Japanese Group 1 winning mare Hana’s Goal is a rough chance of making an appearance at the Brisbane Winter Carnival and run in the Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.
Japanese mare Hana's Goal could be a surprise Stradbroke Handicap starter. Photo by Steve Hart.
Brisbane Racing Club’s racing manager Bart Sinclair said that Hana’s Goal’s owner Michael Tabart has been approached to consider coming to Brisbane for the winter after the mare won the Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick last Saturday.
Tabart could be encouraged to spend more time in Australia before returning to Japan with a $25,000 travel allowance available if he were ti run Hana’s Goal in the Stradbroke Handicap.
“She has to be back there by the end of July and that is doable,” Sinclair told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“There is dialogue ongoing and (Hana’s Goal) would qualify for a travel subsidy.
“International horses are offered $25,000 towards travel and general expenses but they have to run in the Stradbroke.”
“We are trying desperately and they are considering it.”
“I would say the odds are against us but we are in the ring throwing punches.”
The Group 1 $650,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 24 and the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 21 would also be ideal races for Hana’s Goal and if she were to race here would be the first Japanese trained horse to race in Brisbane according to Sinclair.
“I can’t remember a Japanese horse ever racing here and she is Group 1 performed,” Sinclair said.
Hana’s Goal was having her third run over the Sydney Autumn Carnival when she unleashed a blistering finish from last on the home turn for Nash Rawiller to score a two lengths win in the weight for age All Aged Stakes.
“It was very good win. She has probably adjusted a bit. She ran in two of our hardest races. It is not easy to come here from the other side of the world and run in a Doncaster that’s for sure,” Rawiller said.
“In a small field she had a few things that suited her and she showed her class and that’s what she has plenty of.”
