Just Folk’s hopes of going one better in this year’s Hollindale Stakes hinge on the Gold Coast’s weather.
The eight-year-old was on Monday declared as one of 16 entries for the $500,000 Group 2, but trainer Gavin Bedggood said there would need to be a serious downpour for him to run in the 1800-metre event.
“He’s bounced out of his last run, he did some work on Saturday morning and the team was happy with him, but it’ll be either Saturday or Saturday week,” Bedggood said.
“The horses that are going there on Saturday, he needs heavy ground to be competitive with them, so if it’s not heavy he won’t run.”
Just Folk’s back-up option is the $200,000 Listed Bernborough Handicap over 1600m at Doomben on May 17.
The Bureau of Meteorology suggests the Gold Coast could have ‘a shower or two’ each day bar Wednesday, but the most rain expected on any particular day is up to 8mm on Friday.
Last year’s Hollindale Stakes was run on a Heavy 10 at the Sunshine Coast with Just Folk finishing a 1-1/2-length second to Numerian.
The highlight of his current campaign was a win in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) on April 1, which was followed by a 17th placing in the Doncaster Mile before a fifth placing under Noel Callow in the Brisbane Handicap (1600m) on April 26.
Just Folk won the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) the start before last year’s Hollindale Stakes, but Bedggood insists he is in as good a form as a year ago.
“I think he’s going as good as he ever has,” Bedgood said.
“I thought he was not ridden to suit last start, the jockey came in and admitted fault, so he definitely should have finished right amongst the money.
“I think he’s going every bit as good as he was 12 months ago.”
Just Folk is a $26 chance in Hollindale Stakes betting, which is headed by Chris Waller-trained pair Buckaroo ($3.50) and Lindermann ($4.50) with Antino, Eliyass, Fawkner Park and Bois D’Argent among the other entries.
