AS GOOD AS COX
Hollindale Stakes on course for Group 1 status, say trainers
GOLD Coast training partners Toby and Trent Edmonds say Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes resembles a Cox Plate in the biggest sign yet the prestigious Group 2 race is tracking towards Group 1 status.
AS Vanna Girl prepares to rumble on her home Gold Coast track, Trent Edmonds has declared Saturday’s Group 2 Hollindale Stakes is so strong it almost resembles a Cox Plate field.
“It’s probably the best Hollindale ever,” Edmonds said.
“You’ve got your Makybe Diva Stakes and races like that in the Victorian spring but this race on Saturday is every bit as good, probably better.
“It’s like a Cox Plate field.”
There is no doubt the $500,000 Hollindale will be one of the highlights of racing around the country on Saturday, with big-name contenders such as Avilius, Melody Belle, Fifty Stars, Homesman along with promising import Zaaki taking part.
Godolphin warrior Avilius is the $4.80 favourite but the race is deep, with the field having banked a collective total of more than $26m in prizemoney.
Vanna Girl is a $19 chance in the 1800m race and Edmonds, who co-trains with father Toby, says they won’t be making the same mistake as they did when the mare finished seventh in the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes at Randwick last month.
On that day, Vanna Girl drew barrier one and Damien Oliver rode
her closer than she is normally ridden. But the plan in the Hollindale is for jockey Brad Stewart to be more conservative.
“We are going to ride her a little bit steadier as well which suits her,” Edmonds said.
“Every time we rush her up on speed she doesn’t finish off as good, it just takes that sprint away from her.
“We made that mistake the other day in the Group 1, from barrier one we tried to be positive and be just behind them but that dulled her finish.”