Hollindale Stakes 2016: Steve O’Dea chasing more Moments in spotlight

TRAINER Steve O’Dea is not shying away from the challenge of a tougher task than last year in Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes.

Sir Moments will be attempting to go one better when he contests the Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast.

TRAINER Steve O’Dea is not shying away from the challenge of a tougher task than last year in Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes.

O’Dea believes his gelding Sir Moments is going even better now than he was a year ago.

According to Timeform ratings, Saturday’s field is the best in the past five years.

Sir Moments was the closest of seconds in last year’s Hollindale, beaten by Leebaz, who also returns. Leebaz returned a winning Timeform rating of 118 last year.

The benchmark figure for the race over the past 10 years is 122, which was recorded by Chris Waller’s pair My Kingdom Of Fife (2011) and Metal Bender (2010).

Saturday’s event is unlikely to rate to the same level, but with Hauraki, Spiritjim, Volkstok’n’barrell and It’s Somewhat having Timeform figures of 120 or better, it will not be far off that mark.

O’Dea does not agree that Saturday’s race will be considerably stronger than last year.

“It might look a bit stronger on paper, but going into it last year it looked a very solid race with Silent Achiever one of five Group 1 winners there,” he said.

Sir Moments works at Doomben last year. Picture: Peter Wallis

“Hauraki obviously has strong Sydney carnival form, but it’s hard to keep holding that for a long time, so I’m not scared of taking them all on.

“You can make a case to say Sir Moments is going better this year.

“All of his runs have been really strong and it’s been harder because he’s been asked to carry more weight.”

Spiritjim presents as the query runner of the Hollindale, arriving with a Timeform figure of 121, from a Group 2 placing last September.

A year earlier he had leapt to 123 with his Group 1 win at Saint-Cloud.

Timeform’s Australian compiler Gary Crispe said Spiritjim would be a serious threat on Saturday if Chris Waller had him anywhere near his peak European numbers.

“He may need the run first-up but class-wise he’s a better horse than most of these,” Crispe said.

“Chris Waller has a history of getting these European horses to improve a few pounds when they come here, so if he could do that with this horse, he will be a serious contender in the top races out here.”

O’Dea said improving mare Beatniks had freshened up well as she shoots for stakes success in the 1200m Listed Silk Stocking.

Leebaz will be trying to win the Hollindale Stakes back-to-back. Picture: Scott Fletcher

Originally published as Hollindale Stakes 2016: Steve O’Dea chasing more Moments in spotlight