New Zealand warhorse Sir Slick was a shock late entry for Saturday's Group One Doomben 10,000 but the fate of the meeting still hangs in the balance as heavy rain continues.As expected a number of first acceptors including Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace, Victorian filly Ortensia, the Bart Cummings-trained Swick and 2008 Doncaster winner Triple Honour were not among the final field on Wednesday.As well, Forensics, Royal Discretion and Solo Flyer from the powerful Sydney stables of Peter Snowden,
New Zealand warhorse Sir Slick was a shock late entry for Saturday's Group One Doomben 10,000 but the fate of the meeting still hangs in the balance as heavy rain continues.
As expected a number of first acceptors including Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace, Victorian filly Ortensia, the Bart Cummings-trained Swick and 2008 Doncaster winner Triple Honour were not among the final field on Wednesday.
As well, Forensics, Royal Discretion and Solo Flyer from the powerful Sydney stables of Peter Snowden, Gai Waterhouse and Anthony Cummings respectively were missing from the acceptors.
A final field of 17 was declared for the 1350-metre feature including Apache Cat who is attempting to win successive Doomben 10,000s.
Among the final entries were Group One BTC Cup winner Duporth, Perth galloper Marasco, 2007 Stradbroke Handicap winner Sniper's Bullet and the Grahame Begg-trained All Silent.
Apache Cat is the ruling $3 favourite on TAB Sportsbet's fixed odds market ahead of Bank Robber at $6.
The barrier draw will be conducted on Wednesday night but is not expected to have a significant role in the outcome on a heavy track.
Sir Slick's late entry, which cost Kiwi trainer Graeme Nicholson $34,125, was stunning considering he finished third to Perth's Scenic Shot in last Saturday's Group One Doomben Cup (2020m).
The Doomben Cup was the seven-year-old's third start in as many weeks since he arrived in Queensland following his failure in the Group One Doncaster Handicap (1600m) won by Vision And Power at Randwick last month.
Queensland Racing Limited (QRL) officials were due to hold crisis talks late on Wednesday to formulate contingency plans should the Doomben meeting be washed out.
QRL racing services manager Paul Brennan is returning from Sydney to hold a meeting with Doomben course manager Warren Williams and chief steward Wade Birch.
Doomben is rated a heavy nine following a further 100 millimetres overnight, taking the total rainfall to 176 millimetres since it began on Monday night.
Brennan said it was too early to call off the meeting but the crisis talks would discuss the possibility of transferring it to another venue or postponing it to a midweek date next week.
"It's an option to transfer the meeting but at this stage we're marching forward to racing on Saturday," he said.
"Transferring the meeting could satisfy a number of connections."
The Brisbane weather bureau has changed its latest forecast and is now predicting heavy rain until Saturday when it will ease to heavy showers.