This is a race with a very interesting history. Originally named the Doomben Newmarket when first staged in 1933, it later became known as the Doomben 10,000 in 1947.
At that time it was the richest sprint race in Australia worth 10000 pounds so was given that title. The name was shelved in 1980 in favour of The Rothmans 100,000 given the prizemoney had swelled somewhat in the ensuing period.
However in 1993 sanity prevailed with the name reverting back to the post war title
In 1980 it attained Group 1 status, and in 1997 became a weight-for-age Group 1 race replacing it’s earlier handicap status.
That decision was probably a good one as it ensured the race would continue to attract high quality sprinters, with Takeover Target and Apache Cat probably the best winning examples of that in recent times.
Other notable winners in my lifetime include Maybe Mahal, Manikato, Chief De Beers (Doomben champion!) and Falvelon. The latter two horses won this race twice.
Below is a list of the past twelve winners of the race, followed by age, gender, barrier position, lead up run, days since last run, placing at last three starts, early position in running, and starting price.
It’s quite interesting to note that quite a few of them were better horses at 1200 metres, and struggled a little to win at 1400 metres (Spirit Of Boom, Beaded, Undue, Red Oog), but found the 1350 metres of this race quite manageable.
Sea Siren hadn’t beyond 1200 metres coming into the race, and even though Bel Esprit had run second in the 2002 Caulfield Guineas at at a mile, he hadn’t actually won a race beyond 1100 metres. Really top class 1200-metre horses often win this race, probably because they can find a prominent position early, which is always a positive around the tight Doomben circuit.
The last eight editions of the race have been won by horses highly fancied in the market ($6 or less), but there has often been one or two standouts. However the race is more open this year and is in fact $6 the field. For that reason I’m not awarding any points in that category (see table below)
2014 – Spirit of Boom- 6h- (2)- 2nd BTC Cup 1200m 14 days 122 (6-7) $4.75
2013 – Epaulette- 3c -(4)- 6th All Aged Stakes 1400m Randwick – 28 days- x26- (8-10)- $6
2012 – Sea Siren 3f (7-) 1st BTC Cup 1200m- 14 days- 112- (2-4)- $4.25
2011 – Beaded 5m- (5)- 2nd – Sportingbet Classic 1200m Morphettville- 63 days- 132- (3-3)- $3.25
2010 – Hot Danish 6m (2)- 1st All Aged Stakes Randwick 1400m- 35 day-s 121- (6-5)- $5.50 (EF)
2009 – Apache Cat 6g – (7)- 3rd BTC Cup 1200m- 14 days- 133- (4-2) Heavy $3.50
2008 – Apache Cat 5g- (3)- 1st BTC Cup 1200m 14 days x11- (3-2)- $2.70
2007 – Takeover Target 7g- (7) – 2nd BTC Cup 1200m -14 days- x52 -(3-3)- $3.50
2006 – Undue 4g- (1)- 9th BTC Cup 1200m 14 days 0x9 (6-7) $41
2005 – Red Oog 5g- (1)- 7th BTC Cup 1200m -14 days 137 (7-9) $17 $13
2004 – Super Elegant 6g – (4) 1st Goodwood Handicap 1200m M/Ville- 7 days- x21 -(2-3)- $8
2003 – Bel Esprit 3c -(4) – 3rd TJ Smith Stakes Randwick- 1200m- 14 days- 273- (1-2)- $13
Pertinent Statistics (added and totalled in table below);
A) 12/12 started from 1-7 barrier- 3 Points
B) 12/12 had won or placed in a Group 1 race in their career prior to winning this- 3 Points
C) 12/12 started in a Group 1 race last start- 2 points
D) 12/12 had campaigned in Sydney or Melbourne this Calendar year- 2 points
E) 10/12 raced at 1200m last start- 2 Points
F) 12/12 started at Doomben, Randwick, or Morphetville last start- 2 points
G) 9/12 either won or placed last start- 2 points | 6/12 finished in placings last 3 starts- + 1 point
H) 11-12 winners were placed 1-6 early in race- 2 points | 7/12 were placed 1-3 early in race- + 1 point
I) 9/12 had 7- 14 days between runs – 2 points
| HORSE | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | TOTAL |
| 1. Temple Of Boom | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | |||
| 2. Boban | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | |||||
| 3. Fontelina | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | |||
| 4. Knoydart | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 15 | ||
| 5. Big Money | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |||
| 6. Sacred Star | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||
| 7. Our Boy Malachi | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 19 | |
| 8. Generalife | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | ||||
| 9. Charlie Boy | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |||||
| 10. Rock Sturdy | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | |||
| 11. Neo | 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 12. Flamingo Star | 3 | 2 | 5 | |||||||
| 13. Srikandi | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 17 | ||
| 14. Scissor Kick | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | |||
| 15. Time For War | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | ||||||
| 16. Bring Me The Maid | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | ||
| 17. Nite Rocker | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | |||||
Top four
1. Our Boy Malachi has drawn poorly but has every chance of getting over to the rail or getting cover behind the leaders with his early speed.
