Racing: Hollindale Stakes opens Court Ruler's cup campaign

BRISBANE - Queensland Derby winner Court Ruler will begin a limited winter campaign in the Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast on Saturday ahead of long-range plans to target the Melbourne Cup.

The John Wheeler-trained Court Ruler is due to arrive in Queensland today to prepare for the 1800m group two feature and will be ridden by heavyweight Victorian jockey Danny Brereton who finished third on the Colin and Cindy Alderson-trained Sea Galleon in Sunday's South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.

Wheeler has earmarked only two starts in Queensland for Court Ruler if all goes to plan and will need to pay a late entry fee of A$13,750 ($17,995) for his main mission in the group one Doomben Cup (2020m) on May 22.

Court Ruler confirmed his trip across the Tasman with a last-start fourth to Boundless in the group three Hawkes Bay Cup (2200) at Hastings on April 24. "I'm real happy with him and he's going super at the moment," Wheeler said.

"He should have run second in the Hawke's Bay Cup but he got hampered badly at the 200m.

"He'll run in the Hollindale Stakes on Saturday and I'll have to pay a late fee to run him in the Doomben Cup after I overlooked the original nominations.

"If he goes well in those two races I'll take him straight back home to prepare him for the Melbourne Cup."

He will be accompanied on his trip to Queensland by stablemates The Grogoch and Hollows.

The Grogoch collected his sixth win in 26 starts when successful over 2500m at Hastings on Hawkes Bay Cup Day while Hollows finished a disappointing sixth to Spare A Fortune over 1400m at Trentham on Saturday.

- AAP