04/05/13 - Gold Coast Hollindale Stakes Day

Gold Coast

The Brisbane Winter Carnival kicked off last weekend and we saw the bulldog Buffering return to racing in style.  This Saturday we make our way down to the Gold Coast for an excellent day's racing which includes the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes, the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas and numerous listed races.  The track is currently rated a dead 4 but with magic weather to continue, the track will race in the good range come Saturday. 

Race 1 - A small field of 6 go around over 2200m.  Chris Waller sends Studio (4) up from Sydney and it would be very unlikely that this horse is here for a haircut.  Last start it was belted by 40 lengths on heavy going but the jockey reported that it did not handle the heavy conditions.  I'll ignore that as prior to that start, it's form was excellent for a race like this.  It has form around the likes of Coup Acclaim, Hoylonny  and Messene.  It hasn't won beyond 2000m but when it won over 1900m 2 starts back, it found plenty.  It's won or placed 7 times from 10 starts.  Hardest to beat is Mukaddamah Son (2).

Race 2 - Speed looks to be solid here with a number of horses that like to push forward engaged in this Benchmark 85 1200m race.  Whitesails (10) was in cracking form before taking a 70 day break.  Her wins were over the longer trips of 1500 and 1600m but I think she'll be aided by a decent speed.  She has drawn barrier 2 and I think Bennett can position her nicely behind the speed from there.  Her 1st up record is a good one with 1-1-1 record from 4 1st up attempts.  She warmed up for this by winning a trial by 9.5 lengths (3rd was 14 lengths further back) over 1000m.  She'll be hard to hold out in the straight.  Other hopes to Balkuin (3), Peron (13) and Assimilator (7).

Race 3 - Missy Longstocking (11) was one of the stars of the young brigade in Brisbane earlier in the season.  She resumes here with a record of 4 wins and a 3rd from 5 starts.  The non-winning run was in the Magic Millions.  She's drawn the extreme outside here in 17 which is a concern.  However I believe she has the class and the jockey to overcome that.  She's a very strong finisher and with any luck in running will be hard to hold out.  This was demonstrated in the MM when she was 5 wide and still kept coming.  It's safe to say that this field isn't of the same strength as that one!  Other hopes to Diamond Oasis (1), Sir Moments (4) and Florid Affair (15).

Race 4 - Tail And All (5) is a horse never far from the action.  In it's past 10 starts, it's finished in the top 2 9 times.  He has form around some good horses including Time To Plunder, Lucky Sound and Epic.  Last start he ran 2nd to Epic by a length over this distance and that horse has since won again.  He has been in the placings 4 times from 6 goes at the distance.  Although he's drawn out in barrier 14, jockey Ryan Wiggins should be able to get the horse into a decent midfield position with the long run to the 1st turn.  Will be finishing the race with purpose.  Other hopes to Pellegrini (4), Alcania (11) and Purfectress (9).

Race 5 - Kris Lees has a good record of bringing horses up to QLD and I give one of his a tremendous chance here.  Express Power (3) has drawn poorly here in 17 but I think she's a filly with some ability.  Last start she ran 2nd to Royal Descent by 2.5 lengths over 2000m in the Group 3 Adrian Knox.  In that race she was running on strongly at the end.  We all saw how that form was franked in Royal Descent's next start in the Oaks when she totally obliterated the field.  Express Power came from barrier 12 that day so she has the ability to overcome the wide gate.  She has a good overall record and has only been out of the placings once in 8 starts.  Other hopes to Catalonia (6), Vaquera (7) and Hold Me Tight (4).

Race 6 - Bound To Blush (13) resumes here for the John O'Shea stable.  She sports the perfect 1st up record, winning all 3 resumptions.  This mare has only been out of the placings once in 9 starts.  Prior to her break, Bound To Blush ran a nose over 1200m to the flyer Adebisi.  That's tremendous form for this.  She's drawn an inside gate and will be able fire out and take up the lead or a handy position.  Other hopes to Detours (4), Petty Cury (7) and Karuta Queen (2).

Race 7 - This year's edition of the Prime Minister's Cup looks a very competitive affair.      Famous Seamus (4) came up from Sydney 2 weeks ago and overpowered the locals over 1200m.  I think he can go back to back here.  He draws nicely in barrier 3 and Colless will be able to position him well just behind the speed.  Prior to the freshen up, he was very competitive in Group 2 and 3 company in Sydney.  That should make him more than competitive here.  Other hopes to Steel Zip (7), Phelan Ready (5) and Utah Saints (10).

Race 8 - The Group 2 Hollindale Stakes looks at the mercy of Lights Of Heaven (13).  Quite frankly at wfa conditions, the majority of this field looks out of their depth.  She warmed up for this with a cracking win over 2000m.  She ran 2nd in this race last year and I'm struggling to see a reason why she won't go one better this time around.  Other hopes to Foreteller (3), Lamasery (6) and Solzhenitsyn (5).

Race 9 - The Gold Coast Guineas is a fitting way to close the program.  A number of talented 3 year olds are engaged which will ensure an excellent race.  I'm a fan of Sizzling (1) and will be supporting him.  This guy has a great record winning 6 and running 2nd in 4 from 13 starts.  He resumes in this race and has won 2 from 3 1st up.  In his last start before a spell, he drew the carpark and only narrowly lost to Saluter here.  I can see him finding a much better position from this gate and showing off his powerful finish.  Tough to hold out!  Other hopes to Academus (4), Saluter (2) and Luke's Luck (3).    


Flemington

Race 1 - No Thanks

Race 2 - Secessio (6)

Race 3 - Good Value (5)

Race 4 - Whisper Downs (5)

Race 5 - Unchain My Heart (4)

Race 6 - Hazard (3)

Race 7 - Mareeza (2)

Race 8 - Prince Of Penzance (4)


Hawkesbury

Race 1 - Lyric (10)

Race 2 - Zoustar (3)

Race 3 - Westchester (11)

Race 4 - Above All (7)

Race 5 - Dystopia (2)

Race 6 - Keith's Legacy (7)

Race 7 - Platinum Kingdom (2)

Race 8 - Deceiver (14)