RACE COVERAGE : SUNSHINE COAST APRIL 25

The Sunshine Coast Turf Club hosts Queensland metropolitan racing today.

Follow our race coverage for all the comments from jockeys and trainers, photos and race replays from all nine races on the card. 

RACE 1 - 11:48AM MCGRATH BUDERIM & MOOLOOLABA MAIDEN PLATE 1400M 

1^st – Step Aside – Robert Heathcote – Danial Griffin

2^nd – Youngblood – Tony Gollan – Anthony Allen

3^rd – Wilcaruise – Gary Duncan – Gary Geran

Race Review -

Dan Griffin got to work early on the three-year-old, a couple of taps with the stick to get him to roll forward a secure a beautiful trail fifth on the fence after jumping from barrier eight.

With a genuine tempo there wasn't much movement in the run Griffin waiting until the top of the sraight to begin to slide off the fence to find clear running.

Asked for an effort Step Aside pounced on the lead at around the 300 and looked like he would run away a soft winner, but he hit the front a little too early Tony Gollan's Youngblood almost wearing him down late.

The gelding was yet to finish in the placings in his first five starts under Robert Heathcote, but the Pluck/Nova product trialled well leading into this prep and was at peak fitness third up.

RACE 2 - 12:23PM SUNSHINE COAST DAILY QTIS TWO-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN PLATE 1200M

1^st – Eelloh – Desleigh Forster – Taylor Marshall

2^nd – Batangas Entry – Kelly Schweida – Jimmy Orman

3^rd – Wave Maker – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Brad Stewart

Race Review -

Better Get Set and Better Lad went hell for leather from the 1200 metre start opening up a five length break to the chasing brigade nearing the turn into the straight.

Eelloh had secured a good run three pairs back the outside, but still had a lot of work to do to pick up the two tearaways.

The filly was slightly wobbly balancing up around the turn and cost herself a couple of lengths, she looked to be too far off them at the furlong.

Batangas Entry hit the front strongly inside the hundred but it was Eelloh who got the last look at them scoring in a tight photo at remarkable $151 odds. 

RACE 3 - 12:58PM HAMPERS TO GO QTIS TWO-YEARS-OLD HANDICAP 1000M

1st - Isotope - Tony Gollan - Baylee Nothdurft

2nd - Goldsborough - Gary Duncan - Sean Cormack

3rd - Gotta Kiss - Steve O'Dea - Stephanie Thornton

Race Review -

All expectation was around Tony Gollan’s filly Isotope before the two-year-old QTIS Handicap at Corbould Park after his scintillating ten length win a fortnight ago on debut.

Isotope’s first start victory was much more elementary than today’s effort, leading hoop Baylee Nothdurft eased out of the speed battle between Goldsbrough and Zingalong early to sit fourth the fence.

The jockey then took the smallest of runs between the two leaders nearing the three hundred getting off Goldsborough’s back and into the clear.

The filly was still a little green once she came up beside the leader, but once she found her right footing showed the same class, she did on debut going clear by two and a half lengths remaining undefeated.

Steven O’Dea would be encouraged by the run of Gotta Kiss, the filly was one of Queensland’s best performed two-year-old’s before this years Magic Millions and should take good condition from the first up run.

RACE 4 - 1:33PM ROSS MACLEAN FELLOWSHIP BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP 2200M

1st – Populist – Gary Duncan – Corey Bayliss

2^nd – Galtero – Tony Gollan – Adin Thompson

3^rd – Fastnet Cyclone – Stuart Kendrick – Justin Huxtable

Race Review –

Gary Duncan’s Populist digs deep at his home track making up a lot of ground late getting to Tony Gollan’s Galtero over the 2200 metre staying test.

Populist went up a firm favourite in career best form but faced the challenge of his third run over 2000 metres in consecutive weeks and still was the strongest horse to the line.

Tony Gollan signalled his intentions to lead on Galtero pre-race which jockey Adin Thompson did, and he looked a winner at the three hundred skipping five lengths clear.

Duncan believes the further the better for Populist though and he gradually ate into the margin winning by three quarters one the line.

A win doesn’t look too far away for Galtero who has been ever consistent this preparation, perhaps a step back to the 1800-2000 metre range next start.

RACE 5 - 2:08PM PELICAN MOTORS SERVICE CENTRE CLASS 6 PLATE 1600M

1st – Profit – Chris Anderson – Jimmy Orman

2^nd – Tokoriki Lad – Tony Gollan – Anthony Allen

3^rd – Mymming – Stuart Kendrick – Dale Smith

Trainer Comments - Chris Anderson

"Good to see him get the job done it was a big effort from a tough gate, I spoke to connections in the main Duncan Ramage pre-race and we just accepted we'd have to ride him that way."

"There have been some really genuine excuses in his defeats so far this prep, there has been a little bit of criticism but he's always been vulnerable relying on speed and tempo up front."

"That's the pattern he just relishes getting back and having one crack at them, it was a big effort from the horse and Jimmy (Orman) in the worst part of the track."

"Hopefully now we can look at some better races through the Winter program, over the mile at Doomben and then possibly up to the 1800 and 2200 metre listed races."

"He was always getting lumped with the 59 kilos in the three-year-old races and even though he only carried 54.5 today he's done it against older class six horses, there is a lot of merit to that win."

Race Review –

Chris Anderson’s exciting three-year-old Profit has come from stone last to beat the Class 6 field over the mile at the Sunshine Coast.

A solid $2.10 favourite for the event punters and connections would have been on the edge of their seats, jockey Jimmy Orman forced to ease back from a wide gate and rely on the gelding’s finishing sprint to round up the field.

