Coast pushes Group 1 claim
THE Gold Coast Turf Club will continue its push to secure a Group 1 feature race at its annual Prime Minister’s Cup meeting.
The club’s winter showpiece meeting will be held next Saturday, May 6, with the Group 2 A.D Hollindale Stakes (1800m) the headline act on a day where $1.1 million in prizemoney is up for grabs.
The club has been trying to get the Hollindale Stakes elevated to Group 1 status but has just fallen short in recent years.
But Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook said he remained hopeful that a highclass field this year could be the one that ultimately clinches a Group 1 rating.
Among the factors that are considered when upgrading a race is the number of Group 1 winners involved in previous runnings of the event.
“Every year we try to strive for it,” Cook said.
“We have long-term ambitions to get that upgraded to a Group 1 race.
“Two years ago was the closest we ever got.
“We were 1 point off reaching the Group 1 standard and we missed out by one point which was because one horse at the time got nominated got scratched because it got injured through the week.
“Ever since then we have missed by two or three points.
“It’s becoming harder and harder for us because we are still on the back of championships.
“Every year The Championships (in Sydney) go up in prizemoney and it’s hard for us to attract the real top-notch horses because we are just after championships and not quite as big in major prizemoney races than at the winter carnival up in town.”
The Hollindale Stakes has an impressive honour role, including top-class gallopers Rough Habit (1991-92), Durbridge (1994), Danewin (1995), Might And Power (1998) and Shogun Lodge (2000-01).
In recent years it has been won by Leebaz (2015 and 2016), Streama (2014) and Lights Of Heaven (2013).
The Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) and Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) are two of the other high-profile races set to feature on the eight-race Gold Coast program next weekend.
Cook said the meeting was the club’s biggest race day outside of the Magic Millions in January. “It’s our most prestigious unrestricted race day,” he said.