Progressive gelding Sarajevo has been included in the 2015 Gold Coast Guineas field and he will have the opportunity to record a maiden win at stakes level in the Group 3 event at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Sarajevo is set to return to the races in the 2015 Gold Coast Guineas in Queensland this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Sarajevo was rated a leading Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas chance before the start of the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he was unable to live up to the hype in three race starts and he was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished sixth behind Hallowed Crown in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).
The Lonhro gelding returned to racing with a fast-finishing victory in the Place Multi Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 31, but his autumn campaign came to a premature end when he finished towards the tail of the field in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 14.
Sarajevo has been given two barrier trials since his Autumn Stakes flop and he showed plenty of speed when he finished second behind Fidel Astro in a barrier trial over 1044 metres at Royal Randwick on April 13.
Another galloper that will be returning to the races in the Gold Coast Guineas is Time For War, who will be making his racing debut for new trainer Stuart Kendrick.
Time For War made a successful trip to Queensland last year when he upset Brazen Beau and Looks Like The Cat in the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes (1350m), but he has been unable to replicate that form since and has not been seen at the races since he beat home just two horses in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
Traveston Girl is also set to return to the races in the Gold Coast Guineas and she is one of three Tony Gollan-trained gallopers that have been included in the field for the Group 3 event.
Traveston Girl has not been seen at the races since she finished second behind Amicus in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) in the spring and she will be joined in the Gold Coast Guineas by progressive stablemates Feels Like Home and Bearskin.
One of the most interesting runners in the Gold Coast Guineas field is Kelly Schweida-trained Miss Cover Girl, who is returning to Queensland racing after recording an impressive victory during The Championships in Sydney.
Miss Cover Girl suffered a surprise defeat at the Gold Coast on March 14, but she returned to her best form to lead from start to finish in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6 and is clearly one of the horses to beat in the Gold Coast Guineas.
Executed (barrier five), Nostradamus (barrier four), Pinch River (barrier 19), Beau Jet (barrier 13), Mr Cha Cha (barrier one), Huka Eagle (barrier six), Better Not Blue (barrier eight), Aimee (barrier 18), Amizade (barrier seven), Palazzo Pubblico (barrier three) and Seashells (barrier 16) round out the 2015 Gold Coast Guineas field, while Rising Luck (barrier 15), Larebil (barrier 11) and Real Gene (barrier 20) are the additional emergencies.
