The anxious period awaiting confirmation if Napoleonic would gain a spot in the Doomben 10,000 has concluded, thanks to Abounding’s withdrawal which allowed the colt to secure his position in the Group 1 sprint.
The horse’s team had faced a tense week following the three-year-old being listed as second emergency for the $1.5 million highlight, with top reserve Beadman getting in on Wednesday after Lady Of Camelot pulled out from a sting ray injury.
Trainer Tom Charlton of Napoleonic mentioned he had prepared a backup strategy, yet felt great relief upon the horse’s official inclusion, permitting them to proceed with the initial schedule encompassing the Doomben 10,000 (1200m), Fred Best Classic (1400m) and Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
“It’s important because he looks like he’s in a big race with a chance,” Charlton said.
“It has always been the plan, and it’s not normally a race where you get a full field. Normally a (benchmark rating) 103 three-year-old gets in, so it was a bit of a spanner in the works.
“But thankfully, we’re in.”
Napoleonic, absent from the track since a solid showing versus top-tier sprinters in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) back in March, made his way to Brisbane via float on Thursday.
Charlton noted the colt journeyed smoothly, capping off his lead-up with a robust gallop earlier that week alongside his assigned Doomben 10,000 rider, James McDonald.
“He worked very well with Linebacker on Tuesday. James came in and rode him, which makes our life easy because he knows where we’re at, and he was very pleased,” Charlton said.
“We can’t fault the preparation thus far.”
Napoleonic is joint second favourite in Doomben 10,000 betting at $6.50 alongside Grafterburners, trailing only the $3.50 market leader Jimmysstar.
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