the upcoming Group 1 according to all-in Doomben Cup betting is the Darren Weir-trained former French galloper Articus.

The five-year-old Areion stallion has been unplaced in his two runs down under to date finishing 13^th in the spring’s Caulfield Cup and 13^th again first-up in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) on April 15.

Still the bookies are keeping him safe in betting to atone with the runs under his belt.

Weir has a total of four Doomben Cup nominees this season including also his Perth Cup winner Star Exhibit and Master Of Arts who was last seen running third in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) over the two miles in mid-March.

One of the best Brisbane-trained performers in Doomben Cup calculations meanwhile is the Desleigh Forster-trained Cylinder Beach who contests the AD Hollindale this weekend having won three of his past four starts going back to New Year’s Eve.

The last start Toowoomba Cup winner has standout Doomben form with three wins and four other minor placings from nine starts at the track.

Other notable Doomben Cup nominations include five-time Doomben winner Rudy for Gold Coast trainer Helen Page, Kris Lees’ Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes third placegetter Sense Of Occasion, and the Gary Portelli-trained Hawkesbury Cup third placegetter last weekend Testashadow.

The official Doomben Cup final field and barriers are set for release on May 17, 2017.

Check out the full Doomben Cup 2017 nominations below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for all the winter’s best Brisbane racing markets.

2017 Doomben Cup Nominations

Doomben Racecourse – 20/05/2017