KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - The annual New Zealand raid on the Queensland winter racing carnival gets serious at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
New Zealand-trained horses have been nominated for four of the eight races, including the Roger James-trained Gaze and the Richard Yuill-trained Mandela in the feature event, the group two A$300,000 ($340,020) weight-for-age Hollindale Stakes (1800m).
The 19 Hollindale nominations were headed by Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse's outstanding weight-for-age performer Desert War, and also included former New Zealand-trained gallopers Fooram and Shinzig.
Gaze, who finished second in an 1800m 3-year-old fillies race at this meeting a year ago, is coming off strong New Zealand form including a fourth in the Champions Mile at Ellerslie and a win over Sir Slick in the 2000m weight-for-age Starcraft Stakes in March.
Mandela, who ran ninth in the Melbourne Cup in November, has had two unplaced runs in New Zealand this campaign.
James also has New Zealand Oaks fourth placegetter Shira nominated for the listed A$125,000 Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) for 3-year-old fillies while Matamata trainer Mark Walker has nominated Huluava.
Class fillies Cheeky Choice and Splashing Out head the nominations for the Bracelet.
The Tim Carter-trained sprinter My Hangover was nominated for the listed A$150,000 Silk Stocking (1200m) for fillies and mares; and the Craig Ritchie-trained filly Magic Tryst was nominated for the listed A$100,000 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) for 3-year-olds after a comfortable last-start win at Ellerslie.
- NZPA
