Four-year-old entire Tumbler Ridge will be the flagbearer for the in-form Steve O'Dea & Matthew Hoysted stable in Saturday's Listed feature at the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.
The AU$175,000 Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) has attracted a capacity field of 18 runners and five emergencies, but despite the big and talented field, co-trainer Matt Hoysted is hoping that Tumbler Ridge can measure up.
After drawing barrier six in the 1400m event with one of the state's top apprentice riders in Jaden Lloyd on board, Hoysted is confident that we will see an improved effort second-up.
The son of Spill The Beans raced first-up on Stradbroke Handicap Day (June 11) in the Listed Hinkler Handicap at Eagle Farm, but finished down the track in the 1200m race.
“We've been really happy with him since that first-up run,” Hoysted told HorseBetting.
“He just failed to fire on that firm Eagle Farm track.
“He usually has a good record there at Eagle Farm, but a couple of times when it's been really firm – which obviously it was being the third week in succession running there on Stradbroke Day, it was quite firm – so unfortunately he was reluctant to stretch out a little.
“Hopefully getting back to Caloundra on Saturday will suit.”
Although the four-year-old is yet to win at Listed level, he was only narrowly beaten in the Recognition Stakes at Doomben in December when outrunning Niccanova, who once again lines up in the Glasshouse after finishing second in 2019.
Hoysted said that the stable has targeted the horse at this race, with the belief that his best form is good enough to be going close to winning.
“It's a race we've sort of targeted him at,” he said.
“He gets in with no weight (54kg) there on Saturday.
“Obviously it's going to be a strong enough race, but we know at his best he can be competitive in a race like this.”
Currently sitting third in the Queensland Metropolitan Trainers Premiership behind Tony Gollan and Chris Waller, O'Dea & Hoysted will be looking to add to their tally of 53 metro winners over the next month before the 2021/22 season finishes.
The stable will saddle up four live chances at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, June 29, with a team of six headed to the Caloundra Cup meeting this Saturday.
Also among the six runners is in-form mare Red Rubi.
The four-year-old daughter of Rubick is chasing a hat-trick of wins when she takes her place in the $105,000 Provincial Sprinters Series Final (1200m).
The mare did enough to win first-up at this track over 1000m, before going to Doomben on June 8 to win comfortably over 1050m, with Hoysted confident that they have “worked her out” now.
“We've really seemed to have worked her out,” the trainer said.
“Kept at these shorter courses – she's been really effective over the 1000m – tempo on, ridden dead-cold and she's really showing a good turn of foot.
“It looks a really nice race for her.”