Last Saturday, we saw the running of the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville, as well as the Group 2 A.D. Hollidale Stakes and Group 2 Gold Coast Guineas at the Sunshine Coast, due to the Gold Coast Turf Club being renovated. Meanwhile Gosford hosted The Coast Race Day, which was highlighted by the $500,000 The Coast and Listed Gosford Gold Cup. The Queensland Racing Carnival is just heating up, with Doomben 10,000 Day coming up this weekend, while the South Australian Racing Carnival has had two of their Group 1 days run and won, with two more to come over the next fortnight.
Below you will find three runners that we will be following at their next start after producing good runs at the Sunshine Coast, Morphettville and Gosford last Saturday.
Sunshine Coast – A.D. Hollindale Stakes Day
Track rating: Good 4
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 5: Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) | Time: 1:11.24
- Horse to follow: Influential (5th)
The feature two-year-old race at the Sunshine Coast was the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic over 1200m, where the race favourite and Chris Waller-trained Influential missed the start by about two lengths, and ultimately ended his chances of winning in the first 100m. James McDonald rode this gelding on debut and rode him again last Saturday, but as soon as he missed the kick, the race quickly turned into a paid barrier trial. This son of The Autumn Sun was very good on debut, when he made very good ground on the inside to finish second behind General Salute at Warwick Farm, and that’s the form we are going to use to follow him into his next start.
When to bet: Chris Waller has nominated his colt in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m on May 27 and the J.J. Atkins over 1600m on June 10, with both races to be run at Eagle Farm. Due to Influential not winning at his first two starts, it would seem as though he would have to go to the Sires’ Produce and either win or finish high enough to gain a spot in the J.J. Atkins two weeks’ later.
Morphettville – Robert Sangster Stakes Day
Track rating: Soft 6
Rail position: +3m entire circuit
Race 2: Open Handicap (1600m) | Time: 1:38.68
- Horse to follow: Conqueror (1st)
Ben & JD Hayes brought their six-year-old gelding Conqueror from Hong Kong back to Australia earlier this year, and since he has been back on Australian soil, he has been thriving. This son of Fastnet Rock took two runs to get to peak fitness and he ran second at Pakenham over 1400m, before failing at Sandown on a wet track. However, since going across the border to South Australia, he has won his last two starts over 1550m and 1600m at Morphettville, and only looks to be improving the further he goes in his races.
When to bet: Ben & JD Hayes haven’t nominated this gelding for any upcoming races yet, but if they keep him in Adelaide and they keep him at 1600m, we will be following him and backing him in to bring up a hattrick of wins.
Gosford – The Coast Race Day
Track rating: Soft 5
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 8: The Coast (1600m) | Time: 1:36.49
- Horse to follow: Military Expert (3rd)
The Annabel Neasham-trained Military Expert has been good without winning this preparation, finishing 10th and third at his two starts back, with his last start run in The Coast indicating that he is ready to win next start. This four-year-old son of Redoute’s Choice has placed in some very nice races, including the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and Group 3 Sandown Stakes at Caulfield during the spring last preparation. If Military Expert goes to a Listed or Group race at his next start, we will see his weight drop and he will be at peak fitness, which should be the perfect recipe for a much-needed race win.
When to bet: Neasham and her team have nominated Military Expert for the BTC Cup and Stradbroke Handicap later in the Queensland Racing Carnival, but she also has him nominated in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes over 1300m at Scone and the Listed Members’ Handicap at Doomben over 1600m. If Neasham chooses to back him up after seven days and goes to Doomben, we will be following him, where he will get into the race with 57kg and will race at 1600m again.
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