Markets have Buckaroo as the top pick of Chris Waller’s quartet of Hollindale Stakes runners but the trainer isn’t sure it is so clear-cut.
The champion horseman will also be represented by Lindermann, Militarize and Kovalica in Saturday’s Group 2 contest at the Gold Coast and believes all are genuine contenders.
“If we just had one runner in the race, I’d be talking up their chances of winning the race,” Waller said.
“They’re just happy boys. Give them a trip away and it’s like a holiday for them, a change of scenery.”
Lindermann and Buckaroo boast Via Sistina formlines, finishing fourth and seventh respectively to the star mare in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) last month.
The pair will both have to overcome wide draws, although with James McDonald (Buckaroo) and Nash Rawiller (Lindermann) engaged, Waller isn’t overly perturbed.
“They’ve got good jockeys on now so it’s their problem, not mine,” he said.
“The horses are both very well. They’re thriving up there. Buckaroo is third-up and ready to peak and Lindermann has been running against the right horses. He goes forward anyway so the barrier isn’t a huge concern.
“We’ve got Kovalica as well. He’s coming off a similar prep to Buckaroo, he is third-up with this race and the Doomben Cup in mind.”
Kovalica is coming off an unplaced effort in the Doncaster Mile (1600m), as is Militarize with both horses given a subsequent barrier trial to keep their fitness up to the mark.
The latter has been gradually working back to form following a failed stint at stud and Waller saw a lot of positives in his Doncaster run where he finished just over a length from winner Stefi Magnetica.
“It showed us he is close to finding peak form and he didn’t get a lot of luck that day,” Waller said of Militarize.
“He needed the first two runs. We hadn’t seen it at home, his attitude had been great, but I just think he’d had a long time off and like a footy player, they need a bit of seasoning.”‘
“The plan is to run all four of them in the Doomben Cup and they will be joined by Osipenko, who ran well the other day at Hawkesbury.”
Pre-post markets have Buckaroo as a $3.20 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) favourite, ahead of Lindermann ($5) with Militarize ($14) and Kovalica ($19) at double-figure quotes.
