RACE COVERAGE : GOLD COAST 16 MAY

Aquis Park Gold Coast 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 - 11:19AM DARBY MCCARTHY CLASS 3 PLATE 1200M

1^st – Oriental Runner – John Smerdon – Ryan Maloney

2^nd – Fisticuffs – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Matthew McGillivray

3^rd – Heritage Sash – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Nick Keal

Race Review –

Oriental Runner starts off his time in his new John Smerdon stable in the best possible fashion winning the Darby McCarthy Class 3 Plate at the Gold Coast.

The six-year-old only recently arrived at the Coast from former trainer Garry Neale who predominantly raced the horse in strong Sydney company.

Smerdon found a winnable race first up for the gelding who travelled well throughout the leaders back before Ryan Maloney presented him in the straight knuckling down to beat off a game Fisticuffs for Toby &Trent Edmonds.

Oriential Runner had amassed three wins and thirteen minors in his thirty three starts prior to today but has obviously taken to his new surroundings well and has plenty of restricted races that look suitable for connections.

RACE TWO - 11:54AM HEINEKEN OPEN HANDICAP 2200M

1^st – Romakash – Matt Kropp – Larry Cassidy

2^nd – Fighting Teo – Kevin Kemp – Adin Thompson

3^rd – Lota Creek Gold – Harold Norman – Brooke Ainsworth

Trainer Comments - Matt Kropp

"There were no instructions pre-race for Larry (Cassidy) he knows what he's doing I knew he'd give him every possible, it's always good to have him on."

"Looking at that time 34.4 for the last 600 is really good going, the weight drop obviously helped but to see him do that in open company is really pleasing."

"He can stay all day this horse, on his Mother's side (Five Sails) those bloodlines go right back to some strong European staying lines."

"There's a 2400 metre race on here in a couple of weeks time which looks the logical next step for him, he's building a nice record.

Jockey Comments - Larry Cassidy

"We had a bit of luck at the start and were able to fall into a really nice spot behind what looked like a pretty fair tempo up front."

"I know how tough he is, so when we landed that close with some pace in the race I knew he'd be tough to beat and once he gets in a battle he's always up for the fight, he could've gone another furlong easy."

"I was surprised to be so forward in the run normally Lota creek Gold rolls to the front but that didn't happen and we just dropped the bit and travelled well throughout."

"There's a bit of dig and cut in the track, but with plenty of wind around I'd expect it to harden up pretty quickly."

Race Review –

Matt Kropp’s five-year-old Romakash is a stayer in form backing up his last start mid-week 2200 metre win at Aquis Park by tackling the Open Company over the same distance today, Larry Cassidy with the steer.

The five-year-old gelding settled in fourth and got an economical trip most of the way, jumping on Le Juge’s back in third who towed him up to the one out one back spot behind leaders Fighting Teo and Saunter Boy.

Cassidy got to work at the top of the straight on the grey horse who needs a maintained sprint rather than a burst to win his races, ranging up and grabbing Fighting Teo and drawing away within the last hundred metres.

The horse has a good association with Aquis Park, Toowoomba based Kropp has brought him there five times for three wins.

Five runs into his preparation the gelding looks to have hit peak fitness and will be a runner to watch in upcoming metro staying events.

RACE THREE - 12:29PM BUNDABERG RUM COLTS, GELDINGS AND ENTIRES BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP 1400M

1^st – Prometheus – Tony & Maddysen – Jim Byrne

2^nd – Glen Ord – Diane Murphy – Chris Taylor

3^rd – Stardome – Chris Waller – Nick Keal

Trainer Comments -

"I was flat out trying to get someone to ride him today, I asked three high profile riders if they'd want to get on and they turned me down, fortunately for Jimmy (Byrne) and myself he was available and jumped at the chance."

"He hadn't done much racing in recent times before he came to us, so we've been giving hi three jumpouts a week and his work has just continued to improve.

"Off that i gave him a really good chance of winning today and to do it in that fashion was good to see moving forward."

Jockey Comments -

"I'm trying not to take on too much work coming back from injury, but Tony (Sears) came to me with the opportunity and on a good horse you'd be mad not to take it."

"Tony (Sears) had a lot of confidence in him pre-race, he said don't worry about his recent form we've got him going as good as his old Sydney form and the trainer knows his horse best."

"He came off the bridle at about the 400 and he struggled to go with them on that initial sprint, but he kept grinding away and really found something that last furlong."

Race Review –

A great training performance from Tony & Maddysen Sears has seen Prometheus win first up in Queensland for his new stable in the Benchmark 72 over 1400 metres at Aquis Park.

