Hollindale Stakes Sunshine Coast Previews Tips

Hollindale Stakes day at Sunshine Coast: feature races tips and previews

Hollindale Stakes - 1800m, Sunshine Coast R7

Half a million dollars is on the line in the Hollindale Stakes, and it has assembled a field of mostly fit and very much in-form horses. The weight-for-age conditions of the race do suit two horses in particular, but the rest of the field is evenly matched indeed.

Zaaki is the headline horse, and the standout selection. He announced himself to the Australian racing public in winning this race two years ago, and followed it up with a seven length romp in the Doomben Cup. Since then he’s picked up another three Group 1 wins, plus an All-Star Mile, been beaten just over a length in a Cox Plate, and in fact won this race last year as well.

Zaaki didn’t play a part in the Victoria carnival earlier this year, and only resumed in Sydney late in the piece, after trainer Annabel Neasham felt he wasn’t at his best in February and March. He put paid to any doubts about his form or fitness with a game second to Giga Kick in the All Aged Stakes, and is clearly the one to beat here.

Atishu, as a last start Group 1 winner, is the main and logical danger to the favourite. She has kept improving through her career and having won Group races over distances from 1400m-2000m, the 1800m of the Hollindale is right in her wheelhouse.

Atishu’s Queen of the Turf win was as effortless as it was dominant, and if she can creep into this race as she did that day, then she’ll give Zaaki something to think about when the whips are cracking in the run to the line.

You can throw a blanket over the rest of the field, in trying to come up with one or two to spring an upset.

Zeyrek had been flying, with two wins and a narrow second, before being thrown in the deep end against Dubai Honour and Anamoe in the Queen Elizabeth. He was far from disgraced there, but has been given time to recover and can run well accordingly.

Huetor proved his class in the Doomben Cup last year, and has been building up to his better form. He gets a nice weight swing against Diamil and Banker’s Choice, who both beat him home in the JRA Plate last time out.

Skyman has been in rock solid form for Chris Waller in recent times, while stablemate New Mandate might be ready to go on with things now after his Hawkesbury Cup win.

Selections: 1.Zaaki 2.Atishu 3.Zeyrek 4.Huetor

Cameron rose's Tip

ZAAKI

WIN

Tab A.D. Hollindale Stakes 06 May 17:00

1. Zaaki

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

Gold Coast Guineas - 1200m, Sunshine Coast R6

The Gold Coast Guineas is a typically open affair this year, with the Queenslanders being taken on by those venturing up north from down south.

Annabel Neasham is attacking the race in numbers, with three from her stable to be greeting the starter at the Sunshine Coast 1200m.

Lady Laguna is the key runner of her trio, having taken out the Mick Dittman Plate last start, defeating a number of rivals here. She had been in super form in Melbourne and Sydney, but just kept running into a couple better. Those races were at 1200m, a distance she is yet to win at, but her last start win was 1110m.

Swiss Exile was back in form when running second to Lady Laguna there, giving Neasham the quinella. Back in the spring she ran within four lengths of Giga Kick, which some might say is plenty good enough form for this race.

Fashion Legend and Yellow Brick have both won four of their last five races, with nothing between them when they clashed at the Magic Millions in January. Fashion Legend got the upper hand there, despite a more difficult run, but Yellow Brick was ridden midfield when he’d prefer to be setting the pace. Another intriguing clash awaits.

Spacewalk is forever in the market for James Cummings and Godolphin, but rarely breaking through, and is proving himself to be something of a peaheart at this stage in his career. He’s been in good races against good horses though, and is probably back a level here.

There is a case for Lubrication at good odds, after his fast finishing third in the Dittman behind Lady Laguna. 1200m suits him better, and you can also tie his form in favourably to Fashion Legend via a horse called Spill Da Beans. The in-form Nash Rawiller is a good booking.

Russian Conquest is another value runner that shouldn’t be overlooked. She needs a dry track, but has so rarely found one in her career. She has either won or finished within 0.4 of a length of the winner every time she has raced on the good. Don’t forget to check out our Stable Mail to get comments directly from Peter and Paul Snowden about her chances.

Selections: 1.Russian Conquest 2.Lubrication 3.Fashion Legend 4.Yellow Brick

Cameron rose's Tip