Smart Adelaide raider Gamblin’ Guru has, as expected, been nominated for the Queensland Derby 2014 with early entries for the Brisbane clash closing today.

SA Derby favourite Order Of The Sun has been nominated for the 2014 Queensland Derby in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart.

A total of 97 three-year-olds are nominated for this year’s $500,000 Group 1 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) running at Eagle Farm on June 7 as one of three Stradbroke Handicap Day Group 1s.

Running in the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) at home this coming Saturday, Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas’ in-form gelding won the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) last weekend.

While they’re the right type for a Queensland campaign for the Derby, Macdonald has hinted that the South Australian race might be their swansong run this prep.

Another last start winner right in the mix for the Queensland Derby this year is David Vandyke’s flying Dubawi filly Arabian Gold.

She’s won her last two over 2000m in Sydney having taken out the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes on April 12 before beating home the boys in the Group 1 Frank Packer Plate last weekend.

Frank Packer runner-up Pheidon is also Queensland Derby-bound, the Al Maher gelding prepared by Gai Waterhouse.

Winner of the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley in mid-March, Pheidon is on the up-and-up and is one of three Queensland Derby entries for Waterhouse.

Waterhouse has also entered Albury Guineas winner Ryker and Order Of The Sun.

Like Gamblin’ Guru, Encosta De Lago colt Order Of The Sun runs in the SA Derby this Saturday and is favourite to win.

They earned top spot in those markets and a Queensland Derby nomination after a blistering seven length win in the Listed VRC St Ledger (2800m) at Flemington on ANZAC Day.

Other South Australian Derby runners featuring in these nominations include ATC Derby graduates Best Case for Anthony Cummings and the David Hayes-trained Surging Wave.

Also coming off an ATC Derby run in the mud from April 12 is the Peter Moody-trained Cadillac Mountain (9^th).

Moody has a number of Queensland Derby hopes this winter including Street Hero gelding Crime Fighter who ran 11^th in the ATC Derby and a son of Savabeel Saguaro.

Last year Sydney horseman Chris Waller won the Queensland Derby with his talented Purrealist gelding Hawkspur.

Waller is back this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival with five chances led by Vilanova.

The Commands gelding won the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield in February and was last seen running third to Destiny’s Kiss at Warwick Farm over the mile last Saturday.

Other notable Queensland Derby nominees include Gunsynd runner-up Avalanches, VRC St Ledger runner-up Honey Steel’s Gold, fourth in that same race More Rewarding for Caulfield’s Mick Price and the Shaune Ritchie-trained Glorious Lad.

A Kiwi youngster set for Brisbane on Thursday night, Falkirk gelding Glorious Lad ran third to Puccini in the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) before their second last Friday when back down over a mile to keep them in work.

While Ritchie has a host of Queensland Winter Carnival hopes, fellow New Zealand horseman Roger James has abandoned Brisbane plans this season failing to nominate for Delago’s Secret and Full Count.

“I looked at Delago’s Secret and Full Count and thought have I really got enough to work with?” James told The Gold Coast Bulletin.

“I’ve won a few Derbies and I know you don’t win them unless you’ve got them in the right order.

“They are big rangy, frail three-year-olds and I just didn’t think I would end up there on Derby day with them at their peak.”

The full Queensland Derby 2014 nominations are detailed below with first acceptances taken on May 28.

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2014 Queensland Derby Nominations

Eagle Farm Racecourse – 07/06/2014