Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller has eight horses among the nominations for the 2018 Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on May 19.

Comin’ Through, above in yellow, and Tom Melbourne, above in blue and gold and white, are among Chris Waller’s nominations for the 2018 Doomben Cup at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

Thirty-six horses has been nominated for the Doomben Cup with Waller dominating with numbers with his eight, Alward, Comin’ Through, Egg Tart, Higher Ground, Life Less Ordinary, One Foot In Heaven, Satono Rasen and Tom Melbourne.

Five of those Waller trained gallopers are set to kick off their Queensland Winter Carnival campaign at the Gold Coast on Saturday with Comin’ Trough, Tom Melbourne, One Foot In Heaven, Satono Rasen and Egg Tart, all listed in the final field for the Group 2 $358,000 Attwood Marshall A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m).

Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir also has strong representation in the 2018 Doomben Cup nominations with four entries, Gailo Chop, Raw Impulse, Sixtie’s Groove and Tradesman.

French import Gailo Chop is the pick of the crop and will head to Brisbane with some solid Group 1 form which includes a win in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and second to Winx in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

The James Cummings trained 2017 Doncaster Mile winner It’s Somewhat is set to return to Queensland after winning last year’s A.D. Hollindale Stakes before running ninth to Sense Of Occasion in the 2017 Doomben Cup.

It’s Somewhat hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since his A.D. Hollindale Stakes victory and will head to Queensland following his first up sixth to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 21.

The consistent Ecuador is the only horse from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable to be nominated for the 2018 Doomben Cup with his recent form producing two seconds in the Group 3 $150,000 Mounties 50th Birthday Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill on March 31 and in the Group 3 $200,000 Livamol Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury last Saturday.

The final field for the 2018 Doomben Cup will be released on Wednesday, May 16 so head to Ladbrokes.com.au today for the best all-in Doomben Cup odds and futures markets.

Nominations for the 2018 Doomben Cup (2000m)