Queensland Derby bound Kunming in final field for Gunsynd Classic

Trainer Gary Moore will get a better idea of Kunming’s Queensland Derby chances after the gelding runs in the Group 3 $125,000 Ascot Green Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Dreams Aplenty, above, is chasing his fourth win on the trot in the Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Dreams Aplenty, above, is chasing his fourth win on the trot in the Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Kunming has drawn barrier six in the final field of ten three year olds for the Gunsynd Classic and heads to Brisbane on the back of a last start seventh to Mongolian Wolf in the Group 3 $150,000 Mostyn Copper Group Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 15.

A pleasing effort by Kunming in the Gunsynd Classic will see the More Than Ready three year old heads towards a start in the Group 1 $600,000 Channel 7 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.

The Brent Stanley trained Violate is also coming off a last start sixth in the Frank Packer Plate and will jump from barrier nine in the Gunsynd Classic with Mark Zahra in the saddle replacing Damien Oliver.

The in-form Dreams Aplenty will head on a different path to Kunming if he completes his fourth win on the trot in the Gunsynd Classic.

Dreams Aplenty is coming off a last start win in the $75,000 Create FS Toowoomba Guineas (1625m) at Toowoomba on April 8 and trainer John Zielke is eyeing off the Group 2 $350,000 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.

“He can now press on to races such as the Sunshine Coast Guineas and Queensland Guineas,” Zielke told AAP.

“There is an outside chance we could look at the (Group One) Stradbroke but he would need to racing very well.”

Promising apprentice Tiffany Brooker has been aboard Dreams Aplenty for his last three all the way wins and will have no trouble positioning the gelding in his favourite position in front of the pack from barrier two.

The Stuart Kendrick trained Spring Tycoon will be looking to tune the tables on Dream Aplenty after going down narrowly when runner up in the Toowoomba Guineas and will jump from barrier three with Damian Browne in the saddle again.

Brisbane’s leading jockey Jeff Lloyd takes the mount again on Robert Heathcote’s consistent performer Kubis who racked up four placings on the trot before a last start fourth in a 1350m three year old Plate at Doomben on April 15.

Lloyd will be able to give Kubis every chance from barrier four.

2017 Group 3 Gunsynd Classic Field (1600m)

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 425x0x2111 DREAMS APLENTY John Zielke Ms Tiffani Brooker (a) 2 57kg 83
2 7221218×30 BALBOA ROCKS Darryl Hansen Luke Tarrant 7 57kg 68
3 9x151x4822 SPRING TYCOON Stuart Kendrick Damian Browne 3 57kg 71.5
4 32828×6446 VIOLATE Brent Stanley Mark Zahra 9 57kg 69
5 3112×7 REALING Matthew Dunn 1 57kg 68
6 x24122x234 KUBIS Robert Heathcote Jeff Lloyd 4 57kg 67
7 x333212x15 ATOUCHMORE Matt Kropp 8 57kg 65
8 05x67716x1 HUNDRED Brett Lunney Robbie Fradd 10 57kg 63
9 7×64557 KUNMING Gary Moore 6 57kg
10 x745009x86 ELUSIVE AFFAIR Trevor Whittington Glen Colless 5 55kg 55

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.