Hydroelectric to power on for Campton

By Glenn Davis

Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton has a big opinion of talented sprinter Hydroelectric and is confident the four-year-old can power his way to his first metropolitan win at Doomben on Wednesday.

Hydroelectric - a Michael Cahill mount - lines up for his seventh start in the male’s division of the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1200 metres.

The son of Your Song will be one of two Campton starters at Doomben with stable-mate Freeland taking on the fillies’ division of the Benchmark 68 Handicap.

Cahill will also partner Freeland who is a two-time winner from only five starts.

Hydroelectric confirmed Campton’s high rating with a decisive last start win by more than two lengths in a 1200 metre Class 2 Handicap on his home track at the Gold Coast on October 5.

He was due to start at the recent metropolitan grass track meeting at the Gold Coast, but Campton feared his fitness level could have been higher at the time.

“He’s a very good horse but he’s big and raw and is still growing,” Campton said.

“He won well first-up when he beat Barassi, which won the big Magic Millions maiden in January, but I just wanted him a bit fitter for his first go in a metro race, so I opted to trial him at Beaudesert.

“Next year he’s going to be even better.”

Hydroelectric is a half-brother to former Hong Kong star Carroll Street and was passed in at the Magic Millions National Yearling sales in 2022.

“I liked him because he was a relation to Carroll Street who won several races in Hong Kong a few years ago and was the next big thing over there,” Campton said.

“He should run a big race at Doomben and he deserves a chance against better opposition.

“If he can win this, we’ll take him through his grades and it will give me a few options later on.”

One of those options could include a shot at the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival. 

“There’s a few options later on including the summer carnival but I’ll see how he goes on Wednesday first,” Campton said.

Campton also is looking for a strong performance from Freeland who is coming off a last start fifth to The Lucky Alien in a 1000 metre Class 4 Handicap at the Gold Coast on October 5.

“She’s also very smart and she trialled well with blinkers and a tongue-tie at Beaudesert last week,” Campton said.

“She’s got a lot of ability and is capable of winning this.”