Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa celebrated his first Group victory at Eagle Farm on Saturday with progressive young stayer Supergiant going all-the-way in the Group 3 $115,000 Lexus Gunsynd Classic (1800m).
Kinane ran third as the beaten favourite in the 2020 Gunsynd Classic results. Photo: Steve Hart.
Traditionally a lead-up into the Group 1 Queensland Derby, the event remained a class affair despite no Derby taking place this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
The Chris Waller-trained Kinane was the hot favourite in the set weights clash for three-year-olds, but was taken right back from the wide gate early by jockey Ryan Maloney and was still eight lengths off the frontrunner Supergiant by the turn.
Last start runner-up at Doomben in the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes over the mile, Supergiant was best out the gates and given a sweet ride in the lead by Allan Chau who was ecstatic post-race with the trackwork rider enjoying a well-earned victory.
“It’s great for Allan, he puts a lot of hard work in the stable…he rode him perfectly today and he’s stuck with him through the whole preparation,” Costa said.
The eventual Gunsynd Classic winner had them all off the bit and showed good stamina to just hold off the late-lunging Ballistic Boy in a thrilling photo finish.
Kinane was very deep out before really starting to motor home the final 100m, but it was too late for the beaten favourite who had to settle for third.
After improving from last at the top of the straight, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Tavistock filly Sky Horse rounded out the Gunsynd Classic first four on the back of two earlier mile wins this prep in Melbourne.
Costa confirmed next-up plans for Supergiant back at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap Day, June 6, in the Group 3 $175,000 Rough Habit Plate (2200m).
“Yeah definitely (heading towards the Rough Habit),” he said.
“It’s our first Group winner as well which his great.
“There’s still improvement in this horse. He’s been a little bit tricky to train.
“He’s not a horse you can do a lot with in track work so the fitness comes through in his races.”
Belmonte (2006) was the last three-year-old to complete the Gunsynd Classic – Rough Habit Plate double.
2020 Gunsynd Classic Results
| Color | Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 8 | SUPERGIANT (NZ) | Michael Costa | Allan Chau | 5 | 57kg | $10 | ||
 |
2 | 2 | BALLISTIC BOY | Chris Anderson | Brad Stewart | 0.1L | 11 | 57kg | $8.50 | |
 |
3 | 5 | KINANE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Ryan Maloney | 2.4L | 14 | 57kg | $1.95F | |
 |
4 | 14 | SKY HORSE (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Matthew McGillivray | 3.6L | 13 | 55kg | $6.50 | |
 |
5 | 9 | MONTEZ | Maryann Brosnan | Jake Bayliss | 4.9L | 7 | 57kg | $201 | |
 |
6 | 1 | PROFIT | Chris Anderson | James Orman | 5L | 2 | 57kg | $7 | |
 |
7 | 17e | BOLD DELAGO | Gordon Hay | Ms Stephanie Thornton | 6L | 4 | 57kg | $201 | |
 |
8 | 3 | SMART METEOR | Chris Munce | Justin Huxtable (a) | 6.4L | 8 | 57kg | $41 | |
 |
9 | 6 | COULDN’T REFUSE | Desleigh Forster | Mark Du Plessis | 7.6L | 12 | 57kg | $51 | |
 |
10 | 11 | IMPACTFUL | Chris Waller | Andrew Mallyon | 8.6L | 6 | 57kg | $41 | |
 |
11 | 12 | INDIAN DREAMER | Toby & Trent Edmonds | Robbie Fradd | 9.4L | 9 | 57kg | $81 | |
 |
12 | 10 | REBEL ROCK | Peter & Will Hulbert | Taylor Marshall | 9.6L | 10 | 57kg | $71 | |
 |
13 | 4 | DON’T WAIVER | Stuart Kendrick | Michael Cahill | 11.1L | 1 | 57kg | $71 | |
 |
14 | 7 | SWING SHIFT | Matt Boland | Adin Thompson (a) | 18.1L | 3 | 57kg | $201 | |
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Table credit: Racing Australia
