It’s Hollindale Stakes day at the Gold Coast this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with fine weather forecast for the Gold Coast over the next couple of days, the meeting is likely to be held on a Good track.
The Matthew Dunn-trained Diamond Fund looks the testing material in the Silk Stocking (Gold Coast Race 4, 1200m). The 4YO mare has been very much in-form winning four times & a 2nd placing in her last six starts. His last start 2nd at this track over 1400m was a good effort and back to 1200m after a six week break is ideal. From barrier 8, Ryan Wiggins will take Diamond Fund forward and sit outside the leader and she’s at pretty good value at $6.50 fixed odds..
Top weight Ninth Legion is the class horse in the Prime Minister’s Cup (Gold Coast Race 5, 1400m). The Team Hawkes-trained gelding failed last start in the Doncaster Mile on a rain-affected track, but he did perform well against the Autumn ‘form horse’ Contributer early this preparation. Though he’s been allotted 60.5kg, Ninth Legion is a class above this field. Blake Shinn will drive Ninth Legion to the lead from barrier 11 and he’ll be the horse they all have to catch.
Gai’s filly Regatta Rebel looks hard to beat in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (Gold Coast Race 6, 1200m). She ran a close 2nd in her debut in the Kindergarten Stakes to Godolphin’s good colt Furnaces (who himself was beaten only 2 lengths in the Golden Slipper). Regatta Rebel showed her toughness for picking back on Furnaces after being headed by him at the 200m. From barrier 4 on Saturday, Shinn will take Regatta Rebel straight to the lead and she’ll be hard to catch.
A lot of horses are having their final lead-up run for the Group 1 Doomben Cup in Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes (Gold Coast Race 8, 1800m). The Waller-trained Moriarty put in a fair effort 1st up in the George Ryder Stakes five weeks ago. Waller has kept the 7YO to the mark by trialling him 2 weeks ago over 1044m at Randwick. Stepping up to 1800m 2nd up suits him well as he was a Group 1 WFA winner over this trip in the Kingston Town Stakes. Currently at $9.00 in the fixed odds market, Moriarty is a good value bet.
By Owens Wong, Editor
