Acceptances are in for Saturday's Group 2 TAB Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at Aquis Park Gold Coast and the headline name is the same one that won at Flemington in November. Half Yours, the 2025 Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup double-winner, is the $2.40 favourite for the $500,000 weight-for-age feature, second-up under the watch of co-trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy. The Symon Wilde-trained mare She's A Hustler is the second elect at the Gold Coast on her trip north, with the local Tom Kitten also accepting. The Hollindale is the official lead-up to the Group 1 Doomben Cup on 23 May.
Half Yours Begins the Queensland Campaign
Half Yours has not raced since his Melbourne Cup victory in November and his Queensland prep is the carnival's lead story. The McEvoys confirmed last fortnight that the son of St Jean will run second-up in the Hollindale (Saturday 9 May), third-up in the Doomben Cup (23 May), and fourth-up in the Group 2 Q22 (13 June) at Eagle Farm. The exhibition gallop at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday was reportedly clean, and the rain that has been around in Queensland looks like staying for the rest of the week. Half Yours is a soft-track horse who handles a heavy 8 surface, which suits the forecast.
Tony McEvoy spoke at length about the Cup-winner's autumn plans last Thursday, telling SEN that the Hollindale is the perfect distance and surface to introduce the gelding back into competition. Half Yours has been at Sunshine Coast trainer base for two weeks, with no concerns from the bone scan or veterinary check. The trip to 1800m, the standard weight-for-age conditions, and the lead-up pattern all suit a horse coming off a 13-week layoff.
The Stradbroke Carnival Picture Sharpens
She's A Hustler is the second-tier name at the Gold Coast Saturday after winning the Group 2 Stocks Stakes at the Valley last spring. Symon Wilde nominated her for the Hollindale on Tuesday and the Sportsbet markets have her at $7. The Doomben Cup market has firmed Half Yours from $2.40 to $2.30, with She's A Hustler steady at $5, Birdman and Tom Kitten both at $7, Pride Of Jenni at $8, and Vauban (the Irish stayer) at $10 at Picklebet. The market is condensed by the standards of recent Doomben Cup years, suggesting the bookmakers are trying to hold their margins until Saturday's run gives a fresh form line.
Saturday's Hollindale Stakes Day card at the Gold Coast also features the Listed Certis Security Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) and a Sunshine Coast Cup-style staying programme. Caulfield and Randwick host their Saturday metropolitan cards on the same afternoon. Brisbane Racing Club confirmed the Eagle Farm card next Saturday will feature the Group 3 Bright Shadow Quality (1200m) as the Stradbroke Handicap markets continue to build.
Where the Markets Land
Punters watching the Hollindale should remember that Doomben Cup form is the story of the day, not Saturday's result. Half Yours at $2.40 is the Cup-winner's price, not a typical Hollindale favourite price, and the line through Cup horses second-up at this trip in recent years has been mixed. Bookmakers will refresh the Doomben Cup market by Saturday evening with Half Yours's run. Markets at dabble, Ladbrokes and Neds will all firm or ease across Friday morning when the Bureau of Meteorology issues its formal track forecast.
Full Hollindale Stakes Day acceptances, race times and connections are available via Racing Queensland. Gates open at the Gold Coast Turf Club from 10am Saturday with first race at 12:25pm AEST.