As Queensland's winter carnival heats up, trainer Ciaron Maher has announced a strong hand for the festival's centrepiece, with both Another Wil and Jimmysstar set to contest the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
Maher landed an early blow in the Sunshine State when Pride Of Jenni delivered a ruthless front-running performance to win the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
On Sunday, he confirmed that Another Wil and Jimmysstar will run in this weekend's Doomben 10,000 (1200m) instead of the alternative Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) next week, using the race as a key launching point for their Stradbroke preparations.
“The Kingsford Smith and Doomben 10,000 are similar races and he’s really well,” Maher said of Jimmysstar. “He’ll do another piece of work on Monday and if that goes smoothly - and there’s no reason why it wouldn’t - then he should take his place (in the Doomben 10,000). We’ll have him and hopefully Another Wil.”
WA's The Boss Lady to Raid Queensland
Western Australia will be represented in Queensland by The Boss Lady, with trainer Michael Lane continuing the trend of WA fillies and mares contesting interstate events. The five-year-old has not raced in 12 months and was last seen winning the Belmont Sprint (1400m), which will be run this weekend.
Instead of defending that title, Lane will trial the daughter of Street Boss at Lark Hill next week before heading to Queensland. She will tackle the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) on May 30, then progress to the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) and Group 1 Tatts Tiara, both at Eagle Farm on two-week intervals.
Lane has not prepared a horse for an eastern states campaign since Keytomoney contested Caulfield and Flemington Listed events in 2009.
Other Racing News
- Otis landed Saturday's Listed $35,000 Narrogin Cup (2662m), bravely holding off Gee Heza Sport in a thrilling race. Starting from the front row, Otis ($3) worked to the lead after 500m, while Gee Heza Sport ($1.70 favourite) was stuck on the back line. Gee Heza Sport moved up on the final bend and looked set to win, but Otis fought back to regain the lead and win.
- Rangeview Stud has placed stallion Long Leaf up for online auction at an unreserved price. The 10-year-old stood for a service fee of $3,300 last season, with top progeny including smart front-runner Ourgirlcanrun, Mai Aloha, and Marines Cry, who recently won three races in a month.
- James McDonald is set to ride again at Royal Ascot as Wathnan Racing's second jockey, with retained rider James Doyle. McDonald has enlisted Doyle's agent Chris Humpleby to secure additional mounts during the week.
- Loucasso, favourite for The Eureka - the world's richest pacing race at Menangle later this year - has changed stables from Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin to Luke McCarthy.