Still last and ten off the leader at the turn it looked like history may repeat itself when the horse arrived a lick to late last start at Doomben, but the step up to the mile and the wide Sunshine Coast circuit were enough to see his first win this prep.

Anderson has not been shy to voice his ambitions with the horse the Dundeel/Opportunity progeny expected to be looking at black type form and beyond very soon.

Second placed Tokoriki Lad was a big run for the Gollan stable, three wide without cover the trip he only went down in the last stride.

Local Mymming rounded out the placings for Stuart Kendrick turning it’s form around to place at $11.

RACE 6 - 2:43PM RACE ZONE RACING SUPPLIES QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD PLATE 1600M

1st – Ballistic Boy – Chris Anderson – Brad Stewart

2^nd – Wapiti – Gary Duncan – Jake Bayliss

3^rd – Miss Penfold – Kelly Schweida – Jimmy Orman

Trainer Comments – Chris Anderson

“Brad (Stewart) gave him a peach of a ride, I think what we’re finding out today is they’re just not Doomben horses they’ve both enjoyed the wide-open expanses of the Sunshine Coast track, great to see them both put it together today.”

“He races a little similar to Profit, we probably expected to be a tad closer today, but Brad (Stewart) went to work picking up two our three lengths approaching the turn to get him into a winning position.”

“I’m interested to see how far this bloke will stretch out, he’s never been beyond a mile, but we do anticipate he’ll get a mile and a quarter and that’s where we’ll head next with him.”

“It’s a privilege to race horses in these colours and it’s a big thrill to repay the faith Duncan (Ramage) and the other owners put in me.”

RACE 7 - 3:18PM NUMBER ONE QUALITY HOMES OPEN HANDICAP 1400M

1st – Silvera – Baylee Nothdurft – Tony Gollan

2^nd – Baccarat Baby – David Vandyke – Michael Hellyer

3^rd – Etana – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – Mark Du Plessis

Race Review -

Silvera started his six-year-old preparation with a strong fifth in the Sunshine Coast Cup and back to the track five runs in she continued his peak form, a brilliant ride from Baylee Nothdurft on the back of Baccarat Baby proving the difference between the two.

Baccarat baby who is locally trained by David Vandyke and a winner of the Sunshine Coast Guineas looked a good thing at the three hundred jockey Michael Hellyer not moving a muscle as he cruised up to the lead.

But the superior ride from city premiership leader Nothdurft shone through taking cover behind the favourite before peeling off and letting down the last two hundred.

It’s the second consecutive win for the horse but comes almost two months after his Listed Tattersall’s Cup triumph in February.

Gollan has done a great job keeping Silvera up a freshen up trial on Tuesday having him ready for the 1400 metres at Corbould Park.

Etana for Ciaron Maher and David Eustice was a block book run first up back in Queensland where he’s had success before, warming up late to grab third.

RACE 8 - 3:53PM TAB BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP 1400M

1st – Red Chase – Desleigh Forster – Taylor Marshall

2^nd – Jeweliana – Steven O’Dea – Baylee Nothdurft

3^rd – Don’t Waiver – Stuart Kendrick – Dale Smith

Race Review -

A ten out of ten ride from up and coming rider Taylor Marshall has seen Red Chase turn his form in its head winning the Benchmark 78 over 1400 metres at the Sunshine Coast.

Just two starts ago the gelding finished last of a small field at the track and trip but did bounce back well running within a length of Shalwa and Profit at his last start.

The horse drew the pole and Marshall used the alley to full effect getting away cleanly and giving the horse every possible chance with an economic trip fifth the fence.

Marshall was held up behind runners till around the two hundred where he burst through a pair of horses close to the fence to edge out Jeweliana finishing down the centre of the track.

The win gave Forster and Marshall a training and riding double after Eelloh scored earlier in the 2YO race.

Baylee Nothdurft gave Jeweliana every possible chance one out one back, but it was Red Chase with the fresh legs late.

RACE 9 - 4:28PM HENZELLS AGENCY OPEN HANDICAP 1000M

1st – Just Orm – Tony Gollan – Stephanie Thornton

2^nd – Tambo’s Mate – Stuart Kendrick – Jake Bayliss

3^rd – Ringo’s a Rockstar – Wayne Stephens – Dale Smith

Trainer Comments -

“Vega One is a serious horse good kick off for his campaign today great kick off point for him today at an unsuitable 1000 metres, really pleased to see him run like that with 62 kilos.”

“Just Orm was really well credentialled at the track beat Spurcraft and Tarzan up here over the thousand he’s just a supreme 1000 metre horse.”

“We’re going to follow a traditional four run path to the Stradbroke, there is a Group three for him in a fortnight then the Victory stakes and a 1200 metres race should have him tip top.”

Race Review -

If you’re looking for a good form guide you can’t go past Tuesday’s trial at Doomben where Just Orm edged out Silvera, both strong winners at Corbould Park after Just Orm won a tough Open Handicap to give the Gollan camp a treble.

A three-time winner at the track Just Orm was good value with TAB at $9 the win, doing it the hard way three wide throughout with favourite Tambo’s Mate getting a much easier time of it inside him.

Jockey Steph Thornton got out of the barriers well but so did Mishani Hustler, Defence Missile and Tambo’s Mate leaving them fourth and slightly off the track.

The six-year-old gelding has only managed two short sharp preparations his last two times in, if he can replicate his first up run black type races between the 1000-1200 look ideal.

Another good day for team Gollan with a further three Saturday metro winners in Isotope, Silvera and Just Orm all of which look to have more wins in them soon.