Brian Smith’s locally-trained Grand Prix Stakes winner Order Again headlines the 2017 Queensland Derby first acceptances taken this week ahead of the Stradbroke Handicap Day classic on June 10.
Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon is being kept safe in futures 2017 Queensland Derby betting post-first acceptances for the Group 1 winter feature. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
This year’s $600,000 Group 1 Channel Seven Queensland Derby has been moved from Eagle Farm to Doomben Racecourse and instead of taking place over 2400m will be run and won over 2200m.
Earlier in the season the three-years-old staying showdown attracted 98 nominations, a figure cut to 24 at first acceptance stage on Wednesday.
There will officially be 25 Queensland Derby first acceptances however with a late entry to be made for Shocking Luck.
The Kiwi-trained galloper was one of two Te Akau Racing horses that missed the cut-off for Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap Day first declarations along with JJ Atkins-bound Melody Belle.
Leading the updated futures Queensland Derby odds post-first acceptances as well as the latest order of entry is Order Again ($5) who has won two of his past three starts.
The Iffraaj three-year-old is yet to post a win from three runs at the Doomben track, but held on in a tight finish at Eagle Farm last Saturday to win the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m).
Runner-up in the Grand Prix Stakes, Volatile Mix, now shares $5 equal favouritism in pre-field Queensland Derby betting.
Darren Weir prepares the Pentire three-year-old who won the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) two back in Adelaide.
Weir does have concerns however about the change of course and distance for this year’s Queensland Derby with Volatile Mix looking better suited to the 2400m than 2200m.
Victoria’s best, Weir has a total of three Queensland Derby entries at this stage with Volatile Mix joined by one-time favourite Mongolian Wolf and Rockstar Rebel.
After a win over 2200m at Ballarat on May 24, Rockstar Rebel will make the trip to Brisbane next week.
A decision is still pending on stablemate Mongolian Wolf after the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) winner in Sydney during April failed to make an impression running 11th over 2000m at Caulfield next-up.
Following Order Again and Volatile Mix in the Queensland Derby markets is the aforementioned Shocking Luck ($6) prepared across the Tasman by Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards.
Connections confirmed the son of 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking was still Queensland Derby bound and that his non-acceptance was simply a miscommunication.
He won the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben defeating Order Again by nearly three lengths in mid-May before his midfield sixth in the Grand Prix Stakes.
The bookies are also taking no chances with reigning Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon and the consistent Ciaron Maher-trained Domesday colt Ruthven both at $7 to win following first acceptances.
Ruthven has been on fire this prep including his fourth when two lengths off the winner Jon Snow in Randwick’s Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) in April and his last start SA Derby second to Volatile Mix.
See below for the current Queensland Derby 2017 first acceptances before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for the latest Group 1 Brisbane Winter Racing odds and offers.
2017 Queensland Derby First Acceptances
Doomben Racecourse – 10/06/2017
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4213×5121 | ORDER AGAIN (NZ) | G | 3 | Brian Smith | 1 | 57kg |
| 2 | 51×6202720 | PRIZED ICON | C | 3 | James Cummings | 2 | 57kg |
| 3 | 215×517412 | VOLATILE MIX (NZ) | G | 3 | Darren Weir | 3 | 57kg |
| 4 | 112×522422 | RUTHVEN | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 4 | 57kg |
| 5 | 24121×1610 | BLACK ON GOLD | G | 3 | Chris Waller | 5 | 57kg |
| 6 | 408×113010 | MONGOLIAN WOLF | G | 3 | Darren Weir | 6 | 57kg |
| 7 | 28×6446243 | VIOLATE | C | 3 | Brent Stanley | 7 | 57kg |
| 8 | 91×311925 | SIZZLING BULLET | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 8 | 57kg |
| 9 | 4231×2261 | MONASTERIO (NZ) | G | 3 | Chris Waller | 9 | 57kg |
| 10 | 8462421153 | WU GOK | G | 3 | Chris Waller | 10 | 57kg |
| 11 | 4410311764 | HERE HE COMES (NZ) | G | 3 | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs | 11 | 57kg |
| 12 | 312×513722 | FONTEIN LAD | G | 3 | Greg Eurell | 12 | 57kg |
| 13 | 123×445421 | ROCKSTAR REBEL | C | 3 | Darren Weir | 13 | 57kg |
| 14 | 64×1701457 | GARBHAN | G | 3 | Mitch Newman | 14 | 57kg |
| 15 | 16×5062061 | SHINE TAK STAR | G | 3 | John Sargent | 15 | 57kg |
| 16 | 9500332105 | DAZZLE EM SID | G | 3 | Matt Kropp | 16 | 57kg |
| 17 | 422×13100 | SHADOW VISION | G | 3 | Kurt Goldman | 17 | 57kg |
| 18 | x116x09244 | MANDALAY BAY | G | 3 | Matt Laurie | 18 | 57kg |
| 19 | 0x1157 | TOP OF THE RANGE (NZ) | G | 3 | Michael Moroney | 19 | 57kg |
| 20 | x67716x158 | HUNDRED | G | 3 | Brett Lunney & Thomas Lunney | 20 | 57kg |
| 21 | 95x227x15 | ROYAL RECEIVER | G | 3 | David Vandyke | 21 | 57kg |
| 22 | 0x621x520 | THE BARRACUDA | G | 3 | Matt Kropp | 22 | 57kg |
| 23 | 960×45818 | WAKE UP VICTA | G | 3 | Lindsay Gough | 23 | 57kg |
| 24 | 6×42357 | SIDETRIP | G | 3 | Scott Morrisey | 24 | 57kg |
