Gold Coast Black-type Preview

6 min read

While Adelaide takes top billing this weekend, the Queensland winter carnival also goes up a notch with six black-type races on the Gold Coast. The feature is the Hollindale S., which will put a number of horses’ G1 Doomben Cup prospects to the test.

Last-start Group 1 winner heads Hollindale

Aquis Park Gold Coast, G2 TAB A.D. Hollindale S., $500,000, 1800m

The favourite is Kenedna (Not a Single Doubt), who scored the biggest win of her career last start in the G1 Coolmore Legacy S. at Randwick. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained mare has made an impact at the Queensland carnival before, winning the G2 Roses as a three-year-old.

But she will have to beat an army of Chris Waller mares, headed by multiple Group 1 winner Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel) and last year’s G1 Queensland Oaks and G2 Roses winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}).

Another Waller runner, Mister Sea Wolf (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}), was a last-start winner of the G3 Doncaster Prelude.

Boom colt towers over Guineas field

Aquis Park Gold Coast, G3 Brandons Gold Coast Guineas, $140,000, 1200m

This year’s Guineas field has a commanding $1.50 favourite in the form of Zoustyle (Zoustar), who has had five starts for five wins.

The Tony Gollan-trained runner won by five lengths on debut at Doomben last June, then by three and a quarter lengths at the Sunshine Coast and by two lengths at Doomben.

Another comfortable Doomben victory followed in early December, and then Zoustyle stepped up to stakes level and won the Listed Gold Edition Plate.

Zoustyle winning the Listed Gold Edition Plate

Zoustyle’s fiercest rival may be Boomsara (Spirit of Boom), who has already been beaten twice by the favourite, but produced a career-best effort in his last start to win the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at this track.

Dubious back in class

Aquis Park Gold Coast, G3 TAB Ken Russell Memorial Classic, $140,000, 1200m

Exciting 2-year-old Dubious (Not a Single Doubt) gets the chance to bounce back following the first failure of his career.

Dubious winning the G3 Breeders' Plate

The winner of the G3 Breeders’ Plate on debut, Dubious placed in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic over this course and distance in January. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, he placed again in the G2 Todman S., then finished 10th as he struggled in the heavy ground in the G1 Golden Slipper.

Chris Waller also has a strong chance with Accession (Brazen Beau), who has won twice and was second to Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}) in the Inglis Millennium.

Outback Barbie returns to lucrative venue

Aquis Park Gold Coast, Listed Attwood Marshall Lawyers Silk Stocking, $150,000, 1200m

The Gold Coast has been a rewarding venue for talented Queenslander Outback Barbie (Spirit of Boom).

Trained by Tony Gollan, the filly has had two starts at the venue for two placings. The first of those was a third placing in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January 2018, and she returned to the same meeting earlier this year to record another placing in the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

The second favourite is the Chris Waller-trained Sexy Eyes (Written Tycoon), who carries the colours of legendary mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) and has won black-type races in her last two starts.

Freddie Fox Trot hard to beat

Aquis Park Gold Coast, Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy, $125,000, 1400m

Local galloper Freddie Fox Trot (Foxwedge) has put together a strong record on his home track, and he is favoured to further enhance it with a black-type win.

Trained by Les Kelly, Freddie Fox Trot has won three of his five starts on his home track. The only defeats were at stakes level – fifth in last year’s G3 Gold Coast Guineas, and a close third in the Listed Goldmarket in March.

Godolphin will be represented by Duca Valentinois (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who has been competitive in strong company earlier in the season, headed by a third in the G2 Crystal Mile on Cox Plate day.

Waller tests Oaks prospects

Aquis Park Gold Coast, Listed Johnnie Walker Gold Coast Bracelet, $125,000, 1800m

Chris Waller has won the G1 Queensland Oaks in three of the last four years, and he will line up three fillies in this traditional lead-up race.

Word For Word (So You Think {NZ}) has the best credentials, having won or placed in all of her five appearances to date. She was a last-start second in the Listed Princess S. on the Sunshine Coast.

Re Edit (Camelot {GB}) has won two of her four starts, while Tatcee (Foxwedge) is the most experienced of the trio with 15 starts for three wins.

Kiwi filly Intrigue (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) is aptly named as she makes her Australian debut in this event. Trainer Tony Pike and owners Mark Wyborn and Robin Peel-Walker won the Queensland Oaks in 2016 with Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Intrigue was a last-start placegetter in the G2 Championship S.

Kiwi Ida shoots for third stakes win

Riccarton Park, Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes, $50,000, 1400m

Bought for just $4,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) has been an outstanding performer. She has won nine races, two at stakes level, with more than $240,000 in prize-money for owner-trainers John and Karen Parsons.

Both of her stakes wins have come at Riccarton, in the G3 Canterbury Breeders’ S. and Listed Canterbury Belle S., and she was a last-start winner at Riverton.

Disturbance (NZ) (Thewayyouare {USA}) and He Kin Fly (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) also bring solid form into the race.

Wandjina 2YO up class

Riccarton Park, Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes, $50,000, 1200m

Following a stylish debut win at Otaki last month, Light Up (NZ) will attempt to deliver a first stakes winner for his sire – the G1 Australian Guineas-winning first season stallion Wandjina (Snitzel).

All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) has shown plenty of talent in winning two of her four starts so far, while He’s Got Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) is a last-start winner.

Respect Marsh runners

Te Rapa, Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes, $50,000, 1100m

Since it was moved from December to May in 2015, this two-year-old feature has been completely dominated by Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh. He has won it four years in a row with No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}), Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice) and Santa Catarina (NZ) (Savabeel).

He will be represented this time by last-start winner Bronte Beach (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB), debut fourth placegetter Acting Up (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and the first-starter Scorpz (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).

G3 Eclipse S. winner Whiskey Neat (Denman) and G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. placegetter Rainbow Dash (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) bring the strongest black-type form into the race.