Patinack Farm is one of the more consistent stables in Queensland, but they rarely feature heavily on a big raceday. That all changed on Saturday when the stable took out the opening three races on Hollindale Stakes Day at the Gold Coast. The most impressive of the trio was Boys On Tour, who sat wide without cover yet won easing down on the post for Jimmy Cassidy, who took the riding honours with the champion kiwi also bagging a treble.
The main race was the $300,000 GCTC A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m). Foreteller was one of the biggest goes of the afternoon, which was hard to argue against given the form of trainer and rider and the fact that the horse caught the eye in the Doncaster Prelude. However, it wasn’t to be with the star kiwi mare Shez Sinsational holding on for a cliffhanger win over Lights Of Heaven. Mawingo and Foreteller were game in defeat, Triple Honour was given every chance by Browne but probably just lacks the quality to win another big race while the old boy Scenic Shot is going to be awfully hard to beat in the Doomben Cup. He was fantastic.
After severing ties with Patinack Farm, Tim Bell knuckled down and lifted home underrated galloper Celtic Dancer to a gutsy win in the $175,000 Carlton Draught Prime Ministers Cup (1300m). He looked beat a hundred times up the straight but fought off all challengers, including the best backed runner, Mid Summer Music, for the Moody/Nolen combination.
The Queensland Oaks picture began to be seen when the Chris Waller trainer Scorpio Queen, aided by a 10/10 Jimmy Cassidy ride, fended them all off for a narrow win in the $125,000 H Harvey Prestige Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m). The eye catcher from the race was from New Zealand Oaks winner Miss Artistic, who was fresh and will strip much fitter thanks to the run.
Peter Snowden had a dreadful day at Hawkesbury, but he had some compensation when Mascareri was too good for her rivals in the $150,000 Attwood Marshall Gold Coast Silk Stocking (1200m). She could be the shining light for the stable in Brisbane over the Carnival because she was particularly impressive.
But the highlight of the afternoon would’ve had to been Sizzling and his awesome return to racing in the Moreton Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m). Queenslands best two-year-old wasn’t the best away and was very lazy in the early parts of the race, but as the event went on, he got better and won with plenty in reserve. A group one win is in store for trainer Kelso Wood and connections.
Race One: Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation Handicap 2200m Results
FORGIVE:
Freuhling missed the kick, got a heavy check before the first turn and just could not get the right run. Keep backing up on him.
FORGET:
Za Magic was very disappointing after getting a soft lead. Should have given more but was a spent force a fair way from home.
FOLLOW:
Streets Away was only third up here and his run was good under the circumstances because the sit/sprint scenario doesn’t really suit him. He’ll pick up a race or two this campaign.
Race Two: Green Guide Handicap (C6) 1400m Results
FORGIVE:
Kiss Me Deadly was a litte unlucky, being caught deep throughout. In saying that, the winner was wider than her yet won with ease.
FORGET:
Thefifthhole went terribly. I tipped he may struggle, but not as bad as that.
FOLLOW:
Boys On Tour is one of the most improved horses in Queensland. Sat four and five wide with no cover, but he won with just sheer auhority. Follow him with confidence.
Race Three: Surfers Paradise RSL Handicap (90) 1200m Results
FORGIVE:
Rocker is talented, but he just cannot show his best in the wet ground. He still ran well, but he’ll be better when the weather clears, if it clears.
FORGET:
All of the big guns in the race ran well, apart from Mr Orient, but he had a very tough run.
FOLLOW:
If the wet tracks stay around during the carnival, then Demanding Miss is the one to follow. She is a duck who excels in those conditions.
Race Four: Moreton Ken Russell Memorial Classic 1200m Results
FORGIVE:
They all had their chance to beat the favourite. He just had too much class.
FORGET:
Sizzling and Dances On Stars were the two clear best horses in the race, so it’s hard to put a line through any of the others because they are an even bunch.
FOLLOW:
Sizzling was ordinary out of the gates, could not go a yard early, but once he got his mind on the job, gee he put them away. Exciting prospect.
Race Five: Attwood Marshall Gold Coast Silk Stocking 1200m Results
FORGIVE:
There were no hard luck stories in this race. Winner was too good.
FORGET:
Have no idea what happened to Alltherightmoves. Her first up run was super and was confidently backed. She did nothing here.
FOLLOW:
Mascareri was perfectly placed here and was given the perfect ride by Browne to win. That is her grade and if placed right again, she’ll win again.
Race Six: H Harvey Prestige Gold Coast Bracelet 1800m Results
FORGIVE:
Miss Artistic was first up since her Oaks triumph six weeks ago. Her run was outstanding and is the filly to beat for the Queensland Oaks.
FORGET:
The money suggested that Pretty Pins was the filly to beat here, but she was off the bit at the 800m and went backwards after that. Not up to this standard for me, based on what I saw here.
FOLLOW:
If the weather turns for the better, then Urban Rocker could be a filly to watch out for. Travelled beautifully in the run, loomed up to go straight past them at the 400m, but when she was asked for the effort, she grinded away, suggesting she could be better on top of the ground and over further.
Race Seven: Carlton Draught Prime Minister’s Cup 1300m Results
FORGIVE:
A combination of a big weight and a wet track worked against Phelan Ready here. He is flying at the moment and deserves to win another race. Hopefully it comes sooner rather than later.
FORGET:
Fillydelphia on wet tracks. She can’t go a yard in these conditions today and best just forgive and forget she went around.
FOLLOW:
Parables got a mile back and never was going to win, but she hit the line nicely. Definite mare to follow as we head to the better races.
Race Eight: GCTC A.D. Hollindale Stakes 1800m Results
FORGIVE:
Foreteller pulled his head off in the run, went to the car park on the home turn and never quite handled the conditions. Triple Honour was ridden superbly by Browne, but he just couldn’t match it with the big guns late.
FORGET:
Bad signs for Wall Street. He put the white flag up very quickly. He is starting to become a cat.
FOLLOW:
Shez Sinsational was wide all the way, had every right to be beaten, but she showed her class and toughness with a determined win. She’ll be fitter and would have to be the favourite for the Doomben Cup now.
Race Nine: Roger Hawke Gold Coast Guineas 1200m Results
FORGIVE:
They all had their chance. Full credit to Schofield for a good ride. That won Florentina the race.
FORGET:
Easy Running was gone 800m out. Something had to be amiss with him because we all know he is much better than that.
FOLLOW:
Double Impact got a long way back and had to go to the inside, which was quicksand like. His effort to finish third was very good.
