The Group 1 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 (1200m, $1.5 million) is the first Group 1 of the 2026 Brisbane Winter Carnival and acceptances released by Racing Queensland on Tuesday have a 17-horse field plus two emergencies. Jimmysstar, the Ciaron Maher-trained four-year-old who won three Group 1s in 2025 including the Oakleigh Plate and the CF Orr Stakes, is the $2.50 favourite under Ethan Brown from barrier 11. Napoleonic at $4.60 sits as an emergency from barrier 10 under James McDonald, with the markets through Tuesday evening framing the contest as effectively a two-horse shootout for the top of the Australian sprint ladder.
The Top of the Market
Jimmysstar comes into the Doomben 10,000 with three runs in 2026 including a William Reid first-up fifth, a TJ Smith fifth, and a third in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick last month. All three of his Group 1 wins from 2025 were over distance other than the 1200m, and the trip is the question mark Maher will need answered. The Maher stable also has Warnie, the imported Irish galloper, at $16 from barrier 9 under Mark Zahra, and Another Wil ($10) at barrier 19 under Ryan Maloney. Three runners from Maher in a Group 1 sprint says the yard is comfortable across the carnival format.
Joseph Pride's Private Eye is the next at $14 from the inside barrier 3 under Nash Rawiller. The seven-year-old has been a near-permanent feature in the top Group 1 sprint markets across his career, with a career prizemoney tally pushing through $13 million after a third in the Hall Mark Stakes resuming. Pride knows the race after winning with Eduardo in 2021 and the inside draw is a substantial advantage at Doomben where barriers 1-5 have won 21 of the last 33 editions of the race.
Drawing the Outside, Picking the Live Roughie
Devil Night at $10 under Ben Melham from barrier 8 is the most interesting price for punters who want a roughie. The Hawkes-trained three-year-old has been racing consistently in 2026 with three placings from three starts including a second in the William Reid behind Jigsaw. Grafterburners at $10 from Kelly Schweida's yard under Zac Purton (barrier 7) brings four wins from his first Australian campaign in 2025. Robert Heathcote's Rothfire, the Queensland favourite at $34 from barrier 15, is the local sentimental pick but the wide gate is the issue.
The historical pattern at Doomben favours the favourite. Only six favourites have won in 13 years, with Giga Kick (2023), Bella Nipotina (2024) and Sunshine In Paris (2025) the last three winners, all ridden by Craig Williams. Williams is not in the saddle this year, with Ethan Brown picking up the Jimmysstar ride.
Where the Markets Land
Doomben 10,000 betting at Picklebet on Tuesday evening sits Jimmysstar $2.50, Napoleonic $4.60, Devil Night $10, Grafterburners $10, Private Eye $14, Jokers Grin $15, Warnie $16, Lady Of Camelot $17, Beadman $18, Private Harry $21, Skybird $21, Payline $26, others $34+. Doomben Cup market for 23 May continues to favour Half Yours at $2.10 after Saturday's Hollindale, with Knight's Choice $5, Birdman $7, and Tom Kitten $7 the next layer. The Tattersall's Tiara market firms Splash Back at $4.
Doomben 10,000 Day jumps Saturday 16 May at 4:00pm AEST with eight-race card, also featuring the Group 2 BRC Sprint and the Listed Hinkler Handicap. Full Racing Queensland acceptances, jockey colours and form lines are available via Racing Queensland. dabble, Ladbrokes and Neds have all refreshed Brisbane carnival markets across Tuesday evening.