It’s Somewhat has secured his third win in as many starts this campaign when taking out the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Coming off an all the way win in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile the start prior, It’s Somewhat went forward again to lead, and proved too strong for Single Gaze who was also on speed with Maurus running on well for third.
The Godolphin runner returned a Timeform figure of 118, four pounds below his Doncaster win and the same figure he ran to when winning the Ajax Stakes first up.
It’s Somewhat ran to the same figure as Leebaz who won in both 2016 and 2015 with 2014 winner Streama running to 113.
Likely to head towards the Doomben Cup in two weeks time, It’s Somewhat looks very hard to beat again with the Hollindale genuinely a strong lead up race some 10 horses having completed the Hollindale – Brisbane Cup double since 1991.
Among those are the likes of Rough Habit and Might And Power with Streama the last to complete the double in 2014.
Of the beaten runners Single Gaze continues to run well and ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 113, four pounds above her last start win in the Mandate Tails Quality the start prior. And one pound above her Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes win last year.
Maurus in third was also good with the 59kg and ran to 116, his highest since winning the Ipswich Cup last year and is certainly one to keep an eye on throughout the carnival.
Earlier in the programme Religify returned in good order when taking out the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m), his 11th career win from only 27 starts.
Settling up on the speed with Hugh Bowman on board, Religify made good ground the final 200m to edge out Siegfried over the concluding stages with Federal over two lengths away in third.
Religify ran to a Timeform figure of 112, his highest since running to 116 when winning at Randwick in early February.
The Chris Waller-trained runner ran two pounds above 2016 winner Coolring and is the highest rated winner of the race since The Jackal in 2007 who also ran to 112 when beating Daunting Lad.
Siegfried in second ran to a new career peak figure of 103, one pound above his win at Doomben the start prior over Sir Moments.
The local galloper has been racing in terrific form this campaign with Federal in third running to 100, well below the 107 he ran to the start prior in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes.
Another big winners of the day came from Savanna Amour in the final race of the day who claimed the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas.
Settling off the leaders in fourth, Savanna Amour found space in the early part of the straight before running on strongly to grab a narrow win from Heroic Valour who fought back strongly on the inside and Tessera not far away in third.
The queensland-trained galloper returned a career peak Timeform figure of 101, two pounds above his Group 2 Armanasco Stakes win at Caulfield before a spell.
Savanna Amour is the lowest rated winner of the race since it’s inception in 2008 with 2016 winner Takedown running to 109p but is the first filly to win since Florentina in 2012 who ran to 104.
The highest rated runner of the race was Heroic Valour in second who ran to 105, seven pounds below his fourth placing in Group 1 company at Te Rapa before a spell.
Tessera in third followed up her strong returning effort at Randwick and ran to 104, five pounds lower than her first up run but looks an improving type on the rise.
