Form analyst Nathan Exelby has Hooked and Moriarty on top of his 2015 Hollindale Stakes tips and he believes both gallopers represent good value at their current price.
Hooked is one of a number of winning chances in the 2015 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast this weekend. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Hooked stamped himself as a genuine contender at weight-for-age level when he won the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and he performed well without winning in both the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 and the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21 before he failed to perform at his best in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 6.
Exelby told RSN that he is happy to forgive the Doncaster Mile performance of Hooked and he believes that the Casino Prince entire is well worth an each-way bet at his current Hollindale Stakes odds of $6.50.
“The one that maps really beautifully is Hooked,” Exelby said.
“The 1800 really suits now, I would forgive the Doncaster flop and his runs prior to that were good.
“We saw at Moonee Valley last year that he is a horse that can set a really genuine tempo and keep going.
“I just think that he is beautifully placed here and I’m sure that he is going to race well.
“To me he looks the safest play in the race on an each-way basis.”
Moriarty recorded his maiden win at Group 1 level in the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot on December 6 and he returned to racing with a more than credible performance when eighth in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Exelby said that he takes heart from the fact that trainer Chris Waller has clearly set Moriarty for the Hollindale Stakes and Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), while the race is an afterthought for the likes of Silent Achiever and Arabian Gold, and he believes that the imported galloper also represents value at his current quote.
“The other one that I am interested in is Moriarty,” Exelby said.
“He is a Group 1 winner just two starts back and I thought his Ryder run was more than acceptable.
“Chris Waller did this a few years ago with Metal Bender – he gave him a light autumn in Sydney and he had him ready to fire for the two weight-for-age races here in Queensland.”
Arabian Gold is currently available at 2015 Hollindale Stakes odds of $4.60 with Ladbrokes and is a narrow favourite from Silent Achiever ($5), Hooked ($6.50), Pornichet ($6.50), Moriarty ($7.50) and Hawkspur ($8).
