WINNO'S WINNERS: GOLD COAST, MAY 10, 2025

By Darren Winningham | Friday, May 9, 2025

We are back at GOLD COAST. If you are traelling from Brisbane, leave early and avoid the traffic on the M1! It is the weekend of the time-honoured A.D.Hollindale Stakes and one of my favourite races, the Ken Russell Memorial Classic. The track is rated 'Soft'. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit. There is rain forecast in the lead up to this meeting – I expect that if it comes the track may be downgraded.

NB: As these selections were made prior to race-day, please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

Race 1

A BM78 race starts the day over 2200 metres.

Selections:

7 – Mistreesofillusion
9 – Bestower
6 – Fioprospero
5 – Hector De Maris
Rough chance – (13) Watermelon

Race 2

A BM85 race over 1200 metres.

Selections:

12 – Town Crier
6 – Majorelle
2 – Metalart
8 – John Rambo
Rough chance – (13) Emperor

Race 3 SILK STOCKING – Listed

A Listed race over 1400 metres for the fillies and mares.

Selections:

12 – Adiella
4 – Torabella
5 – Exotique Miss
6 – Russian Alliance
Rough chance – (7) Set To Shine & (11) Floozie

Race 4 AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB TROPHY

A Listed race over 1200 metres.

Selections:

12 – Need Some Luck
15 – The Inflictor
3 – Boom Torque
4 – Infancy
Rough chance – (8) Warnie & (10) Midnight In Tokyo

Race 5 TAB KEN RUSSELL MEMORIAL CLASSIC - TWO-YEAR-OLD RUNNERS

An Open class race over 1200 metres for the two-year-old runners – Group 3 level.

I like the locals here. Tony Gollan trains Lucky Lass (1). She was impressive leading all the way on debut and she is drawn well here with the best front running jockey in Australia, Tim Clark, booked a ride.

Kelly Schweida trains Sunrays (9) who is undefeated in all three starts. Tommy Berry has been booked to ride. He will need some luck from barrier 12.

James McDonald will ride Beadman (3) for the Peter Snowden yards. He came off an all the way to win at Newcastle in Maiden company last start. The stable must have an opinion of him as there has been plenty of money across the week for him - personally I don't think he can win.

Mortal Hero (5), for the Archibald Racing team, was solid without winning in his first preparation. Ethan Brown will ride. He has had a nice recent barrier trial – keep safe.

Selections:

10 – Lucky Lass
9 – Sunrays
3 – Beadman
5 – Mortal Halo
Rough chance – (4) Fabulantes

Race 6 GOLD COAST GUINEAS

First leg of the Quaddie.

A Group 3 race over 1200 metres for the three-year-old runners.

I like one at odds – Silver Wedding (12) trained by Ciaron Maher withJason Collett to ride. She won first up at Canterbury in a Maiden class race - I think with three weeks between runs she could step up and win in this grade.

Emirate (2) is trained by Chris Waller and will be ridden by James McDonald. He has been trialling recently and looks primed for this first up assignment. I think no matter what he does here you should follow him into the Winter Carnival – he will only get better.

Wanaruah (3) is trained by the Waterhouse and Bott training partnership. He is first up as well. Two recent trials would suggest that he is ready to show his best in this feature race. He has drawn barrier 11 - Tim Clark will ride.

Hella Fast (5) is a local runner – trained by Kelly Schweida and Nash Rawiller will be aboard. He is drawn terribly in barrier 18, however, he has the form to overcome that barrier and be right in this race at massive odds. His first up effort over 1000 metres screamed that he was looking for this distance as he flew home late.

Selections:

16 – Silver Wedding
2 – Emirate
3 – Wanaruah
5 – Hella Fast
Rough chance – (1) Bosustow & (10) Zoubaby


Race 7 A. D. HOLINDALE STAKES

First leg of the Treble – A Group 2 race over 1800 metres. The feature race on the program.

The Waterhouse and Bott stable send out Eliyass (8) who has a tremendous first up record. Has won a recent barrier trial. Resumes here after a 26-week spell. Was placed in the Group 1 Turnbull last year. All good form for this race for mine. Solid each way chance around the $9 mark. Tim Clark gets another nice ride.

