2025 Hollindale Stakes Day Preview 

For the first time in three years, Hollindale Stakes Day returns to the Gold Coast this Saturday. 

The time-honoured G2 Hollindale Stakes will highlight a nine-race card that also includes the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic, G3 Gold Coast Guineas, the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet, Silk Stocking and ATC Trophy. 

The Annabel & Rob Archibald stable have a strong hand in this year’s Hollindale Stakes as they strive to win the feature for the fifth time in a row. 

Unfortunately, showers are forecast for the second meeting of the 2025 Queensland Racing Carnival but that won’t hold us back! 

We’ve done the hard work for you and provided our top selections in each race on Hollindale Stakes Day below.

Tough way to start Hollindale Stakes Day with a stayer’s race where they tend to mix their performances from one start to the next. 

Mistressofillusion (7) came north last start to try and get a breakthrough win and signaled she was close by running on strongly to finish 3.8 length third over 2400m at Eagle Farm. 

The Chris Waller-trained mare raced well at times prior to that in Sydney including a strong yet unlucky effort three starts back when despite being held up, she found the line well to finish a nose second over this distance at Wyong. 

She’ll appreciate the drop in class and Tommy Berry is a key booking. 

0.5 Units Each Way – Mistressofillusion (7) 

John Rambo (8) has come back this preparation an improved horse and is looking for his third win in a row. 

The Tony Gollan-trained gelding was well backed first-up over 1200m at Doomben where he settled worse than midfield before saving ground on the turn and letting down powerfully to comfortably win by just under a length. 

He then made a mockery of the opposition last start at Doomben when circling the field and putting them to the sword for a four-length win. 

He’ll strip fitter third-up and while he’s drawn a touch sticky, there’s plenty of speed in the race which will aid his cause. 

1 Unit – John Rambo (8)  

Floozie (11) has settled in well at Tony Gollan’s stable, winning both her starts since arriving from Victoria. 

The daughter of Zoustar is on the quick back-up after making a mess of her rivals last start over 1200m at Eagle Farm where she let down powerfully, clocking one of the fastest final 600m splits of the day, to win by 2.6 lengths eased down.  

While she has never won over 1400m, she did win over 1300m when resuming at Bendigo last preparation. 

The outside barrier is far from ideal but there does look to be a good deal of early speed which should see Angela Jones slide across and find a reasonable position. 

1 Unit – Floozie (11)   

Infancy (4) returned in impressive fashion last start with a win in the G2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick. 

The Kris Lees-trained mare settled back before unleashing a powerful finish to run past Commemorative and win by half a length. 

She’ll strip fitter and has won second-up over this distance in the past. 

James McDonald takes the ride and should be able to stalk the speed before letting launch in the straight. 

1 Unit Each Way – Infancy (4) 

Beadman (3) brings very good Sydney north for the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic for the two-year-olds. 

The Peter Snowden-trained Snitzel colt was never on the track on debut at Kembla Grange but still finished strongly to miss the win by a neck. 

He made up for it last start when leading over 1250m at Newcastle before giving his rivals the slip in the straight to win by 1.9 lengths. 

He’ll strip fitter third-up and maps to get a great run for James McDonald. 

2 Units – Beadman (3) 

Silver Wedding (16) looks like a much-improved filly this preparation compared to the one that finished 11^th by 3.1 lengths in the G3 Reginald Allen Quality. 

The Ciaron Maher-trained daughter of Zoustar produced an eye-catching performance first-up over 1100m at Canterbury where she settled back and then was held up before savaging the line once clear to win by 2.2 lengths. 

That was just a maiden but there was plenty of substance to the win and she’ll strip fitter second-up. 

There looks an abundance of speed in this year’s Gold Coast Guineas which suits. 

1 Unit Each Way – Silver Wedding (16)  

This is a quality edition of the G2 Hollindale Stakes with seven individual G1 winners. 

Buckaroo (2) never saw clear air when resuming with a 2.4 length ninth in the G1 George Ryder Stakes before getting chopped out late when finishing five lengths seventh in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. 

He was jumping from 1500m to 2000m so there was plenty of merit in his last start effort but I think he’ll prefer dropping back to 1800m third-up. 

Last preparation he bolted in by 3.5 lengths when winning the G1 Underwood Stakes over this distance third-up. 

James McDonald in the saddle is a positive as is any rain that may fall. 

2 Units – Buckaroo (2) 

Full Hao (9) is only lightly raced and looks like a real Queensland Oaks filly. 

The Chris Waller-trained daughter of Castelvecchio won with ease first-up over 1600m at Hawkesbury. 

She then settled a long way back over 1900m at Canterbury before picking up strongly in the final furlong to finish 1.6 lengths third. 

She’ll strip fitter third-up and has a beautiful, big loping action that eats up the ground. 

James McDonald retains the ride and will provide her with an economical run from barrier 2. 

1 Unit Each Way – Full Hao (9)  

Nettuno (1) faces the easiest opposition he has come across in some time and can bring us home with a win. 

The Tony Gollan-trained gelding worked home well in the inferior going to finish 2.5 lengths seventh in the Ascot Quality first-up. 

He’ll strip fitter second-up, won’t mind the rain-affected track and is a previous winner at the Gold Coast having won the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Handicap in 2022.  

Top jockey Blake Shinn takes the ride and if he can find a three-wide position with cover then he should be storming home. 

1 Unit – Nettuno (1)