2023 Doomben 10,000 Top Selections and Best Bets

Doomben 10,000 top tips and best bets

The Doomben 10,000 is one of the biggest Sprint races on the Brisbane Winter Racing calendar and allows competitors from all over the country to contest a 1200m race under weight for age conditions for a prize pool of $1.5m.

The race, The Doomben 10,000 originally got its name from the ten thousand pound prize that was on offer which at the time made it the richest sprint race in Australia when it was first run under the banner of the Doomben Newmarket Handicap back in 1933.

Nowadays, with prize money in the millions the Doomben 10,000 attracts runners from all over the country with a rich history of high calibre winners claiming editions of the race over its 90 year existance.

Famous winners of the Doomben 10,000 previously included the likes of Bernborough, Manikato along with Wallen who won the first ever edition of the race. More modern winners have included big names like Takeover Target, Apache Cat, Hot Danish and Redzel.

Last year the race was claimed by Peter and Paul Snowden trained Mazu who went on to finish in the placings at the $15m Everest. A far cry from the 10,000 in prize money originally on offer at Doomben in 1933.

Mazu returns in 2023 in an attempt to defend his Doomben 10,000 crown however a rising star in the Australian sprinting ranks is out to stop him.

2023 Doomben 10,000 Race Overview

Giga Kick heads north for the first time to compete in his first Brisbane Winter campaign. The 2022 Everest winner stands out in the market as a $1.70 short priced favourite to win his second Group One title after claiming the All Aged Stakes at the end of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Out to stop Giga Kick and on the second line of betting is fellow three year old, Aft Cabin who flies the flag of Godolphin in the Sunshine state. Aft Cabin has had an up and down career so far but has the ability to challenge here and the bookies are keeping him close at $5 in betting.

Last years winner Mazu sees Tim Clark jumping aboard for his Doomben 10,000 defence and sits on the third line of betting at $9. As the only other runner in single figures in betting it would appear a three horse race however there are a number of familiar runners lining up for the Group One.

Aft Cabin’s stablemate Vilana ($11) also runs under the Royal Blue banner of Godolphin after winning the Hall Mark Stakes Impressively. Bjorn Baker trained Overpass ($13) won the $4m Quokka in WA last time out and is looking to strike here once again while Robert Heathcote has the best chance from the locals with Prince of Boom at $17.

With the rest of the field at $25 bar the winner looks to be coming out of the top six in betting. 

2023 Doomben 10,000 Top Selections and Best Bet

After the scratching of Eduardo we have been left with a field of 11 runners to contest the Group One Doomben 10,000. The track is set to play in the mid-soft range for this weight for age contest as well.

We have picked out our top three winners and chosen an outside chance, the main danger as well as our best bet for the 2023 Doomben 10,000.

2023 Doomben 10,000 Outside Chance - 4. Overpass (10)

Our outside chance to win the Group One Doomben 10,000 is the Bjorn Baker trained 4yo gelding, Overpass.

He hadn’t really shown us much this season when failing to finish in the places during the Spring in any of his 5 starts however he returned in mid April to win the $4m Quokka in Western Australia.

Although his form doesn’t look strong on paper he kept finding in the Quokka from a front running position after drawing a wide gate. He faces the same conditions once again here after drawing barrier 10 but in a race where there doesn’t look likely to be another clear pace maker he should be able to get in front easily enough.

The other interesting note about Overpass is that he finished 2.7 lengths of the 2022 Everest winner and will meet him 4.5kgs better of in the 10,000 which is a significant swing if he gets to far back.

At $13 he presents strong each way value. 

2023 Doomben 10,000 Main Danger - 2. Mazu (7)

The main danger to our best best for the 2023 Doomben 10,000 is Peter and Paul Snowden trained Mazu who won the race the previous year.

Mazu has been dualling with some of Australia’s best in recent starts and is building a nice campaign which could come to a peak here. 

We’re writing off the last run where he finished 6 lengths behind Giga Kick as he clearly didn’t handle the wet track and there could be an argument made that he didn’t enjoy the extended distance this time around as well when failing to make an impression. 

The time before that however we saw a strong finish to the Group One TJ Smith to finish 1.4 lengths of I Wish I Win and also came within a length of winning the Everest in 2022 as well. 

If he can find a nice spot in the race from the midfield barrier he could be fighting out the finish with Giga Kick once again. 

2023 Doomben 10,000 Best Bet - 8. Giga Kick (4)

It’s not a massive surprise that we’ve picked Giga Kick as our best bet for the Doomben 10,000 considering he is the best horse in the race and the one to beat.

Since he burst onto the scene at the end of last season the Clayton Douglas trained gelding has gone from strength to strength. His win in the Everest was massive and while he meets a number of these much worse off in the weights he has continued to perform well through the Autumn WFA contests. 

He was unlucky not to claim a maiden G1 title in the TJ Smith and while I Wish I Win won well the pair were clearing out from the rest of the field. 

His All Aged Stakes win last time out was just as good when once again boldly moving to the front and winning with an air of confidence. 

He travels north with regular jockey Craig Williams booked to ride once again and as long as he stays in touch late he should be hard to hold out here. 

Best Bet - Back Giga Kick to win