Last year’s winner It’s Somewhat will have to overcome the outside barrier if he is to score back to back wins in the Group 2 $358,000 Attwood Marshall A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
It’s Somewhat, above, is fine shape to chase back to back wins in the A.D. Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast. Photo by Steve Hart.
It’s Somewhat hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since last year’s all the way win in the A.D. Hollindale Stakes but trainer James Cummings is expecting It’ Somewhat to be back to is best this weekend.
The Godolphin import won the 2017 Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick from the front before claiming the A.D. Hollindale Stakes but this year the seven year old is coming off a first up sixth to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 21.
Cummings is pleased with the way It’s Somewhat has come through the All Aged Stakes and expects him to be at his best for the 1800m of the weight for age contest on the weekend.
“The horse (had) a good blow out in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick where we thought he was excellent over the concluding stages,” Cummings said.
“He looks like he has improved a fraction off his run but he is really going to enjoy getting into his rhythm over nine furlongs. Hopefully he continues to improve throughout this preparation but we certainly feel like he is going to be ready to run very well second up.”
Queensland based jockey Damian Browne takes over from Tim Clark on It’s Somewhat who has drawn the outside gate in the fourteen horse A.D. Hollindale Stakes field.
Early betting for the A.D. Hollindale Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au has It’s Somewhat on the second line at $5 behind the Chris Waller trained Comin’ Through who heads the market order at $3.
On the third line of betting is the second of Waller’s five runners, Tom Melbourne, at $5.50 ahead of stablemate Egg Tart and the Mick Price trained Oregon’s Day at $9.
It’s Somewhat’s main rival Comin’ Through is coming off a four run Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign that saw him win the Group 2 $200,000 Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 17 before running second to Happy Clapper in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on day one of The Championships on April 7.
Comin’ Through then never threatened when fifth to his glamour stablemate Winx in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick seven days later.
Tom Melbourne has also come through the Sydney Autumn Carnival but failed to win from three starts, with a second in the Ajax Stakes, a fifth in the Doncaster Mile and an eighth in the All Aged Stakes.