His career record of 17-1-1/19 pretty much tells you he is a horse that can put himself in the right position. He had his first Test against this grade of horse last start and came up a little bit short.
If that was a fitness issue then he can be forgiven for being run down late, but if it wasn’t then he has a major hurdle to overcome here with another 150m to travel.
He does look the Quintessential type of Doomben 10000 winner (like Apache Cat, Falvelon and Chief De Beers), that wins a lot of races from up on the pace and though he hasn’t won beyond 1300m, he has won two races at that trip.
For a horse with this career record his current price of $6.50 is quite acceptable.
2. Srikandi blotted her copybook in the BTC Cup by missing the start, costing her any real chance of winning. That is the first time she has done that though (second up syndrome?) and she has drawn a perfect barrier for this, and should just about lead.
She has won here at this distance, and her last run was only her second in the past 12 months. She ticks a lot of boxes so it’s just a matter of her being on her best behaviour.
Given that she will take a lot beating ,though I’d like to see a price of about $7.50, rather than the $6-$6.50 she is currently.
3. Bring me the Maid ran better than many people would have expected in the BTC cup when fourth. Her best form has been on wet tracks including a great third in last year’s Golden Slipper.
It’s a little inconclusive that she needs those conditions though, given she has been unlucky once or twice on dry tracks in the past.
She is perfectly drawn to make an impact on this race, and should be able to position closer than she has in recent starts. Yet to win beyond 1200m, her close fourth in the Thousand Guineas during the Spring at 1600m, probably indicates she can run the 1350m strongly.
Personally she does look more of a double figure chance to me rather than the $7.00 or so she is in early markets.
4. Knoydart was the horse with the flashing light last start in the BTC Cup coming from a rearward position. He was fifth in this race last year beaten only 1.8L, but did draw a better barrier than he has this time. He is yet another yet to win above 1300m, and his best distance is probably 1200m, but that’s no real disadvantage for this race historically.
The problem is he has to go back from a wide barrier, and that could cost himdearly . His double figure price seems about right and I’d be looking for $12+ given his racing pattern.
Conclusion
Out of the top four historically I prefer Our Boy Malachi and hope he can run the 1350m strongly. I have to say I’m not totally confident he can, particularly if things don’t go right from the barrier.
For that reason I am also offering an alternative selection who does seem to be ideally suited to winning the race for a number of reasons. (Not that I like arguing with history, of course.)
My own personal fancy is Generalife. Had he run a placing last start in the All Aged Stakes he would be right in the thick of things historically. He loses points for not racing at 1200m last start, but two horses have won this race in the past 12 years coming out of the All Aged Stakes at Randwick.
He was only beaten 1.1 lengths in that race, which was a career best for him. At his prior start he beat Hot Snitzel into third, and that horse won the BTC Cup beating most of these horses.
The distance is perfect for him. He likes dry tracks, has drawn perfectly, and he won a trial recently. He has an amazing record on right handed tracks (6-3/14), and only once has he been beaten more than 1.1 lengths racing in this direction.
That was on the sometimes suspect Randwick Kensington track on a slow surface, bordering on heavy, conditions he doesn’t like. I think he can position up in the top half dozen horses early from that good barrier. $7.50 is about the right price for him.
I am quite happy to invest on both these horses for the reasons outlined.
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