Hopeful targets Lord Mayors Cup

4/5/2022

Former French galloper Hopeful is likely to target the Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill prior to embarking on a Queensland Winter Carnival campaign for the Annabel Neasham yard.

Hopeful (5yo g Motivator x Monst by Monsun) debuted in Australia last Saturday with an impressive second in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).

The Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) is run at Rosehill on Saturday May 21, the same day as the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m). Hopeful holds a nomination for both races but is likely to head to Rosehill to avoid a clash with star stablemate Zaaki who will be shooting for back to back Doomben Cup’s.

Hopeful has also been nominated for the $1.2m Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday 11 June.

Hopeful was purchased by Grant Morgan’s OnTrack Thoroughbreds via its UK based agent representative Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock.

Boman signed for Hopeful at the Arqana Sale of the Arc in October 2021 for 130,000 euros.

Hopeful raced in France on 13 occasions for 5 wins and 4 placings. Winning up to Group 3 level, Hopeful’s wins ranged from a debut victory over 1500m at Deauville, through to a 2400m win at Chantilly.

His most recent win before purchase came at Longchamp over 2250m on a Good track on 8 July 21.

Prior to his Longchamp win, Hopeful won at Chantilly over 2400m on 6 June 21. Among the defeated brigade on that day was another Australian import Huetor, who was 5 lengths astern of Hopeful.

Now trained in Australia by team Snowden, Huetor has been impressive since arriving in Australia having won 3 of his 4 starts down under.

Hopeful was among 4 imports secured in late 2021 by the OnTrack/Boman combination from Europe.

Sir William Bruce (IRE) (by Galileo) is in training with Tony Gollan at Eagle Farm, Imrahor (GB) (by Kingman) is also being prepared by Annabel Neasham, whilst Without Revenge (GB) (by Muhaarar) is being trained by David Vandyke at the Sunshine Coast.