Sunshine Coast Guineas fancies Architect and Hopfgarten are set to drift in betting markets for the Group 3 event at Caloundra on Saturday after drawing wide gates.
Architect will jump from barrier 17 when he chases his maiden win at Group level in the Sunshine Coast Guineas this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Architect stamped himself as a leading contender for the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) with a dominant three and a half-length victory in the Hardy Brothers Jewellers Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on June 21, but he will need plenty of luck after he was allocated barrier 17 at the Sunshine Coast Guineas barrier draw.
The Bel Esprit gelding has previously raced consistently at Group level, producing impressive results in the 2012 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) and 2014 QTC Cup (1300m), but is still chasing his maiden black type race win.
Hopfgarten will be stepping back up to Group 3 level in the Sunshine Coast Guineas, after finishing fourth in the Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7, and will start alongside Architect in barrier 16.
The Mossman gelding scored four straight wins at the start of the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, including a maiden win at Group level in the Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on April 26, but was outpaced and never able to get into the race when 14th in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on May 17.
The 2014 Sunshine Coast Guineas has drawn a capacity field of 18 runners plus three emergencies and promising filly Coruba Queen has been able to sneak into the field after recording three straight wins this preparation.
Coruba Queen started her campaign with a win in the Kawana Chamber Of Commerce Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on May 14 and took out the Shadforth Civil Handicap (1400m) at the same venue a fortnight later before scoring her maiden metropolitan victory in the Hidden Dragon At Lyndhurst Handicap (1350m) on June 18.
The Warhead filly faces a significant step-up in class in the Sunshine Coast Guineas, but trainer Len Treloar is confident that she will perform well in the Group 3 event this weekend.
Craig Smith-trained Performia is also taking winning form into the Sunshine Coast Guineas, following a comfortable win at Dalby on June 15, while Rock Of Diamonds will also be stepping up in class after winning at the Gold Coast on June 7.
Chris Waller-trained Mamwaazel (barrier six), the out-of-form Quest For Peace (barrier ten), Kelly Schweida-trained L’Entrecote (barrier 18) and Gold Coast Guineas placegetter Palmera Lad (barrier 11) have also been included in the Sunshine Coast Guineas final field.
