Fancied 2YO’s draw wide for rich Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic

FANCIED 2YOs DRAW WIDE FOR RICH CAPRICORNIA YEARLING SALE CLASSIC

Two of the leading contenders for the $168,000 Capricornia 2YO Classic (1200m), Saraqael and Hi Frank have drawn wide gates for Saturday’s big race.

Unbeaten 2024 sales bargain, the Warwick Satherley-trained Saraqael (Warwick Satherley) will run from barrier 10 while Sileas Green’s Hi Frank (Ash Butler) will start from a gate to his left in 11.

Meanwhile the Clinton Taylor trained fancy Power Chic (Justin Stanley) has drawn perfectly at gate four and the best of the southern raiders the Gary Doughty trained Cat Call has drawn barrier one.

The barrier positions could result in tactical changes for the riders. Satherley has a versatile horse in Saraqael and isn’t fussed about the draw. “It’s not ideal so we will just have to ride him to account for it, he has gate speed to overcome it and it may be a case of driving him forward,” the trainer-jockey said.  “But he can sit off the pace, he did that in his Mackay win, or race in the lead, he has done it all at his three starts, so we will just wait and see how this race pans out.”

Last start Ryan Wiggins rode Saraqael and he led all the way over 1100m at Callaghan Park to beat stablemates Bitter Spirit and Power Chic by a length. Like Satherley, Butler said his draw could have been a lot better. “I will have to go forward (on Hi Frank), there’s a few unknowns in the race and I don’t want to get caught behind,” he said. Hi Frank won his Maiden on a heavy track in Mackay last month and before that was runner-up twice in Rockhampton behind the smart Honourbefore Glory and finished a handy third to Power Chic in an 1100m Maiden at Callaghan Park. Power Chic is yet to put in a bad run in three race starts.

Cat Call, trained at the Gold Coast has had two starts and was runner-up on the Gold Coast poly track at its most recent start. In that race Cat Call chased the leader and subsequent winner Blinding Speed all the way and the duo gapped the rest of the field. Cat Call has drawn perfectly and will have the services of Ryan Wiggins.

3 & 4YO FEATURE COULD BE A 2YO CLASSIC REPEAT

Two years ago, Sunnycoast and Track Tale fought out the finish of the Capricornia 2YO Classic at Callaghan Park and on Saturday they will go head-to-head as favoured runners in the $118,000 3 & 4YO Classic (1300m).

The Jamie McConachy-trained Sunnycoast beat Ricky Vale’s Track Tale by just over a length in the big two-year-old race in 2023 and both gallopers have held great form since then. Track Tale is trying to overcome a Classic race hoodoo for Vale and his owner Liam Goody. The combination has already tried twice to take the major prize. Last year, as a 3YO Track Tale finished the runner-up in this race won by Under The Cap.

4YO gelding Sunnycoast (Sean Cormack) has been in super form with two wins from its past three starts. Both wins have been in Mackay over 1050m and 1200m respectively. The galloper is yet to win beyond 1200m and with a steadier of 62kg, from barrier 8, that could be its only knock. On the other hand, 4YO mare Track Tale also weighted at 62kg has won at Callaghan Park over 1300m and has been placed over longer distances, which would sway the odds in his favour. Track Tales form at Eagle Farm and Doomben over the last two months has been good without the galloper placing, and before she raced in the south, he scored a good win last December. Premier Queensland trainer Tony Gollan has Pivotal Lad (Goergina Cartwright) engaged in this race and Toowoomba’s Matt Kropp has Propose (Olivia Kendall). Pivotal Lad has won two of its last four starts at the Sunshine Coast. Propose, a winner of two races was placed third at Toowoomba last start.

URUGUAYAN JOCKEY DISAPPOINTED TO BE SIDELINED FOR CLASSIC DAY

Raul Silvera Olivera, suspended after riding a winning double in Mackay said he is disappointed not to be riding at the two-day Rockhampton race meeting.

A riding suspension imposed by QRIC stewards has cost Silvera Olivera plum rides at Callaghan Park including 4YO Sunnycoast, raced by his good friend Brian Hall (Graceville Thoroughbreds), in the $118,000 3&4YO Classic.

Silvera Olivera has fought hard to maintain a visa to allow him to ride in Central Queensland and is popular with trainers, owners and punters. “It is disappointing, I am missing out on good race rides,” he said. The jockey said he will keep himself busy at home so he doesn’t have to watch the horses he would have been riding race.