John Thompson’s last start winning Sydney raider Tremec will shoot for a Chairman’s Handicap 2015 double when he backs off from a victory in the ATC edition this weekend on the Gold Coast.

ATC Chairman’s Handicap winner Tremec is nominated for the Gold Coast’s 2015 Chairman’s Handicap this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Zabeel six-year-old was last seen winning the Group 2 ATC Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) on a Heavy (8) Randwick track on April 6, and is now one of 15 stayers nominated for the $125,000 Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2200m) at the Gold Coast in Queensland on Saturday.

His last start win was his first victory since success in the same race two years previously, and now the drought has broken Thompson hopes Tremec can win again this time in Queensland on AD Hollindale Stakes Day.

Also nominated for Queensland’s Chairman’s Handicap and coming out of the Sydney showdown is the Peter Moody-trained Sir Percy gelding Sir John Hawkwood, another six-year-old who finished one and a quarter lengths away second to Tremec.

Improving on sixth in the Canberra Cup the run before when stepped up 600m in distance, Sir John Hawkwood has won five of his 16 starts to date and has winning form up to a mile and a half.

The bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au are sure to support the form coming out of the ATC Chairman’s Handicap this weekend after the race produced the Chris Waller-trained Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner Grand Marshal who ran third to Tremec.

Waller meanwhile kicks off a strong assault on the Queensland winter riches this Saturday with a host of his Brisbane-bound gallopers nominated across the Gold Coast race card including two in the Chairman’s who are likely to target the $300,000 Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Doomben on Stradbroke Handicap Day, June 6.

Index Linked comes off a fifth to Gypsy Diamond in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick last Saturday, a race Waller’s other Chairman’s entry Our Voodoo Prince finished eighth in on the back of a second to Pornichet in the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).

Also from Sydney and coming out of the Chairman’s there at the start of the month is the David Payne-trained Honorius (6^th) while Moody also prepares Wish Come True who was runner-up to Index Linked in the Yarra Valley Gold Cup two back before a Mornington Cup fourth to Banca Mo over 2400m on March 28.

Other notable Chairman’s Handicap hopefuls include Sandown Classic runner-up from the spring Epingle, German-bred mare Oriental Lady and Toby Edmonds’ local mare Monaco Doll coming off a Doomben win over 2220m last Saturday.

Another last start 2220m winner at Doomben nominated for the Chairman’s this weekend is nicely-bred Lonhro gelding Perplexity prepared by former champion Queensland hoop Chris Munce.

Check out the full Chairman’s Handicap 2015 nominations below then visit Ladbrokes.com.au to sign-up with the country’s premier online bookmaker who will be offering the hottest late autumn – winter racing markets and promos over the coming weeks!

2015 Chairman’s Handicap Nominations

Gold Coast Racecourse – 25/04/2015