Sydney horseman Jason Coyle continued his purple patch of form with an upset win in Saturday’s Queensland Guineas 2017 thanks to a brilliant last-to-first effort from his untapped three-year-old Salsonic.
Salsonic scored an excellent last-to-first 2017 Queensland Guineas win at Doomben on Stradbroke Day. Photo: Steve Hart.
The nicely-bred son of Hinchinbrook was at double-figures in betting for his Doomben test on Stradbroke Handicap Day taking on a field of better fancied rivals in the $350,000 Group 2 Ascot Green Queensland Guineas (1600m) over the mile.
It was the gelding’s fourth run over the distance, which he ran a solid third to Invincible Gem over in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) as a $31 roughie back in February at Randwick.
Salsonic’s lead-up into the Queensland Guineas was also over the 1600m at Randwick when fourth in a Benchmark 85.
Bowman had work to do on the still green three-year-old who dawdled out of the barriers before settling right back into last behind the Robert Smerdon-trained front runner Oak Door.
After working around for the wide barrier, Oak Door led the Queensland Guineas field around as Savvan went into second from the inside alley and the well-ed Toby Edmonds-trained Fred Best Classic runner-up Sylpheed positioned herself third in running.
Mid-race, jockey Tiffani Brooker whipped around the field to take the lead aboard Dreams Aplenty, the Gunsynd Classic winner looking to bounce back after a lead-up 11th in the Fred Best at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago.
Bowman meanwhile bid his time and saved energy still right at the back of the line-up aboard Salsonic, while the favourite and Fred Best Classic winner chasing the double Niccanova was sitting around fifth last coming around the turn.
Oak Door led into the straight, but all eyes were on Bowman and Salsonic who was starting to work home very strongly down the extreme outside.
Bowman had all the momentum out wide in a perfectly-timed ride with plenty of clear running to absolutely swamp his rivals and rocket home for a brave win making up all the ground in a brilliant late finish.
It was a juicy Queensland Guineas quinella, Salsonic beating home $61 roughie Volpino (2nd) from the Gold Coast stables of Les Kelly, while the favourite Niccanova worked home well for third.
“No doubt this horse can gallop,” Bowman said post-win.
“But my word, he’s got some growing up to do.
“I really had to switch him on and get him involved.
“If he can grow up in the mind, he’ll be a serious horse come the spring.”
The $125,000 Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra on July 1 could be next on the cards for the best out of the Queensland Guineas results this winter in a final run before a spring return.
Back this season’s upset Queensland Guineas winner Salsonic next race at the guaranteed best racing odds online now through Ladbrokes.com.au.
Queensland Guineas Results & Finishing Order
Doomben Race 5 – 10/06/2017
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | SALSONIC | Jason Coyle | Hugh Bowman | – | 9 | 57kg | $14 |
| 2 | 9 | VOLPINO | Les Kelly | Brad Stewart | 0.8L | 14 | 57kg | $51 |
| 3 | 4 | NICCANOVA | Steve Tregea | Anthony Allen | 1.3L | 10 | 57kg | $4.80F |
| 4 | 11 | TOP OF THE RANGE (NZ) | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 2.3L | 15 | 57kg | $41 |
| 5 | 13 | SYLPHEED | Toby Edmonds | Jeff Lloyd | 2.6L | 16 | 55kg | $6.50 |
| 6 | 12 | RIVER RACER | Les Ross | Robbie Fradd | 3.1L | 5 | 55kg | $8.50 |
| 7 | 15 | RHYMING | Steve Tregea | Larry Cassidy | 3.3L | 13 | 55kg | $101 |
| 8 | 16 | LIPSTICK LOVER | Tony Gollan | Jim Byrne | 3.7L | 3 | 55kg | $31 |
| 9 | 8 | BILLY THE KID | John Meagher | Luke Dittman | 5L | 4 | 57kg | $11 |
| 10 | 2 | OAK DOOR | Robert Smerdon | Craig Williams | 5.3L | 12 | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 11 | 14 | SAVVAN (NZ) | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 7.6L | 1 | 55kg | $41 |
| 12 | 10 | REALING | Matthew Dunn | Ronnie Stewart | 7.9L | 6 | 57kg | $101 |
| 13 | 3 | OINK | Kelly Schweida | Paul Hammersley | 8.7L | 8 | 57kg | $26 |
| 14 | 1 | DREAMS APLENTY | John Zielke | Ms Tiffani Brooker (a) | 8.9L | 11 | 57kg | $14 |
| 15 | 5 | CAERLESS CHOICE | Paul Messara | Tommy Berry | 10.9L | 2 | 57kg | $8.50 |
| 16 | 17e | CONGELATOR | Paula Cartledge | Noel Callow | 11.1L | 7 | 57kg | $201 |
| – | 19e | NETTOYER | Wendy Roche | Kerrin McEvoy | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 20e | FLYING FRED (NZ) | Evan & Jennifer J Rayner | Leith Innes | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 6 | CRACK ME UP (NZ) | Liam Birchley | Damian Browne | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 18e | CHIEF JOSEPH | Kevin Kemp | Mr James Orman | – | 0 | – | – |
