A host of Doomben Cup-bound gallopers make up the AD Hollindale Stakes 2017 nominations for the traditional weight-for-age lead-up running at the Gold Coast this Saturday in Queensland.
It’s Somewhat heads towards the Doomben Cup via an A.D. Hollindale Stakes 2017 run at the Gold Coast this Saturday in Queensland. Photo: Steve Hart.
Headlining the Gold Coast racing action on the weekend as the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival kicks off, this season’s $358,000 Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) has attracted 18 gallopers.
The bulk of AD Hollindale Stakes hopefuls are heading towards a Brisbane run on May 20 in the $650,000 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), a double last achieved by Streama (2014).
Pre-field Doomben Cup betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au currently have Articus and It’s Somewhat installed as the equal $7 favourites, both horses nominated for an early Hollindale Stakes clash this weekend.
Darren Weir prepares French import Articus who has had two failed runs down under.
The first saw the Areion stallion finish 13th to Jameka in last October’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) before a first-up 13th to Hooked in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) in mid-April.
The five-year-old is tipped to improve at weight-for-age over the winter getting out around his pet distance of 2000m and is undefeated second-up (2-2-0-0) heading into the Gold Coast Group 2 on Saturday.
It’s Somewhat is prepared by John O’Shea and chases a third win on the trot after a successful Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival bid.
His latest effort saw the Dynaformer six-year-old score an upset win as a $31 roughie at Randwick on April 1 in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
It’s Somewhat has won a subsequent Warwick Farm trial ahead of the Hollindale Stakes that puts him at the Gold Coast for the first time since his fifth to Leebaz in last year’s edition of the race.
After that the Godolphin-raced galloper went on to place third behind Our Ivanhowe in last winter’s Doomben Cup, an effort he is out to go two better than in 2017.
The other best in the futures Doomben Cup odds entered for the AD Hollindale Stakes this year are the Chris Waller-trained McCreery ($11) and the Kris Lees-trained Sense Of Occasion ($11).
Big Bad Bob gelding McCreery chases his first win since the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) first-up at Randwick in late February.
After a Doncaster Mile sixth, the import ran under two lengths back fourth to Tivaci in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) on April 15 and will appreciate the extra metres on the weekend if accepted.
Waller has also nominated for Preferment, the multiple Group 1 winning Zabeel stallion out to break a notable drought going back to his The BMW win in March of 2016.
Sense Of Occasion meanwhile is a six-year-old son of Street Sense whose last two runs produced brave thirds in Group 1 company.
The first was behind It’s Somewhat in the Doncaster Mile as a $61 roughie before he ran in the money behind superstar mare Winx as a $101 outsider in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 8.
See below for the full A.D. Hollindale Stakes 2017 nominations, the field out on Wednesday followed by updated odds on the Gold Coast feature at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 A.D. Hollindale Stakes Nominations
Gold Coast Racecourse – 06/05/2017
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x31215x0x0 | ARTICUS (FR) | H | 5 | Darren Weir | 103 |
| 2 | x540417x12 | COL ’N’ LIL | M | 5 | Ben Currie | 98 |
| 3 | 290×121171 | CYLINDER BEACH (NZ) | G | 4 | Desleigh Forster | 105 |
| 4 | 53x4313x11 | IT’S SOMEWHAT (USA) | G | 6 | John O’Shea | – |
| 5 | 0223x30x14 | JUMBO PRINCE | H | 5 | Michael Nolan | 100 |
| 6 | 15159028×3 | MAURUS (GB) | G | 6 | John P Thompson | – |
| 7 | 51162×1564 | MCCREERY (GB) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | – |
| 8 | x7111x6275 | NEW TIPPERARY | G | 4 | Joseph Pride | – |
| 9 | 849x080x70 | PORNICHET (FR) | H | 6 | Ciaron Maher | – |
| 10 | 0x4540x60x | PREFERMENT (NZ) | H | 5 | Chris Waller | – |
| 11 | 0x5474x343 | RUDY | G | 6 | Helen Page | – |
| 12 | 858x640x80 | SAKHEE’S SOLDIER (NZ) | G | 6 | David Kelly | 99 |
| 13 | 1454x12x33 | SENSE OF OCCASION | G | 6 | Kris Lees | – |
| 14 | 7023646474 | SHOREHAM | G | 7 | Les Kelly | 87 |
| 15 | 145x227x09 | SINGING (FR) | H | 7 | Kris Lees | – |
| 16 | 2211Fx7031 | SINGLE GAZE | M | 4 | Nick Olive | 108 |
| 17 | 142×21831 | TOP OF MY LIST | M | 4 | Anthony & Edward Cummings | – |
| 18 | 9300×10010 | TRANSPORTER | G | 9 | Lindsay Hatch | 94 |
