It’s early days but Patinack Farm’s Metallurgical and Toowoomba’s Carry Me Bluey showed they were serious winter carnival contenders after they ran the quinella in the Listed Hinkler Handicap at Eagle Farm.
In a thrilling four-way finish, Metallurgical ($5) edged out Carry Me Bluey ($5) by a long head in Saturday’s 1200-metre feature.
Gundy Son ($10) finished third, only a nose away.
Patinack Farm’s Gold Coast foreman Brett Killion declared the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June would be Metallurgical’s main target following the five-year-old’s determined victory.
“He’ll be aimed for all the big races including the Stradbroke,” Killion said.
“It was his first run since the Newmarket in Melbourne last month and he felt the pinch in the last 50 metres but he’s got class.
“He loved racing here last winter.”
Metallurgical was outclassed at his past two starts in Melbourne during the autumn when he failed behind Black Caviar in the Group One Lightning Handicap and Hay List in the Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
“However, he was very lucky when he was held up for a run when fourth to Sister Madly in the (Group Two) Salinger in the spring,” Killion said.
Trainer Norm Hilton felt Carry Me Bluey, who was having his first run since finishing fourth in the Listed Bernborough Handicap at Doomben in December, was unlucky not to win.
“Had he got a clear run he probably should have won,” Hilton said.
“He’ll have his next run in the Prime Minister’s Cup, then the BRC Sprint and the Stradbroke will be his fourth run in.”
Meanwhile, trainer Desleigh Forster looks set for a big winter carnival following Easy Running’s successful comeback in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate.
Easy Running ($3.80) overcame serious trouble halfway down the straight when a run closed before getting up in the last bound for a short half-head win over Sydney visitor Didntcostalot ($4) with Saraji ($3.70 fav) a long neck away, third.
Forster won last week’s Listed Bribie Handicap with Adebisi and has set her stable star on a path to next month’s Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben following next Saturday’s Group Two Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Easy Running is being aimed at the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on May 5 and Group Three Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on May 19 before the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 2.
“I didn’t think he got the photo but (jockey) Damian Browne is very cool in those situations,” Forster said.
“Had he lost he would have been a good thing beaten.”