The former Sydney sider and son of Snitzel secured a lovely run in transit three pairs back the outside under Jim Byrne, tailing Glen Ord into the race.

First up over the unsuitable shorter distance where the gelding had only won once before it looked like Glen Ord had given him the slip in the straight when he lost the back of the grey who looked all out a winner at the hundred.

Byrne was hard at work on Prometheus right up the straight and he finally buckled down in the last hundred coming with one last dive to nail Glen Ord on the line.

It was a eye catching debut and the six-year-old looks like another who could relish the latter half of his career in Queensland and should only improve up over the mile.

RACE FOUR - 1:04PM XXXX DRY FILLIES AND MARES BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP 1400M

1^st – Amicitia – Tony Gollan - Jim Byrne

2^nd – Shijin – Scott Morrisey – Madeleine Wishart

3^rd – Lashoni – Tony Gollan - Baylee Nothdurft  

Trainer Comments -

Jockey Comments -

Race Review –

Tony Gollan’s lightly raced four-year-old Amicitia has improved her impressive winning strike rate taking out and fillies and mares Benchmark 72 over the 1400 at Aquis Park.

Jim Byrne might be limited in the amount of rides he takes but is making the most of the ones he has giving the mare the run of the race one out and one back, giving her every chance to carry the 60.5 kilos up the straight.

Amicitia presented four wide at the top of the lane and gradually made ground to the post overhauling Shijin to her inside and stable mate Lashoni arrived too late.

It’s the mares second win at start four this campaign and Gollan has established her as a Saturday metro mare with good upside.

Credit to connections who bought the mare for a mere $3000, with her win today her career earnings exceed $150,000 and her best is yet to come.

RACE FIVE : 1:39PM WE ARE GOLD COAST CLASS 6 PLATE 1200M

1^st – Soxagon – Mark Currie – Brad Stewart

2^nd – Thine is The Power – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Andrew Mallyon

3^rd – Mountbatten – Leanne McCormick – Jimmy Orman

Trainer Comments -

Jockey Comments -

Race Review –

Soxagon came of age for Mark Currie last preparation, never unplaced in his six starts including two wins he went from provincial company to running behind Tony Gollan’s star Vega One.

Currie has taken his time bringing him back for his four-year-old campaign and the six-month layoff has done him no harm, picking up where he left off winning first up and again today in the Class 6 Plate over 1200 metres at Aquis Park.

Brad Stewart bounced well out of the gates but was happy to hand up the lead to Mountbatten and Thine is The Power, sitting right on their hammer throughout the run.

The pace was genuine a 34.7 first six hundred leaving the leaders vulnerable and Soxagon needed no invitation cruising up alongside Thine is The Power half way up the straight eased down on the line a three quarter length winner.

RACE SIX - 2:19PM TAB KEN RUSSELL MEMORIAL CLASSIC 1200M

1^st – Wisdom of Water – Toby & Trent Edmonds – Robbie Fradd

2^nd  –  D/H - Tick Tock Boom – David Vandyke – Jake Bayliss

2nd –  D/H - Superare – Stuart Kendrick – Brad Stewart

Trainer Comments - Toby Edmonds

"Really pleased with the effort without looking too far ahead we came here today pretty confident he'd get the job done and we could start our J.J. Atkins prep and he's done just that."

"I'd still love to see him in a race where there's a bit more tempo and he can drop in behind the speed and run on, I guess we'll get that as we go up in class but it's a box we'd like to tick with him."

"Today the plan was to try to lead not get stuck behind any slow horses and he took all luck out of it when he bounced out the way he did."

"We've got a fair bit of work to do before the J.J. Atkins in three weeks time, the only other time he was at eagle farm was his first start where he didn't handle it, but I'm much more confident this time around."

"It's going to be interesting if he does get more speed over the 1400 metres, at Eagle Farm if he doesn't lead he was the straight to wind up, we'll do plenty of work with him there and he should be cherry ripe."

"His manners are getting better on race day, I thought he paraded super in the yard today very focused, which is something we'll continue to work on."

Jockey Comments -

Race Review –

If Wisdom of Water was not already considered Queensland’s star two-year-old colt he cemented that title winning the Group Three Ken Russell Memorial in what looked like a glorified jump out for Toby & Trent Edmonds at The Gold Coast.

With veteran hoop Robbie Fradd riding the odds-on pop landed two lengths in front flying the gates to take up his favoured front running role and luck out of the equation as he settled nicely mid race.

Fradd nursed the Headwater/Regal Tier colt into the straight easing his way towards the crown of the track, nothing could any ground a slight shake up from Fradd seeing him sail clear for a dominant Group Three victory.

