Seventeen stayers are poised to line up at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday following the release of 2016 Caloundra Cup (2400m) nominations this morning.
Amexed has been included in 2016 Caloundra Cup nominations. Photo: Daniel Costello
Amexed posted an impressive win as a $21 outsider last start and has been included by leading Queensland trainer Tony Gollan in 2016 Caloundra Cup nominations.
Amexed stamped himself as a horse to follow as a three-year-old through the 2014 edition of the Brisbane Winter Carnival; winning the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) before placing fourth in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) and fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Unable to make much of an impact through a subsequent summer campaign, the Pentire gelding spent more than a year away from racing before returning this time for sixth in the Roladuct Spiral Tubing Plate (1350m) on March 19th.
Failing to produce much when eleventh in the ARA Fire BM85 (1630m) on April 30th, Amexed has since placed third in the Hot FM BM80 (1650m) and won the Provincial Stayers Cup (2150m) at Ipswich.
Index Linked returned to winning form at Eagle Farm over the weekend and has been included in 2016 Caloundra Cup nominations by trainer Chris Waller.
Posting twelve wins and a further ten minors through his forty-two start career so far, Index Linked clearly required a run when resuming this year for 12th in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) on March 26th.
Responding well for second in the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Plate (2200m) on April 16th, the Dansili gelding placed fifth in the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) before a hapless run for eighth in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) on May 28th.
Progressing to fifth in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 11th, Index Linked produced a gutsy performance to win the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) last weekend and should have taken plenty of confidence and benefit from the performance.
Waller is set to launch a two-pronged attack in the stayer feature after also including Junoob in 2016 Caloundra Cup nominations.
Maurus savaged the line for success in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) a fortnight ago and has been included by trainer David Vandyke in 2016 Caloundra Cup nominations.
Maurus has been a strong and consistent performer for Vandyke through his entire racing career so far; claiming six wins and seven minors through seventeen starts.
Arriving in Brisbane for success in the Windsor Management Insurance Brokers Handicap (2200m) on April 30th, the Medicean gelding ran a credible fifth in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in his only other start prior than the Ipswich Cup.
The 2016 Caloundra Cup field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, Wednesday.
Open an account and bet with Ladbrokes.com.au to take advantage of the best odds on all races at the Sunshine Coast this weekend!
2016 Caloundra Cup Nominations
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 231×082512 | ALL CLEAR | M | 4 | Noel Doyle | 75 |
| 2 | 00x69x6031 | AMEXED (NZ) | G | 5 | Tony Gollan | 80 |
| 3 | 91042177×8 | BACK TO ABILENE | G | 8 | Robert Lyford | 74 |
| 4 | 1765×22254 | DENONINATOR | G | 5 | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | 69 |
| 5 | 0529×78601 | FELTRE | G | 5 | Brian Smith | 91 |
| 6 | 6736×63436 | GESEMI (NZ) | M | 5 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 88 |
| 7 | 9058×63136 | HOLY COW | M | 5 | Michael Kent | – |
| 8 | 300×025851 | INDEX LINKED (GB) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | 105 |
| 9 | 70×8685373 | INSTRUMENTALIST (IRE) | G | 7 | Dale Healey | 89 |
| 10 | 549×031902 | JUMBO PRINCE | H | 4 | Michael Nolan | 96 |
| 11 | 2012×04638 | JUNOOB (GB) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | 104 |
| 12 | x120x23151 | MAURUS (GB) | G | 5 | David Vandyke | 103 |
| 13 | 285×725727 | MY DIAMANTINE (NZ) | M | 5 | Brian Smith | 81 |
| 14 | 2998×85880 | POP ’N’ SCOTCH | G | 5 | Liam Birchley | – |
| 15 | x030440284 | PUCCINI (NZ) | H | 5 | Darren Weir | 101 |
| 16 | 2223202685 | TUNES | G | 7 | Andrew Williamson | – |
| 17 | x59x858102 | TYPING | F | 3 | Stuart Kendrick | 73 |
