Doomben 10,000 2026 Betting Tips - Can Grafterburners Spike Second-Up?

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Thu 14 May 2026 08:35

Alex Marsh 14 May 2026

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Grafterburners is the top tip for the Doomben 10,000, expected to furnish with Zac Purton aboard
Market leader Jimmysstar is a strong win chance, especially after recent improved runs
Skybird offers value for each way bettors, particularly if rain affects the track conditions

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Jimmysstar heads the 2026 Doombe 10,000 market. (Getty)

The Doomben 10,000 headlines the opening Group 1 meeting of the 2026 Brisbane Winter Carnival, with another high-quality sprint field assembled for the May 16 feature at Doomben.

2026 Doomben 10,000 Tips
2026 Doomben 10,000 - Field & Odds

Some of Australia’s elite short-course performers have claimed the race across its rich history, including champions such as Bernborough, Manikato, Apache Cat, Takeover Target and Doomben specialist Chief De Beers.

At $3.25 with Picklebet, Jimmysstar heads the 2026 Doomben 10,000 market.

2026 Doomben 10,000 Tips

2026 Doomben 10,000 Best Bet - Grafterburners

They've been playing catch-up with Grafterburners.

A colt who only had a light lead-up ahead of what was a scheduled resumption in The Galaxy, but he was scratched at the barriers from that Group 1 and instead went back north before returning to Sydney to resume in the Group 2 Arrowfield Stud Stakes.

While he wouldn't have defeated the winner Tempted irrespective, perhaps he should have finished runner-up in that Group 2.

That hot three-year-old affair has already produced two stakes winners, while fourth placegetter Marhoona arrived there off a Group 1 Galaxy win.

With further travel completed along with a trial last week, he should only strip fitter for the Doomben 10,000 assignment, where champion hoop Zac Purton takes the reins.

2026 Doomben 10,000 Next Best Bet - Jimmysstar

While the William Reid Stakes resumption was disappointing, Jimmysstar has improved in two subsequent efforts, with a fifth-place finish in the TJ Smith Stakes before progressing again for third of 13 in the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes.

That April 18 effort was a terrific run considering he was working home against the pattern of that race-day meeting.

He also recorded the second-fastest last 600m and 400m of the card.

Perhaps a slight knock is coming back to six furlongs, but he is working back towards form, and the versatile galloper has also proven adept on both Good and Soft tracks.

While he can hold form deep into campaigns, his last two fourth-up appearances have both resulted in victories on Soft tracks.

2026 Doomben 10,000 Value Bet - Skybird

She can mix her form, which was evident in the third-up flop in Adelaide last start when contesting the Robert Sangster Stakes.

But we know the class is there when Skybird is right.

Connections have reportedly been chasing a wet track this whole time with the five-year-old, who placed behind both Joliestar and Giga Kick second-up on a Soft 7 in the TJ Smith Stakes, which is certainly a good enough reference for this.

While her Group 1 triumph early last year came on a Soft 7 via a brilliant display when taking out the Black Caviar Lightning.

The five-year-old has drawn out, but that's not a major concern given her racing pattern, and while you have to take her on trust, a much-improved showing here would not shock.

2026 Doomben 10,000 - Field & Odds

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Odds
1	Jimmysstar (NZ)	Ciaron Maher	Ethan Brown	11	58.5kg	$3.25
2	Private Eye	Joseph Pride	Nash Rawiller	3	58.5kg	$6
3	Another Wil	Ciaron Maher	Ryan Maloney	19	58.5kg	$26
4	Rothfire	Robert Heathcote	Brad Rawiller	15	58.5kg	$51
5	Uncommon James	Matthew Hoysted	Ben Thompson	14	58.5kg	$51
6	Reserve Bank	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Cejay Graham	17	58.5kg	$61
7	Private Harry	Chris Waller	Tommy Berry	4	58.5kg	$21
8	Warnie (IRE)	Ciaron Maher	Mark Zahra	9	58.5kg	$14
9	Zarastro	Tony Gollan	Daniel Moor	5	58.5kg	$34
10	Payline	Chris & Corey Munce	Kyle Wilson-Taylor	16	58.5kg	$23
11	Devil Night	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes	Ben Melham	8	57kg	$9
12	Grafterburners	Kelly Schweida	Zac Purton	7	57kg	$6
13	Skybird	Mitchell Freedman	John Allen	18	56.5kg	$21
14	~~Lady Of Camelot~~	~~Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott~~	~~Tim Clark~~	6	~~56.5kg~~	~~SCR~~
15	Abounding	Robert Heathcote	Vlad Duric	12	56.5kg	$71
16	Spicy Martini	Toby Edmonds	Taylor Marshall	2	56.5kg	$41
17e	Beadman	Peter Snowden	TBA	1	57kg	$10
18e	Napoleonic	Tom Charlton	James McDonald	10	57kg	$6.50
19e	Esjay	Pat Webster	TBA	13	58.5kg	$126