Chief De Beers – 2024

Track: Soft Weather: Fine

Following the early scratchings of Vodka Martini, Lost In Transit and Outweighed, there will be 16 runners and one emergency for the 2024 XXXX Chief De Beers Quality with 13 geldings, one horse and 3 mares. There are six 4YOs, five 5YOS, four 6YOs and two 8YOs. Three runners had their last start in the $105,000 Bat Out Of Hell over 1000m at Sunshine Coast on 11th May (won by Hardware Lane), two in the Listed ATC Trophy over 1200m at Sunshine Coast on 11th May (won by At Witz End) and two in the $1,000,000 Magic Millions Sprint over 1200m at Gold Coast on 13th January (won by King Of Sparta), while the rest came via different races. Two runners are sired by Snitzel, two by Capitalist and two by Spirit Of Boom. Four runners are trained by Tony Gollan and two by Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted. The 3 runners that ran the trifecta last year -Mishani Sniper, The Big Goodbye and King Kapa – are all in this year’s race.

The betting is very open and currently you can get $6.50 the field. The early favourite is Spacewalk who resumed for 3rd in the Listed Hawkesbury Rush over 1100m on 4th May. Second favourite is Golden Boom who resumes from a 13 week spell after 0.5 length 2nd in an Open Handicap at Doomben on 24th February. Third favourite is King Kapa who hasn’t raced for nearly a year but has been trialling well and goes well first-up. Helluva Barty also goes well first-up and returns after 19 weeks. Doull resumes after 31 weeks, while Hardware Lane was a last-start winner in the Bat Out Of Hell and is a mud-lark. The other runners are currently $12 or longer.

1. Spacewalk (18)

Gelding trained by James Cummings who resumed for 3rd in the Listed Hawkesbury Rush over 1100m on 4th May.

2. The Big Goodbye (2)

Runner-up in this race last year. Won the Listed Ascot Handicap over 1000m at Eagle Farm on 19th April first-up, then finished 2.7 lengths 6th in the Listed ATC Trophy over 1200m at Sunshine Coast on 11th May (won by At Witz End). Chance.

3. Doull (9)

resumes after 31 weeks

4. Shooting For Gold (5)

First up after 19 weeks. Hasn’t raced since 10th in the $1,000,000 Magic Millions Sprint over 1200m at Gold Coast on 13th January (won by King Of Sparta) where stewards queried the run as he’d placed at all other 3 runs that preparation.

5. King Kapa (4)

Ran 3rd in this race last year. Hasn’t raced for nearly a year but has been trialling well and goes well first-up.

6. Mishani Sniper (1)

Won this race last year.

7. At Witz End (13)

coming soon

8. Ef Troop (17)

Resumed for 7th in the $105,000 Bat Out Of Hell over 1000m at Sunshine Coast on 11th May (won by Hardware Lane). Prefer others.

9. Situation Room (7)

coming soon

10. Hardware Lane (6)

was a last-start winner in the Bat Out Of Hell and is a mud-lark

11. Smart Image (15)

coming soon

12. Go Wandji (10)

coming soon

13. Penthouse (8)

coming soon

14. Golden Boom (20)

resumes from a 13 week spell after 0.5 length 2nd in an Open Handicap at Doomben on 24th February.

15. Vodka Martini (19)  – scratched

16. Willinga Beast (11)

coming soon

17e. Lost In Transit (12)  – scratched

18e. Outweighed (14)  – scratched

19e. Helluva Barty (16)

goes well first-up and returns after 19 weeks

20e. My Snow Queen (3)

coming soon

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo Jackson’s Tips
14 Golden Boom
10 Hardware Lane
1 Spacewalk
7 At Witz End

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	14 Golden Boom
2nd	2 The Big Goodbye	0.54 length
3rd	7 At Witz End	1.11 lengths
4th	9 Situation Room	1.48 lengths

The track was rated as Soft 6.

Scratchings: 4. Shooting For Gold, 8. Ef Troop, 15. Vodka Martini, 17e. Lost In Transit, 18e. Outweighrs, 19e. Helluva Barty, 20e. My Snow Queen.