Wee Nessy to shoot for her maiden Group 1 win in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000

Wee Nessy’s Sydney and Brisbane form shows she deserves a Group 1 shot so trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr will give her a crack at the highest level in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000.

Classy mare Wee Nessy will have her first crack at Group 1 company in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 in Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images.

Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 looms as Victorian mare Wee Nessy’s greatest chance to reach the sport’s highest echelon of being a Group 1 winner.

Wee Nessy won at Group 2 level in the Sapphire Stakes in Sydney two runs back before finishing a length from top local galloper Antino in the Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 4.

“That horse ran (Antino) a personal best in the Victory Stakes,” Price, who trains Wee Nessy in partnership with Michael Kent Jr, said.

“He was unlucky down here (in Melbourne) so he’s a very good horse and he looks to have improved.”

Those efforts showed co-trainer Mick Price the mare was close to reaching Group 1 level.

Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 will be the daughter of Snitzel’s first shot at the top level.

“She’s a four-year-old mare in the zone. I can’t have her going any better,” Price said.

“She’s won three-quarters of a million dollars and she’s won Group races so she’s been a good mare for us.”

Price said Wee Nessy lived up to most of the criteria required to win the Doomben 10,000.

However, he had one reservation about the four-year-old ahead of the $1.5m event.

“She’s very bold but she may lack a length or two for a Group 1,” Price said.

“She handles soft ground, she’ll handle the soft track and she’s in the zone. She’ll handle the 1200m so we’re going to have a go at it.”

⭐ANTINO announced himself as a Brisbane Winter Carnival star in the Victory Stakes (G2) at Eagle Farm. #lasttofirst#stradbroke
Live Ausse Racing channel: https://t.co/tRlVHQGYlFpic.twitter.com/6cmHxLFalp

— Sky Racing World (@SkyRacingWorld) May 4, 2024

TAB rated Wee Nessy at $26 in its latest Doomben 10,000 market.

Top sprinter I Wish I Win is the $2.25 favourite ahead of classy Sydney-trained performers In Secret at Private Eye at $6.

Price said Wee Nessy was unlikely to progress to next month’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, irrespective of how she performed in the Doomben 10,000.

“I don’t think she’s a Stradbroke horse. She hasn’t got a good 1400(m) in her,” Price said.

“She’s a specific 1200m horse I reckon.”

However, Price will send Amenable north for Queensland’s biggest race.

Amenable went down narrowly in heavy ground in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 24.

The gelding has been close in two Group 1 contests with his only blemish being when he finished midfield in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill in March.

“Amenable will go up there,” Price said.

“He’s been really good, especially now he’s been gelded. He’s only had one bad run and that was when he melted out in the Western Sydney heat.”

Originally published as Wee Nessy to shoot for her maiden Group 1 win in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000