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Co-trainers Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted are confident talented sprinter Shooting For Gold can kick off an ambitious Queensland TAB Summer Racing Carnival campaign when the gelding resumes in the Swiss Ace Plate at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Shooting For Gold is one of three entries for the 1000-metre dash from the in-form Eagle Farm stable along with stablemates Kylease and Totally Charmed, who is also on the comeback trail.
However, Kylease - a last start winner over Simply Fly - will bypass the Swiss Ace in favour of the $300,000 The Warra over 1000 metres at Kembla Grange.
Shooting For Gold hasn't raced since completing a hat-trick of wins when he downed Ef Troop over 1110 metres at Doomben in August.
"He's going super and has had a trial and a jump out," Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted said.
"He's a lot stronger and more mature now and the 1000 metres fresh will really suit him around Caloundra.
"This is a big test for him as these will be the type of horses he'll meet during the summer so it should give us a good guide with him."
Hoysted said Shooting For Gold would have his next start in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes over 1200 metres at Doomben on December 4 before the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets at the Gold Coast in January.
Totally Charmed has won seven of his 20 starts but hasn't raced since finishing third to Desert Lord in the Listed Goldmarket Handicap at the Gold Coast in August.
"He's going well, just like Shooting For Gold, and is returning after a fantastic preparation last campaign," Hoysted said.
"He goes like a bomb fresh and loves Caloundra.
"It's a hot race and being a backmarker should suit him as there'll be a lot of speed in this race with the likes of Zoustyle and a few others.
"If there's any weakness in the front runners, he'll be charging home."
Totally Charmed has an excellent record at the Sunshine Coast with six wins and a third from eight starts while he's won five of his eight starts over the 1000-metre trip.
He also has won four wins of his five starts over the 1000-metre journey at the Sunshine Coast.
Hoysted said Kylease would head interstate despite Kembla being in the soft range.
"The big worry is there's rain predicted on Saturday and she's definitely better on top of the ground," he said.
"She's going well and her win first-up win on Melbourne Cup day was very dominant.
"She overdid things early in her career but she's more relaxed now and is in career best form.
