Trainer Rob Heathcote may give Hopfgarten another shot at Group 1 glory in the Stradbroke Handicap in June following the five-year-old’s brilliant comeback win in the Listed Ascot Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Hopfgarten, having his first start since Magic Millions day in January, stormed home for a dominant half length win over Worthy Cause with Jessy Belle, a further one length back third in the 1200-metre feature.
In a pre-race sensation, three of trainer Tony Gollan’s runners, Casual Choice, Frespanol and Whiskey Allround were late scratchings after their float taking them to the races crashed down an embankment on the Bruce Highway, 20 kilometres from the track.
Another Gollan runner, Jetsonic was also on the float and was scratched from the Listed Mick Dittman Plate.
The float driver and the horse’ strappers escaped serious injury while all four horses suffered only minor injuries.
Hopfgarten’s victory gave Heathcote a winning treble after earlier winning with Kaiser Franz in the Sunshine Coast Benchmark 75 Handicap (2200m) and Bewhatyouwannabe in the Listed Tails Stakes (1600m).
“I’ve got to give a lot of credit to my staff. We’ve had a very good day winning three races,” said Heathcote, who was in Hong Kong preparing Buffering for the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on May 1.
“It’s a great boost to the stable’s confidence with Buffering heading to the Chairman’s Sprint here in Hong Kong.
“I’ve always had a big opinion of Hopfgarten, that’s why I took him to Melbourne for the Toorak last year.
“I don’t think he’s far off being a Group 1 horse so I’m not going to discount the Stradbroke with him.
“It takes a good horse to win first-up with 58.5 kilograms against these sort of horses.”
Hopfgarten will have his next start in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on May 7 before the Group 3 BRC Darley Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 21.
Meanwhile trainer Stu Kendrick ended a frustrating day at the office when Divine Centuri won the Mick Dittman Plate (1000m).
Divine Centuri proved too classy for her rivals with a 1-1/2 length win over Sold For Song.
“She’s always shown a lot of potential and she’ll run next in the Gold Coast Guineas,” Kendrick said.
“I had her booked to go to Sydney a couple of runs ago but she drew a bad gate.
“She’ll be better over 1200 and 1400 metres.”
The Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) will be run on May 7.
– Racing Queensland
