Clash of the titans: A strong field for the Doomben 10,000

Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography

First run in 1933, the Doomben 10,000 was upgraded to a Principal race in 1946, and the winner that year was the champion racehorse Bernborough (Emborough) who also won the Doomben Cup, All-Aged Stakes, Newmarket Handicap, Caulfield Stakes, and Chipping Norton Stakes among his 26 victories.

With no 3-year-olds in the field, the weights for this year’s Doomben 10,000 are the same for every horse with the majority of the field carrying 58.5kg and the three mares carrying 56.5kg. This sets the race up as a true contest of class, speed and tactics, with only the forecast Heavy track as a potential differentiating factor outside that of quality. And with eleven Group 1 winners in the field, it's anyone's guess.

The Quokka as a formline?

Schwarz (Zoustar), Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}), and Libertad (Russian Revolution) are the only last start winners in the race. Last year's winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) ran fourth in The Quokka heading into the Doomben 10,000, and this year Overpass (Vancouver) takes the same pathway, having run fifth in The Quokka.

“He did it two years ago too, when he won the Quokka and was second in Doomben 10,000”, said Luke Hilton, racing manager for Bjorn Baker.

“This year, the timing is slightly different with one week less between them, but it shouldn’t matter. He has a bit of a blemish in his record second up, which explains The Quokka run maybe, but his run before that in the TJ Smith was excellent and it was a proper Group 1 race. He’s in good order, we know he’s up to the class, and he seems as good as ever to us.”

The two seven figure runners

Schwarz, who cost $1.25 million as a yearling, heads into the race as a last start Group 1 winner, while Zarastro (I Am Invincible), a $1.05 million yearling, comes into the race with a last start fifth in the Listed Ascot Handicap but was a winner at the start prior in the Magic Millions Snippets Plate back in January.

Schwarz will retire to Rosemont Stud after the Doomben 10,000 and he will be ridden by Craig Williams who has won the last two editions of the race on on Bella Nipotina and Giga Kick (Scissor Kick).

Zarastro, on the other hand, is a gelding and one of two runners for Tony Gollan along with Hidden Wealth (Better Than Ready). Zarastro doesn’t have a great record on a wet track, with seven of his nine wins coming on a Good surface and the other two on Soft. Three runs on Heavy have resulted in nothing much. The winner of over $1.3 million was purchased by Tony Gollan in 2022 for $32,500 on the Inglis Digital October Sale.

Gollan picked Hidden Wealth has his best runner even though he was 13 of 16 when resuming in the G2 Victory Stakes last start. “It was a forget run. He stepped away muddling and then just drove around them, three-wide and no cover on a day where there was no advantage to be three-wide facing the breeze,” Gollan told racenet.com.au on Wednesday.

“It is his first go at this sort of level and a really wet track would be to his liking. It would really bring him right into the race. It is good to have Tommy Berry on as he knows the horse so well and I loved to see him draw well (barrier two). It's a pretty good Doomben 10,000 and it's a race with a stack of speed in it. I can't fault the horse, it's just a matter whether he can handle this level of racing.”

Cheapest horse headlines Archibald trio

At the opposite end of the yearling buying spectrum is the $40,000 yearling Libertad (Russian Revolution) who is one of three runners for the Annabel and Rob Archibald team, along with Group 1 winners Sunshine In Paris (Invader) and Lady Laguna (Overshare).

Sold by Rheinwood Pastoral for $40,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to T Nolen, who pinhooked him into the Inglis Ready To Race Sale where Annabel Neasham Racing purchased him for $210,000, Libertad is the cheapest yearling to go through the ring among the Doomben 10,000 field. He’s one of the four horses in the field who isn’t a Group 1 winner, but he comes in with strong form, having won the G2 Victory Stakes at his most recent start.

“He was excellent last start and there’s no reason why he can’t continue to improve,” said Rob Archibald. “He was given a good ride last start. He’s a lovely colt who has been off the scene for a long time.” When asked about that, Archibald said that he’d had a few minor setbacks in a row, but nothing major. “He’s good now. He will be full of confidence after his last start win. He has a tricky draw to contend with and the heavy track, but looks fantastic.”

Sunshine In Paris won the G1 VRC Sprint Classic in November and will be aiming to show her class with her owner John Camilleri looking to place her in his The Everest slot again during the spring. “She’s drawn the carpark again. She’s had wide draws in all her last seven starts, but has James McDonald on, and has been running very well. If things go her way and if she’s at her best, she’s well within her reach to go close.”

Gallery: Two of three runners for the Annabel and Rob Archibald team

Lady Laguna comes into this with two third placings in group company in her last two starts. She hasn’t won since the 2024 G1 Canterbury Stakes. “She’s been running well. Two starts ago in the Sapphire, she ran well, and last start at Hawkesbury, we opted to lead with a big weight and just felt the pinch a bit late. She’s back to level weights, and should be respected. She will love the ground.”

A historic sixth dual winner?

Only five horses have won the race twice, being Black Onyx (Pipe Of Peace {GB}) in 1969 and 1970, Prince Trialia (Nordic Prince) in 1990 and 1991, Chief De Beers (Hula Chief {NZ}) in 1995 and 1998, Falvelon (Alannon) in 2001 and 2002, and Apache Cat (Lion Cavern {USA}) as the most recent in 2008 and 2009.

This year’s field includes Mazu who won the race as a 3-year-old, and returns for his fourth attempt at a second win in the race. He won in 2022, was third in 2023 and seventh last year, but he’s in form with a last start win in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes.

Winner of over $9 million from his nine wins, Mazu has knocked around in group company for the last twelve months, performing well enough without winning, since he won the 2024 G3 Hall Mark Stakes, a race he won again in 2025. Between the two wins, his worst effort was seventh in last year’s G1 Doomben 10,000, and in all his other starts, he was in the top six.

Joe Pride has won this race twice in the last 20 editions with Red Oog (Brief Truce {USA}) in 2005 and Eduardo (Host {Chi}) in 2021. Mazu was trained by Peter and Paul Snowden when he won in 2022.

Trainer and jockey records

The trainer with the most wins in the race is TJ Smith with six (1955, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1982, 1985) while George Moore dominates the jockey’s record with five wins (1940, 1953, 1957, 1969, 1971).

Peter Snowden is the most frequent winner in the last 20 runnings, with four wins; two in partnership with his son Paul being Mazu in 2022, Redzel (Snitzel) in 2017, and two on his own; Epaulette in 2013 and Beaded (Lonhro) in 2011. He doesn't have a runner this year.

But all eyes are on Craig Williams and if he can nail the hat-trick with Schwarz.

2025 G1 Doomben 10000 field