Bold Sniper An Unknown Quantity In Heatherlie Stakes

Her Majesty The Queen Of England-owned Bold Sniper will make his Australian racing debut in the 2015 Heatherlie Stakes and co-trainer David Hayes does not know what to expect from the imported stayer in the Listed event.

Extra Zero (outside) is one of three David Hayes-trained gallopers that been included in the 2015 Heatherlie Stakes acceptances. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell

Extra Zero (outside) is one of three David Hayes-trained gallopers that been included in the 2015 Heatherlie Stakes acceptances. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell

Bold Sniper was sent to Australia to train with Gai Waterhouse following his 2014 racing season in the United Kingdom, which was highlighted by a second place finish behind Contributer in the Listed Wolferton Handicap (2012m) at Royal Ascot, but he did not adjust to his new environment and he was sent to the Euroa base of the Lindsay Park team.

Hayes admits that Bold Sniper can be a difficult horse to handle and he is unsure how he will settle in the early stages of the Heatherlie Stakes, but he believes that the five-year-old is a genuine winning chance if he does all the right things in the Heatherlie Stakes.

“We are learning with this horse,” Hayes said.

“He has a lot of talent and I have seen him do some very good gallops, but he is a temperamental horse and we will be riding him nicely and quietly in the early stages of the race.

“If he behaves himself the first half, he has the class to win and as along as he is relaxing and running on I will be happy.”

Bold Sniper is joined in the 2015 Heatherlie Stakes field by stablemate Extra Zero, who returned to the races with a credible second place finish behind Charmed Harmony in the Louis Polgar & Jason Vance Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on August 8.

Extra Zero has been placed in 13 of his last 15 race starts, including a very close second behind stablemate Spillway in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 14, and Hayes is confident that the Danzero gelding will run his usual honest race in the Heatherlie Stakes.

“He never runs a bad race and I am really happy with him,” Hayes said.

“He has probably improved since his really good first-up.”

Lindsay Park also have Pacific Heights in the Heatherlie Stakes field, but he is the first emergency and needs a scratching in order to gain a start in the Listed event.

Bold Sniper is currently available at 2015 Heatherlie Stakes odds of $10, while Extra Zero has remained steady at $9.50 since the betting market was released earlier in the week.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.