Normally the Queensland Racing Carnival would be heading to the Gold Coast this Saturday for Hollindale Stakes Day but with their track undergoing renovations, the meeting has been transferred to the Sunshine Coast and dubbed the Coast To Coast Raceday.
The time-honoured Group 2 Hollindale Stakes will highlight a nine-race card that also includes the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic, the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet, Silk Stocking, Gold Coast Guineas and ATC Trophy.
We’ve done the hard work for you and provided our top selections in each race below!
Race 1 - 1:08pm AEST
BAT OUT OF HELL (850 METRES)
Goldsborough (4) resumes here without a public trial for local trainer Gary Duncan. The Headwater gelding races well fresh having won twice and placed second twice from five first-up runs.
Last preparation he gave a good sight first-up in the Swiss Plate here over 1000m when finishing fourth by less than a length to Le Palmier who he meets better at the weights here.
He’ll appreciate racing on his home track and from the inside gate, should get a beautiful run for Nikita Beriman.
1 Unit Each Way – Goldsborough (4)
Race 2 - 1:43pm AEDT
BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (2400 METRES)
Al Aabir (3) has taken to racing in Queensland well since joining Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable.
The Sea The Stars gelding won his first two starts in the Sunshine State before boxing on well for second behind Kalapour over 1850m at Eagle Farm. That horse went within a whisker of winning last Saturday.
He looks like he is looking for further and he gets that here. He’s drawn a touch awkwardly but gets champion jockey James McDonald in the saddle.
1 Unit – Al Aabir (3)
Race 3 - 2:18pm AEST
LISTED GOLD COAST BRACELET (1800 METRES)
Street Gossip (4) is a filly on an upward trajectory. The Mark Newnham-trained daughter of So You Think won a Wyong Class 1 comfortably two starts back.
She then ventured north to Brisbane last start and settled handy in the Listed Princess Stakes before sprinting strongly to easily win by 1.52 lengths.
Tom Sherry will have every opportunity to give her the run of the race from barrier 3. She’s bred to stay so the rise to 1800m will be to her liking.
2 Units – Street Gossip (4)
Race 4 - 2:53pm AEST
GROUP 3 KEN RUSSELL MEMORIAL CLASSIC (1200 METRES)
Influential (10) was strong through the line when finishing second on debut at Warwick Farm over 1200m. The winner, General Salute, had run well for third behind Red Resistance and Steel City at its previous start so that form is strong.
The Chris Waller-trained The Autumn Sun colt will have taken benefit from the experience and will strip fitter second-up. There looks to be plenty of speed in the race which will help his cause. James McDonald rides.
1 Unit – Influential (10)
Race 5 - 3:33pm AEST
QTIS Three-Year-Old BENCHMARK 72 Handicap (1000 METRES)
Tycoon Evie (1) was unlucky not to win when resuming in the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality at Randwick. She looked like she was going to run by them but copped a check at the furlong and had to settle for a nose second.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained daughter of Written Tycoon again was bumped last start when finishing a close fourth in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown.
She looks ready to peak and has won three of five third-up races. James McDonald should be able to settle in a prominent position.
2 Units – Tycoon Evie (1)
Race 6 - 4:13pm AEST
GROUP 3 GOLD COAST GUINEAS (1200 METRES)
Yellow Brick (2) returns to racing for the first time after his close second to Fashion Legend in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
The Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained son of The Mission looked good winning a recent Doomben trial. He’ll be ready to fire fresh and has won two of three first-up races.
The three-year-old is bomb proof, having won five of seven starts and placing in the other two. He’ll go forward for Ben Thompson and in a race with limited speed, could prove hard to catch.
2 Units – Yellow Brick (2)
Race 7 - 5:00pm AEST
GROUP 2 A.D. HOLLINDALE STAKES (1800 METRES)
Zaaki (1) returns to Queensland looking to win his third Hollindale Stakes title in a row. He may be eight years old now but he’s showing no sign of slowing down.
The Annabel Neasham-trained gelding resumed in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes and while Giga Kick had his measure, he ran a great race to finish second. His credentials are well documented, and he clearly brings the highest handicapper rating to the race.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and will appreciate the rise to 1800m which is a distance he’s won four of six starts over. James McDonald will go forward and should be hard to get past in the run home.
2 Units – Zaaki (1)
Race 8 - 5:35pm AEST
LISTED AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB TROPHY (1200 METRES)
Palaisipan (2) was very good when resuming in the Group 3 Birthday Card at Rosehill. The Chris Munce-trained mare found the line well for 1.51 length fourth.
The daughter of So You Think has been given a freshen-up since the March run but will carry residual fitness. She looked good in a recent trial where she cruised to the line behind King Kapa who ran quick time.
She’s a classy mare that has placed several times at Group 2 level. Josh Parr takes the ride and will give her every opportunity to find the line strong.
1 Unit Each Way – Palaisipan (2)
Race 9 - 6:10pm AEST
BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Aussie Nugget (3) looked good in his return to racing last start over 1350m at Doomben. The Tony Gollan-trained seven-year-old was taken back from the wide gate but found the line powerfully to finish just under two lengths behind stablemate Tilianam.
The Dansili gelding will appreciate the rise to 1600m and did run a nice race over the course and distance when finishing second in the Mooloolaba Cup last preparation.
A solid tempo will suit and he’ll have come on since that first-up run. Angela Jones’ 1.5kg is a plus.
1 Unit Each Way – Aussie Nugget (3)