The Team Snowden trained Island Missile heads up a small field for the 2018 Listed $150,000 Audi Alto Central Coast Gosford Guineas (1200m) at Gosford on Thursday.

Island Missile will carry the Triple Crown red colours in the 2018 Gosford Guineas at Gosford. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Island Missile will carry the Triple Crown red colours in the 2018 Gosford Guineas at Gosford. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The field for the Gosford Guineas has been reduced to seven three-year-olds following the early scratching of the Tracey Bartley trained Sneaky Fella.

Island Missile will still jump the outside barrier and will carry the equal top weight of 56kg with Hugh Bowman taking the ride.

Bowman replaces Blake Shinn who was aboard the Smart Missile gelding last start when second in a 1400m BenchMark 76 Handicap at Randwick on January 6.

The lightly raced Island Missile is the winner of two of his six starts with his latest win being four starts back in a 1400m Class 1 at Kembla Grange back in August.

Island Missile carries the famous Triple Crown red colours and the high profile Syndicators will be hoping their winning run continues after their red colours were carried to victory three times over the weekend with Moss Trip and Emoclew winning at Kembla Grange and Emperor’s Way winning on his home track at Randwick for Peter and Paul Snowden.

The Hawkes Racing Team of Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes will saddle up the in-form filly Bella Martini who drew barrier four in the original draw but will jump from three with Brenton Avdulla aboard.

Bella Martini has been racing in Melbourne and is the winner of her last two starts in a 1200m BenchMark 64 Handicap at The Valley for the three year old fillies on December 8 and in a 1200m Caulfield BenchMark 70 Handicap on December 26.

The powerful Godolphin stable will be represented with the James Cummings trained Epidemic who will jump from gate four with Glyn Schofield booked to ride.

Epidemic scored back to back wins in a 1200m three year old Maiden at Randwick on November 7 and in a 1200m Rosehill BenchMark 75 Handicap on December 2 before her last start third in a 1300m BenchMark 76 Handicap at Randwick on December 30.

Final field for 2018 Gosford Guineas (1200m)

# Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 2114×42 ISLAND MISSILE BOBS Bonus Scheme Peter & Paul Snowden Hugh Bowman 8 56kg 69
2 5×16 AMERICANA MAGIC BOBS Bonus Scheme Grant Allard 6 56kg 62
3 1x SNEAKY FELLA Tracey Bartley Scratched 3 56kg 62
4 3×01 FAME SHINES Scott Singleton 2 56kg 55
5 4x21x311 BELLA MARTINI BOBS Bonus Scheme Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Brenton Avdulla 4 54kg 75
6 4x9x3113 EPIDEMIC BOBS Bonus Scheme James Cummings Glyn Schofield 5 54kg 70
7 42x15x TIARA STAR BOBS Bonus Scheme Gregory Hickman Corey Brown 7 54kg 66
8 4×1 WE HAVE LIFT OFF BOBS Bonus Scheme Brad Widdup 1 54kg 67

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.