Volkoff up off mat
PERTH mare Volkoff will be the maker of her own destiny when she has her first start in Queensland at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Volkoff is a multiple stakes winner in West Australian and has 10 victories from 32 starts that netted more than $400,000 in prizemoney.
Her best wins came in the Listed Crawford Stakes (1000m) and Listed Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m).
The seven-year-old went through the sales ring at the Magic Millions National Sales on the Coast in June but did not reach her reserve.
Owner Paul Whyte rang Gold Coast trainer Bryan Guy, who trains partnership with his son Dan, to see if he would give the mare a preparation in Queensland.
“Basically I understand she didn’t bring what they expected at the sales and if she comes up on Saturday she will race on for another season,” Guy said.
“If not they will probably breed from her themselves.
“The offer came out of the blue. But she is a lovely mare and I was very happy with the way she trialled when third at the Gold Coast recently.”
Volkoff has drawn barrier 11 for the Matthew Dunn Racing Open Handicap (1200m) at Aquis Park on Saturday.
Guy said there were plenty of mares races in Queensland over summer if Volkoff continued to race on.
Apart from her ability, Volkoff has always had a cult following because of her unusual name.
She is named for Yugoslavian Nikolai Volkoff who once was a big star on the professional wrestling circuit and was best known for his tagteam combination with the legendary Killer Kowalski.
She got a male name after a paperwork mix-up.
The Guys are looking for a double on Saturday with inform El Shaday in the Viva Racing Handicap.
“He has been racing very well and likes the Gold Coast where he has won twice,” Guy said.
There will be no metropolitan racing in Brisbane until September 8 with remedial work to Doomben and Eagle Farm still closed.