TAB On The Punt: Nathan Exelby previews the meeting at Gold Coast

Zaaki is one of the country’s best WFA horses and still a juicy price to win another Hollindale Stakes, says Queensland racing expert Nathan Exelby. BEST BETS QUADDIE

Zaaki winning last year’s Hollindale Stakes. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Sky Racing and Brisbane Racing Club’s turf expert Nathan Exelby runs his eye over Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes meeting at Gold Coast.

Track: Soft 7. Rail: True

BEST BETS

Sibaaq R1 No.8 – $2.80

Trialled up strongly alongside Count De Rupee and looks superbly placed first up in Australia taking on this grade.

Stroll R4 No.13 – $13

Concede the favourite is very good, but think this girl is too. Super job in first prep and latest trial looked very sharp.

Apache Chase (Rockhampton) R8 No.2 – $2.40

Price shredded with Streets Of Avalon coming out, but still looks a good play. He’s better than these.

MONEY TALKS

R1: Sibaaq $3-$2.80

R2: Remlaps Gem $2.40-$2.20

R3: Soprano Supreme $10-$7

R4: Nettuno $2-$1.80

R5: Yamazaki $4.60-$4, Bonham $13-$10

R6: Canadian Dancer $10-$7.50

R7: Prince Of Boom $3-$2.60, Sword Of State $5-$4.60, Me Me Lagarde $14-$11

R8: Zaaki $1.80-$1.65

R9: Salateen $11-$4.20

More Sundays is a blowout chance in the last leg of the quaddie. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

THE QUADDIE

R6: GOLD COAST BRACELET (1800m)

Scratchings have eaten into this race and could do so further if Gypsy Goddess ($1.85) comes out. She’s clear top pick, but don’t think she revelled in the ground in Sydney. She’s better on top of the ground. Likely still too sharp for these if she runs. Gin Martini ($8.50) was excellent in the Oaks and clearly handles the ground. Has a splash of class here. Canadian Dancer ($7.50) handled the conditions comfortably last time and no reason she can’t stretch to 1800m now. Stablemate Secret Tales ($11) comes through easier races, but loves the ground and is still improving. Dynasties ($10) and Smirk ($17) come off promising runs in Sydney and can measure up, particularly if Gypsy comes out.

Selections: 1 Gypsy Goddess, 4 Gin Martini, 5 Canadian Dancer, 8 Dynasties, 7 Secret Tales, 11 Smirk

R7: GOLD COAST GUINEAS (1200m)

Going to forgive Sword Of State ($4.60) his spring flops and bank on him bringing his New Zealand form to this. Has a super record over there and his form ties in with the two sprinters that won/ran fourth in the VRC Newmarket. Wet unknown, but by the right sire to cope. Fellow Kiwi Meritable ($26) will be better over further, but can see him running a race here. Promising on what we’ve seen to date. Prince Of Boom ($2.60) sets a good standard for them to live up to. Takes on tougher this time, but couldn’t have been more impressive in the two recent wins. Rhapsody Rose ($16) the knockout, but barrier doesn’t help.

Selections: 3 Sword Of State, 7 Meritable, 2 Prince Of Boom, 12 Rhapsody Rose

R8: HOLLINDALE STAKES (1800m)

Think the $1.65 being served up about Zaaki is a gift. I expect he will start south of $1.50 here. He’s proven in the top two or three middle distance WFA horses in the country and takes on a group of handicappers here. Proved himself on heavy ground when cruelly robbed of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last time out. Loved his time in Queensland last year and puts in every time. Doesn’t look huge pressure, so he will be on speed and dominate. Ayrton ($6) is the one wildcard that could cause a boilover going to 1800m for the first time, but the reality is, he goes from the limit in a Group 3 handicap to meeting Zaaki at level weights.

Selections: 1 Zaaki, 3 Ayrton

R9: AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB TROPHY (1200m)

Market tightens up with Orbisyn coming out and Shooting For Gold ($3) is no lock on the wet either. Happy to back More Sundays ($23) at the big odds. Huge win two starts back, then had 60.5kg and got up on the slower section before peaking halfway up the straight in a race dominated by those coming from right out back. He’s going well enough to measure up here. Salateen ($4.20) is a very talented mare who proved herself on heavy ground through the summer. Stable suggests she’s going gangbusters this time in. Could entertain Mass Destruction ($9.50) but he’s nowhere near his best on genuinely rain affected ground Last Chance ($14) a knockout at big odds again.

Selections: 14 More Sundays, 9 Salateen, 6 Shooting For Gold, 5 Last Chance

AWAY FROM HOME

London (Gosford, Race 1, $5) has been scratched from the Gold Coast to run here. Wasn’t far off the Slipper winner at his debut and might have come back better going on the recent trial. Think he can win here and then make his way up to Queensland. Battleton (Gosford, Race 10, $2.90) would have been hard to beat in the Gold Coast Guineas, but runs here instead. Trial says he’s ready to win.