Stroak Headlines Gold Edition Plate Field

Promising filly Stroak will have the opportunity to record a maiden win at black type level after she was included in the field for the 2014 Gold Edition Plate that will be held at Doomben on Saturday.

Stroak has the chance to record back-to-back wins when she contests the 2014 Gold Edition Plate. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Stroak has the chance to record back-to-back wins when she contests the 2014 Gold Edition Plate. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Stroak (barrier ten) made her racing debut with an impressive win in the Teldaco Handicap (1020m) at Doomben in October last year and took out The Duporth Tavern Handicap (1200m) at Doomben on December 7 before stamping herself as a Magic Millions Classic contender with a second place finish behind Unencumbered in the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on December 28.

The daughter of Real Saga was far from disgraced when fifth in the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 11, but she was unable to return to that form during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and she finished seventh in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m), 12th in the Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1350m) and ninth in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m).

Stroak returned to racing in the Casalusso Plate at the Gold Coast on November 29 and returned to her best form with a professional win, but will face a much tougher challenge in the Gold Edition Plate this weekend.

The most interesting runner in the 2014 Gold Edition Plate field is undefeated colt Cap Domingo, who has recorded three race wins from as many race starts in Gosford.

Cap Domingo (barrier one) made his racing debut with a surprise win in the WN Bull Funerals Plate (1100m) at Gosford on October 30 and recorded tough wins at the same venue in the Breakers At Wamberal Handicap (1100m) on November 13 and the Janes Furniture Express Handicap (1200m) on December 4.

There are a number of horses taking winning form into the God Edition Plate and Our Neddy Boy (barrier 12), Cloud Consort (barrier five) and She’s Miss Divine (barrier four) will all be chasing back-to-back wins in the Listed event, while Our Lady Mac and Midnight Allure are chasing their third straight win.

Homehill is yet to record a maiden race win, but he was one of the most consistent two-year-old performers in Brisbane throughout the winter period and he finished second behind Fixation in the Listed Breakfast Creek Hotel Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 21 before being denied a maiden race win by Limehills in the PMP Brisbane Town Maiden Plate (1400m).

The 2014 Gold Edition Plate field is rounded out by Soldi Domani (barrier two), Vienna Royale (barrier eight) and Little Fighter (barrier three).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.