The 2014 Queensland Derby nominations have been released; with a number of leading contenders for the South Australian Derby included in the entries for the Group 1 event that will be held at Eagle Farm on June 7.
Order Of The Sun has been included in the nominations for the 2014 Queensland Derby. Photo by: Steve Hart
Order Of The Sun is currently a narrow favourite in 2014 South Australian Derby betting markets and is a chance of backing up in the Queensland Derby during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
The Encosta De Lago gelding made a slow start to his 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign, failing to fire in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Group 2 Nathan Berry Tulloch Stakes (2000m), but returned to winning form with a dominant win in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on ANZAC Day.
Order Of The Sun is joined in the 2014 Queensland Derby nominations by stablemates Pheidon, who won the Group 2 Alister Clarke Stakes (2040m) during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing, and Redoute’s Choice gelding Ryker.
Another South Australian Derby contender that has been included in the nominations for the Queensland Derby is Leon Macdonald-trained Gamblin’ Guru.
Gamblin’ Guru has been a consistent performer since he made his racing debut at the start of 2013 and is taking winning form into the South Australian Derby this weekend after winning the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) at Morphettville on April 12 and the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at the same venue on April 26.
One of the most interesting runners in the 2014 Queensland Derby nominations is talented three-year-old Arabian Gold, who may be given the opportunity to join Dariana (2010), Riva San (2008), Camarena (1999) and Royal Magic (1992) as the only fillies to have won the Queensland Derby in the last 25 years.
Arabian Gold made a slow start to her 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign, but returned to winning form in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 before beating the colts in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at the same venue last Saturday.
Other exciting horses in the 2014 Queensland Derby nominations include New Zealand-trained gallopers Colonel Carrera, Glorious Lad, Sancerra and Telepathic, Kris Lees-trained Hera, local hopeful Sea Red and the talented yet inconsistent Vilanova.
