Matthew Hoysted is confident Canadian Dancer can step up and be competitive over 1800m in the $150,000 Gold Coast Bracelet on Saturday.
The three-year-old filly has built nicely for the Group 2 feature, winning her past two starts at Doomben ($130,000 Princess Stud Stakes over 1640m on a Heavy 8 on April 23) and Ipswich ($35,000 Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1350m on April 6).
“She’s a filly we’ve always had a lot of time for,” Hoysted told HorseBetting.com.au.
“She had a nice prep where she was able to win pretty impressively at Ipswich with Ben Thompson on (a $37,000 maiden over 1350m on February 2).
“And then she went to the mile at the Sunshine Coast and just got a little bit lost (third in a QTIS 3YO Handicap over 1600m on February 19). She had to go forward from a wide gate.
“She probably just lacked some race smarts to be able to put the field away. But we were able to give her a little freshen on the back of that, and we really saw improvement at Ipswich (on April 6).
“The turn of foot she showed there was exceptional. Being held up for as long as she was – as soon as she was exposed she really let rip.
“That was always what she possessed and she was able to show that in the Princess when she got a gun ride by Benny. That put her in the race.”
This is why Hoysted believes Canadian Dancer can step up to the 1800m journey on Saturday.
“We’ll go out an extra furlong on Saturday. She’s a filly who’s relaxing well in her races, so hopefully we can see her switch off again and she can show that same turn of foot she showed at her last start,” he said.
“She’s got to be in the finish. It’s no mean feat taking on the likes of Gypsy Goddess, but with a bit of rain forecast she ticked that box last start getting through that heavy track.
“She’s in good order, so I’m sure she’ll run a good race on Saturday.”
Hoysted will get a good indication of whether Canadian Dancer is ready for the Queensland Oaks (2200m) – at Eagle Farm on June 4 – after her performance on Saturday.
“She’s nominated for the Oaks. So whether she’s able to stretch out to an Oaks trip is probably still the little question,” he said.
“And we’ll be guided more on how strongly she finishes off over 1800 on the weekend.
“We’ve got races like The Roses (over 1800m at Doomben on May 21) and the Oaks that are possibilities, but we’ll just get through Saturday and sit down and work out a plan on the back of that.”
Hoysted is also expecting three-year-old filly Secret Tales to be competitive in the Bracelet following two wins on the Sunshine Coast – one in a QTIS 3YO Benchmark 65 Handicap (1600m) on April 24, the other in a Class 2 Handicap (1300m) on April 17, with both races worth $24,000.
“Secret Tales has been going well and we can’t fault her,” he said.
“She’s deserving of her chance. She probably just has to switch off to see out the 1800m strong.
“But from a good alley (barrier one) she can get covered up nice and early.
“She couldn’t have been any more impressive against inferior opposition in her past two starts.
“But the way she really put them away last start means she deserves her chance.
“She’s one who loves the wet, so if we get a real wet track she’ll definitely be one who could be fighting out the finish.”
Meanwhile, Hoysted has high hopes for Shooting For Gold in the $130,000 Australian Turf Club Trophy (1200m).
The four-year-old gelding ran second in the $130,000 Ascot Quality Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on April 16, and his trainer thinks he can go one better this time around with a bit of luck and suitable conditions.
“Shooting For Gold is coming off a really impressive first-up run where he had a bit of a chequered run up the straight,” he said.
“He had to change course a couple of times, but I was really happy with the way he attacked the line.
“He struggled a touch on that hot tempo over the 1000, so getting out to the 1200 really suits.
“The only little question-mark with him would be if we do cop a heap of rain on that track to get into the heavy range – that’s when we’d get into a bit of the unknown with him.
“Especially the fact that he’s never really been on a real heavy track, so that would be questionable.”
Stroll is another Hoysted/Steven O’Dea filly, who carries good form into the $150,000 Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m).
She finished third in the $125,000 Aquis Gold Pearl 2YO Fillies (1100m) on January 8, after winning a $24,000 maiden over 1000m on the Sunshine Coast on December 27.
“Stroll is a real promising filly. She’s come back in really good order. I’m really looking forward to her getting to 1200 first-up,” Hoysted said.
“I think she’ll only progress once she gets into a 1400m distance, or even stretch it out to the mile this prep.
“Everything she’s doing now is definitely a bonus. She’ll come back as a really smart three-year-old.”
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