The two times the colt has misfired were his first race start where he was incredibly green and his fourth placing in this years Magic Millions when he bungled the start and roared home to within two and a half lengths.

The Edmonds camp have already signalled the Ken Russell was a pathway to the Group One J.J. Atkins for the two-year-old’s over the mile, a trip he looks like he’ll eat up the way he’s been hitting the line.

RACE SEVEN - 2:59PM JAMES SQUIRE CLASS 6 HANDICAP 1800M

1^st – Gresham – Chris Waller – Nick Keal

2^nd – Milk Man – Matthew Smith – Matthew McGillivray

3^rd – Kings Full – Kacey Fogden – Jag Guthmann-Chester

Trainer Comments -

Jockey Comments -

Race Review –

Chris Waller’s five-year-old Gresham had a lot against him in the Class 6 Handicap at the Gold Coast, 62 kilos on his back, had never won over the 1800 metres in seven tries and drew barrier thirteen, but the perennial place getter wound up a brilliant winner with a gun ride from apprentice Nick Keal.

Not able to go forward early due to good speed from favoured pair Kings Full and Milk Man, Keal took his mount to the rear resisting any urge for a mid-race move biding his time on the Waller runner.

Nothing had run on and won from the back all day at Aquis Park but Keal took a different approach, not peeling around them but stealing ground the rail.

Former French galloper Milk Man has been knocking on the door for his debut Australian win for some time and it looked like the drought was over as he strode boldly to the lead, but Gresham finished like a train along the fence to score by a neat length.

Gresham had good form behind dual listed winner Magnufighter just two starts back but blew out to $19 in the betting.

RACE EIGHT - 3:39PM BRANDONS GOLD COAST GUINEAS 1200M

1^st – Hightail – Peter & Paul Snowden – Ryan Maloney

2^nd – The Odyssey – Kelly Schweida – Stephanie Thornton

3^rd – Exhilarates – James Cummings – Robbie Fradd

Trainer Comments -

Jockey Comments -

Race Review –

Peter and Paul Snowden’s three-year-old colt has history at the Gold Coast Turf Club coming into his Guineas bid, fourth earlier this year in the Magic Millions three-year-old’s and third in last years Magic Millions two-year-old’s.

Third time at the track they went home on top Hightail taking out the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas in the last breath from track specialist The Odyssey who was cruelly denied for Kelly Schweida.

Second up off a win at Randwick Hightail was backed into favourite for the race and with Group One winning jockey Ryan Maloney aboard secured a beautiful run between horses in sixth.

Surprise leader Garibaldi and The Odyssey set the pace, the latter soon claiming the lead halfway up the straight.

Maloney peeled his mount to the middle of the track but still had over a length to make up before the furlong, The Odyssey was brave trying to run out the 1200 metres but it was Hightail who got the Guineas in the last bound.

The three-year-old Magic Millions purchase has earnings in excess of $800,000 after the win his first at Group level for team Snowden.

RACE NINE - 4:19PM ATTWOOD MARSHALL LAWYERS SILK STOCKING 1200M

1^st – Love You Lucy – Barry Squair – Mark Du Plessis

2^nd – Fiesta -  Chris Waller – Michael Cahill

3^rd – Jen Rules – Dale Smith – Peter & Paul Snowden

Trainer Comments -Barry Squair

"She's probably my favourite horse but she decided to throw me off at trackwork last Tuesday and I busted my shoulder and my wrist, but I think I can forgive her after today."

"I only ride a couple ot track work but I think she might have been my last ride, my wife's getting mad at me that I keep going out there."

"I gave her a great chance coming into today she's just missed a couple of times this preparation and I told all the boys upstairs get on because I think she can win."

"She's a lovely mare getting better all the time, I'm not sure where to next but I'll keep her going she's flying."

Jockey Comments -

Race Review –

Toowoomba trainer Barry Squair has witnessed a huge run from his mare Love You Lucy to win the Listed Silver Stocking over 1200 metres at The Gold Coast, teaming with Mark Du Plessis for the victory.

The in-form mare was stranded three wide early after jumping well but not being able to slot in from gate fourteen.

Du Plessis had a decision to make ease back and try to round them up in the straight of keep her striding three wide on the speed, he chose the latter and although it was a tough trip ultimately won the race.

Love You Lucy was forced out into the middle of the track and looked to be struggling to pick up in the early part of the straight, but kept within range for her vaunted finish, Du Plessis lifting her off the canvas for a gutsy win.

Only five starts into her preparation the win opens a multitude of Black Type options for Squaire going forward, but for now he has a thoroughly deserving Silk Stocking winner.