A selection of super stayers – including a mini-invasion of NSW stars – sets the scene for dynamic distance racing in four heats of the Group 1 Bold Trease (715m) at Sandown Park on Friday night.

The charge of the NSW staying brigade includes Stanley Road, Line Of Quality, Kylie Keeping and My Margarita.

Click HERE  for TAB’s ‘All In’ Bold Trease market 

Since the race’s inception in 1999, there has been only two NSW winners – Texas Gold (2005) and Zipping Malfoy (2011).

Meanwhile, this year’s local contingent is headed by Gypsy Wyong, Mepunga Ruby, Hank The Hustler, Knicks Bale, Mepunga Warrior and Highly Explosive.

Here’s a rundown of the heats:

BOLD TREASE HEAT 1
(Race 1 – 6.59pm) 

NSW staying star Stanley Road (Box 4) appears to have the race at his mercy. A dual G1 winner (Fanta Bale Super Stayers & Association Cup), Stanley Road was desperately unlucky in the G1 Topgun Stayers.

BOLD TREASE HEAT 2 
(Race 2 – 7.19pm)

Not quite a ‘NSW benefit’, seeing G2 Sydney Cup winner Miss Ezmae has been scratched. This leaves rising star Line Of Quality (Box 5) – also a Sydney Cup finalist – to fly the flag. But beware the Vics – Mepunga Warrior (Box 8) and Highly Explosive (Box 1). G1 Hume Cup runner-up Mepunga Warrior is trained by Jeff Britton, who took out the 2007 Bold Trease with Cash Express, while Highly Explosive – fourth to superstar Aston Rupee in the G3 Bill Collins Speed Star (515m) – is making her distance debut.      

BOLD TREASE HEAT 3 
(Race 3 – 7.38pm)

A three-way thriller looms between ‘locals’ Kenny The Brute (Box 3), Knicks Bale (Box 7) and Hank The Hustler (Box 8). Knicks Bale finished third to Gypsy Wyong and Hank The Hustler in the G3 Top Cat Video Cup prior to winning the G1 Hume Cup. G3 Fireball winner Hank The Hustler is also prepared by Jeff Britton, while versatile Kenny The Brute – a G1 Sandown Cup finalist – is trained by Kel Greenough, who won the 2010 Bold Trease with So Seductive.   

BOLD TREASE HEAT 4 
(Race 4 – 7.57pm)

Mepunga Ruby (Box 8) completes a terrific triumvirate for Jeff Britton. She won the G3 Speed Star (725m) and inaugural Pink Diamond Rookie Distance. However, she’s sure to be challenged by the Andrea Dailly-trained Gypsy Wyong (Box 4) – G1 Topgun Stayers and G3 Top Cat Video Cup winner, and G1 Hume Cup finalist (3^rd). Dailly won the 2015 Bold Trease with Bourbski Fever. Meanwhile, NSW duo Kylie Keeping (Box 1) and My Margarita (Box 2) are both G2 Sydney Cup finalists.  

Pawnote: The Bold Trease series honours the immortal “Warrnambool Warrior”, who won four consecutive Sandown Cups (1986-89). Read more

WATCH: Staying revelation Gypsy Wyong (2) staves off Hank The Hustler (4) and Knicks Bale (8) in the G3 Top Cat Video Cup.