Coast race a stepping stone to spring goal
TRAINER Nick Olive is already thinking ahead to the Victorian spring carnival as he prepares Single Gaze for the $358,000 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast.
Olive arrived on the Gold Coast on Sunday night to oversee Single Gaze’s lead-up to Saturday’s Group 2 race which has attracted a field of 12.
Single Gaze won last year’s Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill but fell in her next start in the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks.
While she did not sustain a major injury, Single Gaze was severely bruised and Olive spent months getting her back to the racetrack.
After a short Sydney autumn carnival campaign Single Gaze came to Brisbane and beat a strong field of local horses in the Listed Tails Handicap (1600m) at Doomben last Saturday week.
“I couldn’t be happier with the way she looked,” the Canberra trainer said.
“She galloped on Tuesday and went very well. She should be spot-on for the 1800m.”
Olive and jockey Kathy O’Hara, who was injured in the Oaks fall, were thrilled with her comeback win.
“A lot of hard work from my staff and Kathy went into getting her back to winning,” Olive said. “You haven’t seen the best of her yet and I hope she can win some more stakes races this winter.
“The 1600 metres was short of her best last start and she had a big weight. Also it was a pretty strong field of Brisbane gallopers.”
Olive realises the Hollindale will be tougher but he thinks Single Gaze has improved since the win as she treks towards the Doomben Cup and possibly the Caulfield Cup in the spring.