KEY POINTS:
Waikato trainer Roger James has no doubt it's a tougher task this year as his stable chases a repeat of its 2006 successes at the Queensland winter carnival.
Smart mare Gaze and 3-year-old filly Shira take on star-studded line-ups at the Gold Coast today to kick off James' raid, which could total up to eight horses in coming weeks.
"We're striking very good fields and it's a step up from last year," James said.
A year ago Gaze ran second to Super Lacuna in the listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m), the race in which Shira lines up today.
Gaze went on to win the group three Doomben Roses (2020m) and started favourite in the Queensland Oaks but finished well back.
This time Gaze has returned in top form, beating Sir Slick at weight-for-age in the group one New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie in March before a good fourth on a wet track in the group one Champions Mile at Ellerslie.
"She's in lovely order, she looked a picture," James said yesterday.
The main obstacle for Gaze in the group two A$300,000 ($335,000) weight-for-age Hollindale Stakes (1800m) is the presence of the outstanding Gai Waterhouse-trained Desert War.
James said 2000m was Gaze's ideal distance but he wasn't conceding to Desert War.
"He's the star of the Sydney autumn carnival and you just have to hope to strike him on an off day. But we won't be making it easy for him."
Gaze was yesterday at a price of $26 with the New South Wales TAB for the Hollindale.
Brisbane jockey Stathi Katsidis rides both Gaze and Shira.
James said Shira, who was fourth in the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham in March, had taken a few days to settle into her new surroundings.
"I'm hopeful rather than confident," he said of Shira.
Shira also faces a tough field, headed by another Waterhouse runner Cheeky Choice and Melbourne trainer Danny O'Brien's rising star Splashing Out, owned by Garry Chittick of Waikato Stud.
James' team earned more than $500,000 in Queensland a year ago, with smart sprinter Hasta La Ciao Ciao winning a listed mares' race at Ipswich.
Other James runners at the carnival will be Cypress Point, Ritzy Lady, Macavelli Miss, Madame Shinko and Casa De Campo.
Of the other New Zealanders racing today, Mark Walker's Great Northern Guineas winner Santagostino will have Craig Williams aboard in the Gold Coast Bracelet, while stablemate Huluava is third on the ballot in the same race.
Williams will also ride Belthazar from barrier 11 for trainer Graeme Sanders in the listed A$175,000 Prime Minister's Cup (1300m).
Jockey Leith Innes crosses the Tasman for the rides on New Zealand-trained runners Magic Tryst and My Hangover.
The Craig Ritchie-trained Magic Tryst, coming off a win at Ellerslie, takes on star filly Gold Edition at level weights in the A$100,000 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m), while My Hangover has 54kg and barrier eight for the A$150,000 Silk Stocking (1200m).
- NZPA
