The feature race on the Gold Coast this Saturday is the G2 Hollindale Stakes, a great launching pad for horses targeting some of the feature staying races over the up-coming Brisbane Winter Carnival. Sydney Trainer Chris Waller, who has enjoyed plenty of success in this race recently with My Kingdom Of Fife and Metal Bender winning 2011 and 2010 respectively, and running the closest of second last year with Foreteller, is back to enhance his record with two leading hopes in Junoob and Moriarty. Junoob is improving with each run whilst Moriarty is one of not many in the race that has performed well under WFA conditions in the past. Junoob heads to the betting at $2.50 and Moriarty at $6.00. Splitting the pair is Guy Walter’s mare Streama at $4.50. It will be the first time she has been beyond a mile since winning the ATC Oaks back in 2012 but from a good draw in a field with limited depth, rates a good chance.
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1. PRECENDENCE – G Colless (7)
The 8yo ever-green galloper will line up for his first run back from a spring campaign that netted him victories in the G2 Drake International and G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Big ask a race of this nature first up and his fresh record suggests not to expect anything from him however, he was given a solid hit-out over 1550m in a Cranbourne trial just over three weeks ago.
2. MORIARTY – C Newitt (3)
He has raced, and well, against the top grade this autumn and ran third (1.7 lengths) in the G1 Apollo Stakes to Appearance before a close up forth (2.6 lengths) in the G1 Chipping Norton behind stable-mate Boban and It’s A Dundeel. Only held is ground in muddling run Ranvet Stakes before struggling through the heavy conditions when fifth (2.5 lengths) in the G3 Neville Sellwood (2000m) to Junoob. Meets Junoob 1.5kgs better this time and unlike most here, is well credentialed under the WFA scale.
3. MILITARY MOVE – R McMahon (5)
New Zealander trainer Sean Ritchie cares for this 7yo who finished strongly off a six week break, with long neck second to Soriano in the G2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) a month ago. Form out of the race has been solid with winner running well in a G2 subsequently and third placed Nashville winning the G3 Canterbury Cup (2000m). His career stats indicate he’s at his best on top of the ground and despite coming into this, his first start in Australia, first up off seven weeks; he comes from an astute stable and should be respected.
4. FAT AL – C Munce (8)
Returned from a long spell with an excellent in the G3 Tab Rewards (1400m) and backed them that up with a strong in the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo on a slow track with a length win over Bel Thor. Peter Moody then travelled his 5yo to Sydney where he found the competition in G1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and G1 Doncaster Mile, far too strong running twelfth and fifteenth respectively. whilst a drier surface should assist him in producing an improved effort, he steps beyond a mile for the first time since his 3yo season and the WFA scale is also a query.
5. MR. O’CEIRIN – G Boss (11)
He won the G3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) last spring, two starts after claiming the Grafton Cup (2350m), before taking on the top grade in the Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup. He finished tenth and eleventh in those events respectively but on each occasion, only four lengths from the winner. Resumed of a twenty week spell a fortnight ago at Caulfield and not surprisingly, found the 1400m of the Victoria Handicap too sharp, finishing eleventh (8.5 lengths) behind the impressive Sistine Demon, who won by six. Will strip fitter for that run and holds a good record second up. Will have the Brisbane Cup as his main aim this campaign and will be better again for this run but capable of a cheeky run here too.
6. JUNOOB – N Rawiller (9)
The improving 6yo made it four wins from his last four starts with a tough effort in the G3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) on a heavy track a month ago. His start prior to that was a dominant 5 length win in the Listed Randwick Stakes (2000m) where he defeated Opinion and The Offer, the latter winning his next three starts including the G1 Sydney Cup. He was given a soft trial just over a week ago and whilst he steps up to WFA company here, it’s a field of limited depth and on his current form, should make the transition comfortably.
7. GREY ASSIGNMENT – L Cassidy (6)
The 7yo has had three starts for trainer Brian Smith after being transferred from Kelso Wood’s stable last year. As expected when resuming from a spell, the son of Refuse to Bend was well accounted for at his first two runs back in Open Company but despite stepping up in Grade at his next and most recent start, the Listed Member’s Quality (1600m), a little more was expected of him third up over a mile. From an inside gate he over-raced behind an average pace but was only moderate in the run home, finishing seventh of nine and over seven lengths from the winner. He has plenty of improvement to make.
8. FLYING HOME – J Byrne (10)
Barry Baldwin’s 5yo stepped out for the first time in seven weeks a fortnight ago when contesting the Listed Members Quality (1600m) at Eagle Farm. From a good draw, the son of Flying Spur settled midfield and was well position on the turn but was found a little wanting fresh and only held his spot in the run home, finishing fourth (3 lengths) behind the impressive Angel Of Mercy. Fitter for having had that run but likely to can’t see him turning the tables on Angle of Mercy let along worrying about others
9. ELMANTOSH – M Cahill (2)
A locally trained galloper from Bruce Hill’s yard who has had two runs back from a nineteen week spell with the most recent of them resulting in a seventh (2.4 lengths) behind Carmora last week at Eagle Farm. He got a long way back from a wide draw on a day when it was hard to make ground from such a position and his effort to finish as close has he did was commendable. Ran third at Listed level last prep but this is a big step up still on that run and his last start. He’ll find this tough.
10. STREAMA – B Shinn (4)
Form only reads fair this campaign but on closer examination, it may be better than it is. She had to give Catkins and subsequent Group 1 Steps In Time weight when first up in the G2 Breeders (1200m) before being caught wide in a field that was broken up chasing tear-away leader Rain Affair, where she finished sixth. Her next three starts, the G1 George Ryder, G1 Doncaster Handicap and Queen Of The Turf, have all been on slow or heavy tracks. She finished just behind the place-getters in the Ryder and Queen Of The Turf whilst she was one of many who didn’t handle the bog on Doncaster Day. A good draw, dry track, could see a significant improvement.
11. ANGEL OF MERCY – D Browne (1)
After having her first start this prep in Western Australia, the 5yo mare returned to Gerald Ryan’s stable with a third placing behind Catkins and Sharnee Rose in the G2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m). It was a good effort off a slow pace and on a heavy track and Ryan decided to, rather than run her on heavy again during the Sydney Carnival, to head to Queensland early in search of firmer tracks. She lined up as the short priced favourite in last fortnight’s Member’s Quality (1600m) and had punters worried as they turned, being second to last in a slowing run race however, the daughter of Hussonet wound up and strongly against a moderate field and in the end, won comfortably by a length. Steps up in class here and rises also a kilo but is a well performed mare in a race of limited depth.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Looks a race of limited chances. Junoob is an improving type and is following in the path of Foreteller who, after contesting this race and competing over the Winter carnival in 2012, blossomed into a top-liner that same spring. He’ll be hard to beat but opting to go with stable-mate Moriarty. Have to forgive him his last start on heavy and his form prior to that, in the top-shelf Group 1 races of the autumn, reads well for this. The two mare Stream and Angel Of Mercy to round out the placing with a very close watch on Mr. O’Ceirin who should figure in some of the staying races over the next few weeks.
- MORIARTY
- JUNOOB
- STREAMA
- ANGEL OF MERCY
