Impressive Boxing Day wins have mares on target for feature

Talented mares Qingdao and Desired View will head to Sunday’s $30,000 Golden Bracelet at Percy Spencer Racecourse after the pair recorded dominant victories on Boxing Day in Albany.

Qingdao, who has recently returned to the Albany stables of Paul Hunter, stormed home from sixth on the home turn and gobbled up her rivals to race clear and win by 2¼ lengths in the Albany Printers/Office National Handicap (1450m) last week. The victory also doubled as the first success for comeback jockey Daniel Staeck after his long riding lay-off.

Staeck positioned the Testa Rossa mare in a terrific spot in running from barrier nine and her brilliant form at the Albany venue continued as she pulled away comfortably to beat $2.20 favourite Megafactory on the line.

Qingdao, now in his second stint here, has an incredible record for Hunter with six starts for three victories and three second placings.

The four-year-old has had seven starts at the track for four wins and three second placings.

Hunter said Qingdao deserved a crack at the fillies and mares feature race on the back of that second-up effort. “She races pretty well here and has matured a bit since I last had her,” he said.

“Her record is very good here and it was an impressive win — on that she can win a few more.”

“She’ll go to the Bracelet now, which is shaping up to be a really good race.”

Progressive five-year-old Desired View will also contest the Golden Bracelet after her smart second-up win in the Albany Signs Handicap (1450m). Trained by Angela Smith, the speedy mare was sent straight to the front by experienced hoop Mark Forder, who outsmarted his rivals as he rolled along extending the margin coming into the home straight.

Forder was simply too clever as he went to work in the final 200m and Desired View held off Prince Friar by 1¾ lengths to notch her fourth career win, all of which have come in Albany. “It was a great first-up run and she carried on with it,” Smith said.

“She doesn’t have to lead but is happy out in front and she is going in the Bracelet now.”

“She is stronger now, last prep she learnt to become a racehorse and she has matured on nicely.”

The red-hot Mark Bairstow stable recorded another winner, with middle distance galloper Daisy Express claiming the Lionetti’s IGA Handicap (1600m) to score a third successive win.

Bairstow is likely to bypass the Golden Bracelet with the four-year-old mare and instead target the Ladies Day Handicap (1900m) on the same day and then the $20,000 Plantagenet Wines Handicap (1850m) in Mt Barker on January 22.

Albany trainer Roy Rogers continued his golden run this season with a ninth winner after Queen Tori broke her maiden status while promising runner Real Target earned a crack at metropolitan level after easily winning the final race.