Veteran New Zealand trainer Graeme Nicholson expects to be the butt of jokes but remains unrepentant about his shock decision to pay a late entry fee to start Sir Slick in Saturday's Group One Doomben 10,000.Nicholson paid a fee of $34,125 to start Sir Slick in the Doomben 10,000 in which the gelding drew gate four at Wednesday night's barrier draw.Sir Slick arrived in Queensland at the start of the month and backed-up for the third consecutive week when he finished a gallant third to Scenic Sho

Veteran New Zealand trainer Graeme Nicholson expects to be the butt of jokes but remains unrepentant about his shock decision to pay a late entry fee to start Sir Slick in Saturday's Group One Doomben 10,000.

Nicholson paid a fee of $34,125 to start Sir Slick in the Doomben 10,000 in which the gelding drew gate four at Wednesday night's barrier draw.

Sir Slick arrived in Queensland at the start of the month and backed-up for the third consecutive week when he finished a gallant third to Scenic Shot in last Saturday's Group One Doomben Cup.

In his fourth start in as many weeks, Sir Slick faces a sharp drop in distance from 2020 metres of the Doomben Cup to 1350-metres in the Doomben 10,000.

"A lot of people won't agree with me but bugger them," Nicholson said.

"It might be his (Sir Slick's) fourth run in as many weeks but this is only a sprint.

"He can sprint. Back in New Zealand he's won twice over 1400 metres.

"I know there will be a lot of people knocking me but the track is going to be heavy and I was very concerned about running him over 2020 metres in the other race I nominated him for (the Premier's Cup)."

Favourite Apache Cat drew a favourable barrier seven in his attempt to become only the fourth horse in history to win successive Doomben 10,000s.

Previous winners were Black Onyx (1969-70), Prince Trialia (1990-91) and Falvelon in 2001-02.

The Chris Waller-trained Danleigh drew barrier three in his first start since winning the Group One All Aged Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Anzac Day while Perth galloper Marasco will jump from gate two.

Group One BTC Cup winner Duporth drew barrier nine while 2007 Stradbroke Handicap winner Sniper's Bullet drew gate six.

Nicholson might have another surprise in store for those who criticise his training methods.

Sir Slick, who has started 97 times in his career for 20 wins and 32 placings, does several laps around the Gold Coast track most work mornings before doing fast work.

"I brought him here for the Brisbane Cup but I haven't decided about that yet and I might pay a late fee again to run him in the Stradbroke Handicap," Nicholson said.

The Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) will be run on the same day as the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.

"He's only over here for six weeks and I need to work him so much because he puts on weight too easily," he said.

Doomben is rated a heavy 10 but course manager Warren Williams remains optimistic the meeting can still go ahead despite almost 300 millimetres of rain since Monday with forecasts of more torrential rain to come.

"If we could get 36 hours of no rain and some sun and wind I'm sure we'll get there," Williams said.

Stewards will inspect Doomben at 0700 (AEST) on Thursday to determine whether the meeting will go ahead.