The 2015 Hollindale Stakes field has been released and a capacity field of 14 runners as well as four emergencies has been included in the entries for the Group 2 event that will be held at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Silent Achiever has been included in the 2015 Hollindale Stakes field. Photo by: Steve Hart
Silent Achiever has not recorded a race win since she took out the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but will have the chance to return to winning form when she drops back in class for the Hollindale Stakes.
The O’Reilly mare performed well without winning in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and The BMW during her autumn preparation in Sydney and needs to perform well in both the Hollindale Stakes and the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) to earn a trip to Europe for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m).
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has included Moriarty, Hawkspur, I’m Imposing and Foreteller in the 2015 Hollindale Stakes field and all four of his gallopers will be bringing autumn form into the Hollindale Stakes.
Hawkspur returned to a semblance of his best form with third place finishes in both the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 14 and the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at the same venue on March 28, while Waller fancies the chances of Moriarty after he returned to racing with a credible eighth in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
The Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) is set to be a key form reference for the Hollindale Stakes and Hooked, Rudy, Arabian Gold as well as emergencies Leebaz and Pornichet will be coming out of the $3 million event.
Rudy relished the wet track in the Doncaster Mile and produced arguably the best performance of his racing career to date to finish fourth, while Arabian Gold did not have a great deal of luck in running, but was still able to finish sixth.
Pornichet finished between Rudy and Arabian Gold in the Hollindale Stakes, but is not assured of a start in the race and connections of Hooked are hoping that the Gold Coast track dries significantly in the coming days as he failed to fire on the wet in the Doncaster Mile.
The only galloper that is taking winning form into the 2015 Hollindale Stakes is Steve O’Dea-trained Sir Moments, who returned to winning form with an impressive effort in the Listed Logic Tails Stakes (1630m) at Doomben on April 11.
Sir Moments will be stepping up to 1800 metres for the first time in his racing career to date and will be ridden by Brenton Avdulla due to the suspension of regular jockey Tim Bell.
Precedence hit the line strongly to finish third behind Streama in the Hollindale Stakes last year and he could have his only autumn start in the Group 2 event, while he will be joined in the race by fellow veteran stayer Green Moon.
Green Moon has not recorded a race win since his memorable victory in the 2012 edition of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and he may be racing for his career during his winter prep in Brisbane following a disappointing first-up effort in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 4.
The 2015 Hollindale Stakes field is rounded out by Mornington Cup winner Banca Mo (barrier five), Anthony Cummings-trained Aomen (barrier eight), tough gelding Escado (barrier one) and emergencies Wish Come True (barrier seven) and Hopfgarten (barrier 17).
