Trainer Gillian Heinrich could face mounting pressure to reconsider her goals
with Startsmeup if the in-form sprinter delivers again at Doomben on Saturday.
Startsmeup, who will be reunited with jockey Damian Browne, will be chasing
back-to-back wins in the Coke Zero Class Six Plate (1350m).
A fortnight ago at Doomben the five-year-old scored his second win from eight
starts for Heinrich since his transfer from fellow Gold Coast trainer Bruce
Hill late last year.
The son of Danzero was an impressive first-up winner following a four month
break in a 1200-metre Class Six Plate at Ipswich in mid-June which warranted
Heinrich to freshen him up for a short Sydney trip.
Starstmeup was ridden by international jockey Jeff Lloyd at Ipswich and the
former South African then made a cameo appearance aboard the gelding in Sydney
when the pair finished third in the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Warwick
Farm last month.
Lloyd was based in Sydney from 2007 to 2009 before moving to Hong Kong.
Startsmeup was no stranger to Sydney racing having placed in the Warwick Stakes
(1400m) and Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) during a three-start campaign last
spring.
Startsmeup returned to Brisbane after his Listed placing in Sydney and lived up
to the form with a dominant class six win over 1350 metres at Doomben on
August 4.
Immediately following the victory, Heinrich pencilled in the Magic
Millions Cup next January for Startsmeup who is a multiple G2 and G3 placgetter
with almost $545,000 in prizemoney from five wins and 12 placings in 28 starts.
Heinrich believes she has some unfinished business in the Magic Millions
Cup after Startsmeup was runner-up to Spirit Of Boom in this year's Gold Coast
feature.
While Heinrich favours a Magic Millions Cup campaign, the pressure will be on
connections who will make the final decision whether to head interstate for the
spring or target the summer carnival.
Topweight Danagaze will take the next step towards a Listed race campaign
in Brisbane when he lines-up against Starstmeup.
Trainer Lawrie Mayfield-Smith was pleased
with Danagaze's return to racing when fourth behind Startsmeup earlier this
month.
The seven-year-old went into his last
appearance with a good first-up record with two wins and as many placings from
four attempts.
However, the son of Intergaze hasn't won for
just over a year ago when successful in an 1800-metre Class Six Plate at Eagle
Farm in July last year.
Danagaze is likely to target the Listed
Brisbane Handicap and Listed Recognition Stakes, both over 1600 metres, later
in the year.
Racing Queensland
webnews August 17
Photo: Trackside
Photography
