Raiders jump ditch for crack at big races

TODAY’S Doomben meeting provides the first real insight as to whether the 2017 New Zealand raiders can replicate the deeds of countless heroes of past years in Queensland.

Heroic Valour opened the batting with a commendable performance last week and today at Doomben the Kiwi carnival invasion kicks into overdrive with a string of key feature chances.

Shocking Luck makes his second Queensland appearance in the Rough Habit Plate, while Sultan Of Swing ( Member’s), Hall Of Fame ( Qld Day), Chocante, Zambezi Warrior, Tessastock ( Chairman’s), Start Wondering ( 10,000) and Here He Comes ( Rough Habit) make carnival debuts.

Over the past five carnivals, Kiwi trained horses have won just shy of 10 per cent of the Group 1 and 2 races on offer. That’s a solid haul by comparison with their smaller representation.

Jockey Jim Byrne isn’t too perturbed about the statistics and is keen on the prospects of Chocante in the Chairman’s Handicap today after getting a feel for the Kiwi stayer on Tuesday morning.

“I worked Chocante and goes real good,” Byrne said.

Start Wondering is the first Kiwi to have a crack at a Group 1 this year, as he bids to join the likes of Quintessential, Scarlett Lady, Eskimo Queen, Vouvray, Ethereal, Giovana, King Keitel, Gee I Jane, Court Ruler and the aforementioned Sacred Elixir and Provocative as NZ- trained Queensland major winners this century. it