Potential contenders for $500,000 Hollindale Stakes race day revealed

All star performers Zaaki and Cascadian will headline the redesigned Hollindale Stakes race day which is set to be run at the Sunshine Coast during the Winter Carnival.

Annabel Neasham's Zaaki holds on to win the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast under jockey James McDonald, May 7 2022. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography,

The redesigned $500,000 Group 2 Hollindale Stakes is beginning to take shape with a number of standout, Group 1 winning runners set to headline the all star field.

Traditionally run at Aquis Park, the Hollindale Stakes race day will be staged on the Sunshine Coast this year on May 6 while the $63m redevelopment of the Gold Coast Turf Club is completed.

Adding to the allure of the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes is the $200,000 bonus on offer should a horse win the feature race and back it up with a win in the Doomben Cup or the Q22 Races held later in the Winter Carnival.

Trainer Annabel Neasham has confirmed Zaaki will look to repeat his success with the four-time Group 1 winning gelding aiming to create history by winning his third successive Hollindale Stakes.

Last year Zaaki joined the likes of Rough Habit (1991 and 1992), Shogun Lodge (2000 and 2001) and Leebaz (2015 and 2016) as the only horses to have won back-to-back Hollindale Stakes but no horse has ever recorded a three-peat.

The eight-year-old is coming off a gallant second in the All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick on April 15.

PSA 📢 | THE CHAMP GOES BACK-TO-BACK! ZAAKI takes the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes in style! The @ANeashamRacing-trained superstar put on a scintillating performance in the heavy going! See you at the Doomben Cup 😏 🏆 #QLDisRacing🏇 pic.twitter.com/3KS4S9iu1x

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) May 7, 2022

Multiple Group 1 winner Cascadian, a winner of over $8.2m in prize money, is also a potential contender after running third to Zaaki and winner Giga Kick in the All Aged Stakes.

The powerful Chris Waller stable is also set to be well represented in the Hollindale, with the likes of Group 1 Queen of the Turf winner Atishu, Group 2 winner Yonkers and Group 1 winner No Compromise all contenders to line-up in the race.

Group 3 JRA Plate winner Diamil for John O’Shea and third placegetter Huetor for Peter and Paul Snowden also have their sights on the Hollindale alongside Caulfield Cup runner-up Nonconformist for Grahame Begg.

Sunshine Coast Turf Club CEO John Miller said the organisation was ecstatic to be hosting the event.

“We’re really excited to be working with the Gold Coast Turf Club to deliver the feature Hollindale Stakes meeting,” said Miller.

“Hosting a race day of this calibre is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come along and see high quality racing in our own backyard, adding to our existing feature race days throughout the year.

“It speaks volumes for all the hard work we’ve done here at the Turf Club, and hosting Saturday metropolitan racing is a wonderful advertisement not only for the local racing fraternity but for the whole area.

“It will bring a welcome injection to local businesses, but importantly gives locals a chance to come and experience a quality day of entertainment both on and off the track, without having to leave the Sunshine Coast.”