Matt Hoysted sprinter Ouroboros warming up for Queensland winter carnival after putting health issues behind him

Classy sprinter Ouroboros is back firing after a series of health issues last year and can continue his path towards the Queensland winter carnival at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Trainer Matt Hoysted expects classy sprinter Ouroboros to be primed for a Queensland winter carnival assault after battling a litany of health problems last year.

The four-year-old gelding is the odds-on favourite at $2.25 with TAB for a Benchmark 78 (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

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Ouroboros has been a test of patience for Hoysted and his owners after getting travel sickness on the way from Victoria to Brisbane, then tweaking a tendon and having an issue with his kidney enzymes in the past 12 months.

But now the four-year-old son of Harry Angel is back firing and warming up for the winter carnival, with majors such as the Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 17 and the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) on May 31 possibly on the agenda.

🐉 Ouroboros makes it a one-act affair at Eagle Farm!@hoystedracing | @bozzathornton | @RaceQLDpic.twitter.com/QLSrLlo8gh

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 1, 2025

“That was why he was sent up to Queensland, to see if he can compete in these sorts of races,” Hoysted said.

“The feel he’s always given us is that he’s got above-average ability.

“This run (on Saturday) is just about giving him a bit of confidence and getting him back to the races.

“Hopefully he can win a couple of races and then we can put him away to prepare for the carnival.

“Whether that’s after Saturday or we’ll give him one more run before a freshen up, we’ll take that as it comes.”

Ouroboros was sent out as a $1.30 favourite in a Class 2 Plate at Eagle Farm (1000m) on March 1 and duly saluted in dominant fashion.

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It was his first race in a year since he finished eighth in the $1m Inglis Sprint at Flemington when trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr in Victoria.

“He was off the scene for a long time so we just had to blow off the cobwebs at Eagle Farm the other day and now he strips a lot fitter,” Hoysted said.

“I think once we get him out over a little bit further, that’s when he’ll really come into his own over 1200m.

“When he’s able to really dictate races, that’s his strength because he’s got a high-cruising speed and hopefully we’re able to utilise that.”

Boris Thornton will ride Ouroboros on Saturday in the BM78 contest where only two other runners are in single figures with TAB – the Tony Gollan-trained gelding Pizarro ($6) and Rex Lipp’s Redzoust ($8.50), who will have the in-form Cejay Graham on board.

Originally published as Matt Hoysted sprinter Ouroboros warming up for Queensland winter carnival after putting health issues behind him