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Feature racing was held at the Gold Coast on Saturday which featured the 2016 Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m).

Whilst John O’Shea and Godolphin played a very strong hand in the feature race it was the Team Hawkes-trained Leebaz who was able to win the race for the second time in as many years.

Leebaz. Settled off the pace before taking the rails run under Michael Cahill and was too strong for his rivals claiming a one length win over Hauraki in second with Volkstok’n’barrell third.

Leebaz returned a Timeform figure of 119, his highest since winning the race last year (118) and the highest of his career.

The Racing and Sports field strength value (RSFS) of 119.4 is around par for a Group 2 race and slightly above the 2015 renewal taken out by Leebaz.

The six-year-old gelding will more than likely take the same path as last year into the 2016 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) and will be out for a better performance than the 14th he ran in 2015.

2015 Doomben Cup winner Pornichet returned a figure of 123p with the recent average winning figure around 121.

Of the beaten brigade Hauraki once again failed to show a killer instinct and ran to 117, five pounds below his previous best in the Ranvet Stakes three starts back with Volkstok’n’barrell running to 113, seven pounds below his previous best.

Leebaz is the first horse to win the Hollindale back to back since Shogun Lodge in 2000/2001.

Takedown was able to secure his first win in over twelve months when taking out the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m).

The Gary Moore-trained runner who has shown ability throughout his career has returned very well following a throat operation after an unsuccessful spring campaign.

Takedown returned a figure of 109p on Saturday against a fairly modest bunch after running to 117 when third in the Group 1 Arrowfield Sprint during the autumn.

Likely to head towards the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap later in the carnival, Takedown still looks to have good improvement to come this preparation and his best form will see him competitive.

The RSFS of 109.3 was only slightly below the 2015 renewal of 111.9 taken out by Nostradamus who returned a figure of 110.

Sold For Song who ran a narrow second ran to a new peak of 104 with third placegetter Sold For Song running a Timeform figure 100, three pounds below his previous best.

Coolring seemed to enjoy the seven day backup when taking out the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) off a modest effort at Hawkesbury last start.

The Bjorn Baker-trained runner returned a career peak figure of 110, four pounds above his previous best at Kembla Grange earlier in the preparation.

Coolring was able to use the leaders bias to his advantage and score his first win since February at Rosehill.

The RSFS Value of 109.9 was higher than the 2015 renewal of 107.2, taken out by Neo who returned a figure of 105.

Snippets Land was also very good running second and also running to 110, the same number achieved in the Doncaster Prelude two starts back.

Stablemate Imposing Lass continued her progression through the grades with a handy win in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m).

Also leading throughout like many other winners, Imposing Lass was able to hold off Self Esteem over the concluding stages with Kebede more than a length further back in third.

Imposing Lass ran to a clear new peak figure of 103, seven pounds above her win at Rosehill two starts back.

The three-year-old filly will now look towards the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) taken out by Winx in 2015 held at Doomben over 2200m due to reconstruction of Eagle Farm.

Winx ran to 115p on that occasion, the highest rated winner since Scarlett Lady in 2011 who ran to 118.

The average rated winner over the past 10 years is just under 110 which is a level Imposing Lass could improve too with her breeding suggesting the 2400m should not pose any dramas.

Self Esteem in second was good from the wide barrier and ran to 102, four pounds below her previous best with Kebede running to a new peak of 99.

2014 winner Tinto also won the Bracelet on the way to the Oaks but also had one start in between when second in the Group 2 The Roses.

The final stakes race on the card saw Eloping return with a win in the 2016 Listed Silk Stocking (1200m), running out a three length winner from Miss Cover Girl in second with Zestful a further length back in third.

Also leading all the way, Eloping returned a figure of 109, her highest since running second in the Gucci Stakes (1100m) at Flemington in November of 2014.

The leaders bias certainly favoured her racing pattern although the Peter Robl-trained runner was good in both runs last campaign at the Gold Coast.

The RSFS of 102.8 was only slightly below the 2015 renewal of 103.9 taken out by I’ve Got The Looks who returned a figure of 102 on that occasion which was followed by a win in the Listed Juanmo Stakes (1200m).