Few trainers get as emotional as Desleigh Forster after a big win but she will have a special reason to celebrate if Malvern Estate can win the Listed Goldmarket.
Malvern Estate and his stablemate Cannyescent give Forster a strong hand in Saturday’s 1200m Goldmarket Quality, the longest-running feature event at the Gold Coast.
Malvern Estate has won six times and been minor placed eight times from his 20 starts but Forster has been stymied in getting an open company win for him.
He has not won since February last year but has since been placed six times including a second in last year’s Goldmarket.
“He had the race won everywhere but the line when Raido grabbed him,” Forster said.
Malvern Estate is raced by Forster’s great supporter and close friend Basil Nolan who lost his son Basil Jr in a farming accident last year.
Forster dedicates many of her big wins to Basil Nolan Jr and will do so again on Saturday if either wins.
“I have had the Goldmarket in mind for both of them for some time and it looks a nice race for them,” she said.
The meeting features the Aquis Farm-sponsored 2YO Jewel and 3YO Jewel while the older horses also have the $125,000 Gold Coast Stakes (1800m) as a target.
Trainer Chris Waller will send out Xebec who is resident at his Gold Coast stable.
The gelding did his early racing in Ireland where he won three times before being sold to leading Australian owner Richard Pegum two years ago.
Xebec had solid form in Melbourne and Sydney without winning before Waller decided to send him north where he has not finished worse than fourth in seven starts including two Doomben wins.
Waller has 25 to 30 horses in his Queensland stables for much of the year and is firmly entrenched in the top five on the metropolitan trainers list.
Stable manager Paul Shailer said much of the success of the Queensland team could be put down to Waller’s ability to send up the right horses.
“The racing here is a small step below Sydney and Melbourne but you still need a horse that will be suited,” Shailer said.
Xebec has been very strong to the line at his two starts back from a spell with a fourth and then a third at Doomben.
“He has had two trials as well and he is getting out to his best distances on Saturday,” Shailer said.
Waller also has Jaminzah and Le Juge in the Gold Coast Stakes.
“They are both racing well at the moment and will be hard to beat,” Shailer said.
