COAST RAID ON CARDS
DARLING Downs raider Lindsay Hatch is making another full-scale assault on the Gold Coast today with five runners at the Aquis Park meeting.
The Toowoomba trainer has been a dominant force at the Coast track this season, preparing eight winners from 21 runners at a stunning 38 per cent success rate.
He has trained a treble and a double at the track this month, with several heavily backed runners cheered home by punters who have jumped on the Hatch bandwagon.
If a punter had placed a $10 bet on each of Hatch’s
runners at the Gold Coast this season they would be $318 in front – a return of more than 150 per cent.
Hatch named Grey Steyne, who is chasing a winning hat-trick, as his best chance today.
“I’ve got a big opinion of Grey Steyne,” said Hatch of the four-year-old formerly trained by Doug Duryea.
The Bradbury’s Luck gelding resumed with an easy win over 1200m at Toowoomba on November 25 before scoring at the Gold Coast over 1400m on December 16.
Hatch believes Grey Steyne will be at his best over longer distances.
“I’ve only had him for the two starts but I think he’s got untapped potential as a stayer,” he said. “I’m very pleased to have him in my stable.”
The staying theory will be put to the test today when Grey Steyne races beyond 1520m for first time as Hatch steps him up to 1800m in the Ladies Day Fiesta Centre Benchmark 75 Handicap.
Hatch will also start Proof Perfect (Race 1), Umawinner (Race 2), Shuda Known Better (Race 3) and Rhyme Nor Rhythm (Race 8) at the Coast meeting.
“Rhyme Nor Rhythm is going terrific, and the horse in the first race, Proof Perfect, is pretty smart,” he said, giving punters a guide.
Hatch said his dual acceptor Mandela Dreaming (Race 7) would race at Toowoomba tonight.