Brisbane’s leading trainer Tony Gollan is hoping for a top three finish for Zelady’s Night Out in the Group 2 $300,000 Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Zelady’s Night Out will line up in the Reisling Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.
And if the Myboycharlie filly runs up to expectation, Gollan will push on towards the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill in a fortnight.
“She’s paid up for the Slipper and if she runs top three we’ll head that way,” Gollan told AAP.
Zelady’s Night Out was one of the early two year old stars in Brisbane, winning her first three race starts before her winning run came to an end when ninth from a wide barrier to Capitalist in the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 9.
Zelady’s Night Out looked good on debut with a four and a half lengths all the way win in a 1050m two year old Handicap at Doomben on November 14 followed by a two and a quarter lengths win in the Listed $100,000 The Groove Train Calaway Gal Stakes (1050m) at Doomben on December 12.
Gollan then stepped her up in class again and she proved too strong for her opposition in the Group 3 $150,000 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on December 26.
The premiership winning trainer gave the filly a short break and is pleased with the way she is shaping up and with her effort in a recent Doomben jump out.
“She’s got to take things to a new level, but she’s done well with the break,” Gollan said.
“She exploded out of the gates (in her jump out) … and then we just let the older horses go around her and she just sat third on the fence and that’s where she finished on their heels.”
While Gollan is giving his filly a realistic chance against the fillies in the Reisling Stakes, he has a high level of respect for the well performed colts, especially Magic Millions winner Capitalist and the Mick Price trained Extreme Choice who scored an explosive win in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
“The colts look to have a clear advantage everywhere,” Gollan said.
“Capitalist was dominant in the Magic Millions and Extreme Choice was dominant in the Blue Diamond.”
Zalady’s Night Out has drawn the outside barrier in the eight horse Reisling Stakes field and top Sydney jockey Tim Clark will be the new rider, taking over from Jim Byrne who has ridden the filly in all her four starts.
Reisling Stakes rival Honesty Prevails looked impressive in winning the Group 3 $150,000 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 30 on debut and will be one of the hardest to beat again.
Honesty Prevails has drawn barrier two with Jason Collett retaining the ride.
The John O’Shea trained Calliope with James McDonald to ride, has drawn the pole position and is certain to be improved on her first up fifth to Samara Dancer in the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 13.
At her only other race start Calliope came from back in the field to win the Listed $150,000 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on October 3.
