Hosking chasers on the comeback trail

By Alex Nolan

Two of trainer Jamie Hosking’s most popular chasers are eyeing a return.

Group 1-placed stayer Micks Recall is likely to resume in heats of the Group 3 Gold Cup at Albion Park on Thursday week, while Capalaba track specialist Columbian King isn’t far off.

Micks Recall was last seen publicly when she finished down the track in the Listed Christmas Gift at Cannington in December.

Hosking said Micks Recall was in good hands in the west but revealed she has been a touch flat since her return.

“She’s probably not firing at her absolute best,” he warned.

“She’s definitely tracking towards the heats next week and although she’s around the mark, she’s probably not going as brilliant as she can.

“There’s a million different reasons for that, perhaps it was her first trip away without me going.

“There are no niggles, she’s just come back a bit flat.”  

Micks Recall finished third behind Sir Truculent in last year’s Group 1 Queensland Cup (710m) at Albion Park when sent out a $3.20 favourite.

She boasts a 50% win-record over the 710m trip at ‘The Creek’ and has posted a best time of 41.82 seconds.

The Gold Cup (710m) heats are set to be among the strongest of the Golden Greys Summer Carnival.

A number of this Thursday’s Clem Jones Cup (710m) contestants are likely to feature, including recent Group 1 winners Gypsy Wyong and Knicks Bale.

The $150,000 Gold Cup Final will be run at Albion Park on Thursday, February 3.

Meanwhile, reigning Capalaba Cup champion and 23-time straight track winner Columbian King is nearing a racetrack return for the first time since October.

Columbian King’s career is by no means “finished” but is on “borrowed time” according to Hosking.

Hosking said Columbian King has battled a reoccurring back injury for the best part of a year and was due to return early this month before some other niggles struck.

Columbian King trialled at Albion Park on Tuesday morning and Hosking revealed he was likely to start there before returning to his favoured straight track.

“The plan is to get him back to Capalaba but he has suffered a couple of injuries up there,” Hosking said.

“We’ve decided to trial him around the circle and there’s a fair chance he’ll start at Albion Park to strengthen him up before going back.”

Columbian King has collected more than $83,000 in 50 starts to-date and boasts a winning strike-rate of 70% over the 366m at Capalaba.

TAB OPENS GROUP 3 GOLDEN TICKET MARKETS

Meanwhile, TAB has installed the Kevin Ellis-trained Impact as a $2.90 favourite to take out Thursday’s Group 3 Golden Ticket Final at Albion Park.

The Golden Ticket comprises four two-dog match races, with the overall winner determined by the fastest winning time.

The grand prize is an express pass into next month’s $300,000 Group 1 Gold Bullion Final.

Impact was the fastest qualifier in last week’s heats, stopping the clock in 29.81 seconds.

He will take on Victorian chaser Aston Ulysses, who recorded his second win in three Queensland starts by winning a heat in 29.89 seconds.   

Betting on both overall and head-to-head match race markets are now available with TAB.

TAB MARKET

1. Extra Malt $7.50

2. Magical Cyndie $13

3. Kooringa Lucy $8.50

4. Little Byrnes $31

5. Spotted Elk $5.50

6. Louis Rumble $4.80

7. Impact $2.90

8. Aston Ulysses $4.80

Reserves

9. See Them Try $26

10. Sunshine Delight $21

TAB H2H MATCH RACE MARKETS

Match Race 1 - 9.01pm

Extra Malt (Box 1) $1.45

Magical Cyndie (Box 3) $2.75

Match Race 2 - 9.13pm

Kooringa Lucy (Box 1) $1.20

Little Byrnes (Box 3) $4.50

Match Race 3 - 9.25pm

Spotted Elk (Box 1) $2.10

Louis Rumble (Box 3) $1.75

Match Race 4 - 9.37pm

Impact (Box 1) $1.50

Aston Ulysses (Box 3) $2.60