Silvera chases belated summer glory

Silvera (grey) will chase a belated summer feature win in the Sunshine Coast Cup.

Trainer Tony Gollan’s summer plans for Silvera have not gone to script so far but he hopes to change that at the Sunshine Coast.

The grey will earn a belated chance to complete a good carnival for Gollan in the Listed $125,000 Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) on Saturday.

The Sunshine Coast Cup is the last feature race of the Queensland summer carnival and usually attracts a capacity field.

Gollan has amassed seven feature race wins over the summer.

He won the Cup in 2018 with Most Important, who like Silvera, is raced by his major clients Graham and Linda Huddy.

Gollan had lofty goals for Silvera this summer including a trip to Sydney for the Villiers Stakes after the gelding won the Rockhampton Cup and Tatt’s Mile last winter.

The gelding was sidelined by an eye injury caused by a flying clod in his first-up run in the Recognition Stakes at Eagle Farm on November 24.

After receiving treatment he did not race again until he finished eighth in the Listed Bernborough Quality at Eagle Farm on December 28.

Because Silvera was not eligible for the Magic Millions, Gollan elected to target the Sunshine Coast Cup.

“He has been ticking over nicely and the big Sunshine Coast track will suit him,” Gollan said.

“Silvera will have a jump-out on Tuesday and that should top him off.”

Among his rivals will be Niccanova, winner of the Brisbane Handicap and Bernborough Handicap this summer.

Trainer Steve Tregea is concerned Niccanova could receive as much as 61kg from the handicapper on Saturday.

“It is the trouble with the way horses are weighted these days. Once they win a couple they are virtually weighted out of the good races,” Tregea said.