Horse Racing

One of the major support events on the Tattersall’s Tiara Day race program at Eagle Farm this Saturday will be the WJ Healy Stakes 2012, the quality handicap clash having drawn just 15 early entries.

Lightning Handicap winner Griffon is nominated for the 2012 WJ Healy Stakes this weekend

In a bid to attract a larger number of acceptors for the $175,000 Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) this year, which has a capacity field of 17 starters plus five emergencies, Racing Queensland has extended nominations for the feature until Tuesday morning at 9:00am.

Of the original WJ Healy Stakes nominations the top rated hopeful is the Norm Hilton-trained Bold Glance, third to Sacred Choice in the 2011 Doncaster Mile.

The Sequalo six-year-old hasn’t raced since their disappointing ninth to Tierqualo in the Gold Coast Stakes in the wet back in mid March.

Gold Coast Stakes winner Tierqualo, who resumed with a sixth to Griffon in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on June 9, is also nominated for the WJ Healy.

Also coming via a run in the Lightning Handicap will be the winner Griffon from the local stables of Rob Heathcote, Gillian Heinrich’s third placed Audacious Spirit who won a 1200m Benchmark 90 at Doomben two back by three and a half lengths, and fourth placegetter Adebisi from the Eagle Farm stables of Desleigh Forster.

Other top rated entries include recent Chief De Beers winner Excellantes who ran fifth in the Lightning Handicap last time out, and the Kelso Wood-trained Doomben Dash winner Seek And Find.

Meanwhile a final decision on whether Chris Waller sends Lonhro gelding Tromso up to Queensland for the WJ Healy Stakes or if they stay on in New South Wales to contest Friday’s Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford will be made later in the week.

Tromoso, a first-up winner at Rosehill on May 26, needs a firm track at Eagle Farm to start in the Healy and Waller will be keeping a keen eye on the weather in Queensland with rain predicted for late in the week at Brisbane.

See below for the current WJ Healy Stakes 2012 nominations and stay tuned to Races.com.au for updates.

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2012 WJ Healy Stakes Nominations

Eagle Farm – 23/06/2012