DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF TAKING STROLL RIGHT BET FIRST-UP
High-priced and high-class Queensland filly Stroll resumes on Saturday and punters have a conundrum to ponder.
Stroll is a $450,000 filly who returns as a three-year-old for Matt Hoysted and Steve O’dea after a hugely promising juvenile season which culminated in a Stakes win during the Queensland winter carnival.
But all roads lead to the $2m Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas in January, so will Stroll be ready to rumble first-up as a $3.40 chance in Saturday’s 3YO Handicap over 1200m at Doomben?
Hoysted says she he is a strong winning g chance on resuming, but if she does win it could simply be the fact she oozes class that t gets her over the e line first.
“She is definitely y not completely wound nd up,” Hoysted said.
“The end game is she has a fourrun campaign which will end up at the Magic Millions in January.
“You will see her in the mounting yard on Saturday and she still has got a bit of improvement to come in her coat. But I think we have done enough work with her for her to be there and running well and hard to beat.
“She might not be 100 per cent wound up fitness wise, but class might be what gets her over the line first.”
The training team of Hoysted and O’dea have tinkered slightly with the game plan with Stroll.
It was initially in the blueprint the filly, owned by Proven Thoroughbreds, would resume seven days later on the Sunshine Coast over 1000m.
Hoysted explains the change of heart. “We thought she needed a run before the Mode Stakes and we were going to resume her on the Sunshine Coast,” Hoysted said.
“But then we thought 1200m might suit better than 1000m as she might find them a bit too nippy over 1000m.
“We threw a nomination in on Monday just to have a look at the (Doomben) field and when the field came up as it did thought we would give her a go.
“She hasn’t raced at Doomben before b but she is pretty adaptable.
“It is also a key that she has drawn a good b barrier (4) so she c can put herself a bit closer in the run.”
Hoysted H and O’dea have plenty of equine weap weapons ready to roll out in the Queensland summer carnival.
Hoysted says one that might pay to watch is mare Canadian Dancer, who is set to resume on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday week.
Canadian Dancer won the Listed Princess Stakes at Doomben in April but Hoysted says she has returned incredibly well and has had the benefit of an imposing trial win.
“She has come back in really good order and trialled extremely well,” Hoysted said.
“She can put her hand up and be figuring in some nice sort of Stakes races during the summer.”