Buckaroo (2) is trained by Chris Waller and James McDonald will ride. He is third up this weekend and has been racing in Group one company in Sydney over the last couple of months. He drops back to Group 2, looks ideally placed and deserves to be the pre-post favourite at $3.

The stable mate is Lindermann (3) with Nash Rawiller to ride. He has been up awhile this preparation and has run many placings without really being able to dominte. His last win was 27 weeks ago, and I expect him to run another place this weekend.

Militarize (7) is another Waller Racing runner – Tommy Berry will ride. He was desperately unlucky in the Group 1 Doncaster over 1600 metres and the step up in distance should suit him. He loves wet tracks and should not be underestimated. He has won three Group 1 races from 12 starts – he does have some nice form.

If the track becomes rain affected do not leave out the local runner Miss Joelene (13) trained by Kelly Schweida with Cejay Graham riding. She is on her way to the Doomben Cup – she will be right in this race.

Selections:

8 – Eliyass
2 – Buckaroo
7 – Militarize
3 – Lindermann
Rough chance – (13) Miss Joelene

Race 8 GOLD COAST BRACELET

A Listed race over 1800 metres. The best of these will go onto the Roses in weeks to come.

Meridiana (5) raced over the mile last start. Was hampered throughout the race, but still worked into the straight and made ground late. This would suggest that she is looking for further and this distance should be ideal. She is trained by John Sargent and will be ridden by Damian Thornton.

Godolphin / James Cummings have Pinito (4) racing. She ran a gallant second last start over the mile, however has not won a race in 34 weeks and just seems to be plugging away and running placings without posting a victory. Jason Collett will ride. He may be able to change her fortunes.

Heat Missile (6) is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with Tim Clark to ride. Led them up last start at Doomben over the mile and just seemed to run out of condition late. Should strip fitter for that effort and look for her to dominate in front and maybe get away with the race if they're leading and winning at the Gold Coast which sometimes occurs.

Chris Waller has several runners in the race. I think the best of him is Full Hao (9) who looks like she is screaming out for this distance.

Overall, it is a tough race, and I would not be surprised if a roughie gets up and blows them all out.

Selections:

5 – Meridiana
9 – Full Hao
4 – Pinito
6 – Heat Missile
Rough chance – (12) Amplify

Race 9 BAT OUT OF HELL

An Open class race over 1000 metres. It is the last race – hopefully all cashed up and then head off to the Casino!

I think we may see leaders dominate here in the last, or something just sitting off them near the speed.

Super Daisy (10) and Economics (8) look like the likely leaders. Both love the 1000 metres and will be hard to hold out.

Wanda Rox (2) is trained by Lindsay Hatch and has the “KING” Noel Callow riding. She won first up and since then has run two consecutive seconds. She is a very good sprinter and cannot be overlooked.

The Tony Gollan trained Nettuno (1) drops back in grade here – Blake Shinn aboard. Has drawn terribly in barrier 15, however, he loves wet tracks and with the speed in the race – may just sit in behind and finish off strong.

I like the Lee Freedman trained Flag Hall (9) trained here and a winner two starts ago over this distance. Down in the weights. He is drawn wide in barrier 11 – will need some luck from out there – Robbie Dolan will ride. He will be in behind the speed and will be storming home late.

Selections:

9 – Flag Hall
8 – Economics
2 – Wanda Rox
10 – Super Daisy
Rough chance – (1) Nettuno
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Jockeys Challenge

Always a tough day at these feature meetings. Tim Clark and Tommy Berry have some solid rides. Rough chances to Jason Collett and James McDonald as well – I will settle on Tommy Berry to sneak home.

Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

2,6,8,12 / 4,5,6,12 / 3,4,12,15 / 3,5,9,10 - cost is $256 to $1.

Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

6,12 / 4,12 / 12,15 / 3,9,10 - cost is $24 to $1

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

2,3,5,16 / 2,7,8 / 4,5,9 / 2,8,9 - cost is $108 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

2,3,16 / 2,7,8 / 5,9 / 8,9 - cost is $36 to $1

Treble (races 8 to 10)

2,7,8 / 4,5,9 / 2,8,9 - cost is $27 to $1.

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