The 2015 BTC Cup nominations have been released and a number of talented sprinters have been included in the initial entries for the Group 1 event that will be held at Doomben on May 9.
Our Boy Malachi will make his Group 1 debut in the 2015 BTC Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart
Our Boy Malachi is set to return to Queensland for the first time since he joined Team Hawkes in August of last year and is currently on top of BTC Cup betting markets after he returned to racing with a tough win in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 18.
The Top Echelon gelding has recorded 17 wins from his 19 race starts and he has not suffered a race defeat under the care of Team Hawkes.
The Hall Mark Stakes could prove to be a key form reference for the BTC Cup as the likes of Craftiness, Fast ‘N’ Rocking, Rock Sturdy and Big Money have all been included in the nominations for the race.
Another race that will prove to be a key form guide to the BTC Cup is the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m), which was won in impressive fashion by Srikandi on the Gold Coast last Saturday.
Srikandi was having her first race start since she finished a gallant third in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in June last year and she beat a field that include fellow BTC Cup hopefuls Knoydart and Temple Of Boom.
One of the most interesting runners in the 2015 BTC Cup nominations is Kiwi galloper El Roca, who has not been seen at the races since he finished ninth behind Sacred Falls in the 2014 edition of the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
A tendon injury has ruled El Roca out of racing ever since, but the Fastnet Rock entire has recovered fully from the injury and he trailed well in New Zealand ahead of his return to racing in the BTC Cup.
There could be multiple New Zealand-based horses included in the 2015 BTC Cup field as talented sprinter Sacred Star has also been included in the entries for the Group 1 event.
Sacred Star stamped himself as a sprinter to watch when he took out the Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m) and finished a gallant fifth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and took out the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) and Group 1 NRM Sprint (1400m) in New Zealand earlier this year.
Boban is another galloper that could return to racing in the BTC Cup and he has been freshened-up for a sprints campaign during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival after he failed to fire in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
Trust In A Gust is another Group 1 winner that is set to contest the BTC Cup and connections will be hoping that he can return to winning form after he was beaten as a short-priced favourite in the VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield on April 18.
Talented filly Bring Me The Maid, troubled sprinter Cape Kidnappers, Group 1 placegetter Fontelina, Team Snowden-trained Hot Snitzel, the speedy Rubick, Paul Messara-trained Scissor Kick, talented mare Shamalia, Gold Coast Guineas winner Nostradamus, Time For War and Villa Verde.
