WET TRACK TEMPERS BUCHANAN’S DISMAY AT TAMBELOA’S DRAW

KRISTEN Buchanan says she nearly cried when she found out her Queensland Derby hope Tambeloa’s barrier draw for his return to Brisbane tomorrow.

But the certainty of a wet track has tempered the Wyong trainer’s disappointment for the colt’s Doomben mission..

Tambeloa drew barrier 19 for the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m); the traditional lead-up for three-year-olds to the $1m Group 1 Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.

A capacity field of 16 plus five emergencies was declared for the Rough Habit, and Viewpoint and Freddie Bassett have already been withdrawn, enabling the first two reserves to secure starts.

“Tambeloa has arrived safely in Brisbane, and settled in well at Eagle Farm, where I always stable my horses,” Buchanan said.

“I was really disappointed when I saw the barrier draw, but the wet track hopefully will ensure that it isn’t the disadvantage it first appeared.

“The Rough Habit is the second leg of Tambeloa’s Derby campaign, and he’s in great order.

“He ran seventh first-up at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) a fortnight ago with a big weight (58.5kg), and I was thrilled with how he went.

“The sectionals showed he ran the fastest 200m of the day (09.82secs), and he also bettered 33 secs for his last 600m (32.19s).

“I didn’t think he could do that, so it showed how well he is going.”

Buchanan has booked Brisbane jockey Cejay Graham for her colt in the Rough Habit.

‘Cejay rode Tambeloa when he ran third in the Grand Prix (1800m) at Eagle Farm last Decembe, and she comes and rides him work in Brisbane,” Buchanan said.

“She has committed to also riding him in the Derby.”

. Fellow Wyong trainer Sara Ryan won’t be at Doomben, but she has two good chances in Listed features at tomorrow’s Scone metropolitan stand-alone meeting.

They are relative newcomers to her stable; Dollar Magic in the Ortensia Stakes (1100m), and Phearson in the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m).

Reece Jones rides Dollar Magic, and Alysha Collett partners Phearson.

Whilst dual Group 3 winner Phearson has had two starts since joining Ryan’s team, Dollar Magic is making her debut under Ryan’s banner.

“The owners decided to give me a chance with Dollar Magic, who was transferred a week before she trialled at the Beaumont track (second over 800m) on May 4, with the plan to go to the Ortensia first-up,” Ryan said.

“Reece (Jones) is a good friend of mine, and knows this mare well.

“Dollar Magic is in good order, and always races well fresh.”

Dollar Magic has won five races and, remarkably 15 of her 21 placings have been seconds.

She won a Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1100m (beating Jedibeel) at the Scone carnival in 2024, and then ran second to recent Hawkesbury Gold Rush winner Zealously in similar grade there 12 months ago.

Ryan was understandably disappointed when Phearson was beaten by Formal Display in the Tamworth Cup (1400m) on April 24 after being taken on by outsider Mystery Lad (who ran last) up front.

“He ran enormously, and did a huge job to hold on and run second,” Ryan said.

“Because Phearson had such a hard run, I brought him home and put him out in the paddock for a week to rest.

“I didn’t nominate him for the Scone Cup (1600m) because I feel he is a better sprinter.

“Phearson has freshened up nicely, and I’m really hoping he can win the Luskin Star.

“He so deserves it.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 15, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS