Chris Waller’s quartet of runners for Saturday’s Group 2 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast is headed by Buckaroo, but the champion trainer isn’t convinced it’s as clear-cut as the markets suggest.

Alongside Buckaroo, Waller will also field Lindermann, Militarize, and Kovalica, all of whom he believes are genuine contenders.

“If we just had one runner in the race, I’d be talking up their chances of winning the race,” Waller said. “They’re just happy boys. Give them a trip away and it’s like a holiday for them, a change of scenery.”

Both Lindermann and Buckaroo come off solid formlines behind Via Sistina, finishing fourth and seventh respectively in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) last month. While they face wide draws, Waller isn’t too concerned, with James McDonald and Nash Rawiller aboard.

“They’ve got good jockeys on now so it’s their problem, not mine,” Waller said.

Buckaroo is third-up and set to peak, while Lindermann has been running against strong opposition.

Waller also has Kovalica in the mix, who’s following a similar prep to Buckaroo and is eyeing the Doomben Cup. Kovalica and Militarize both had unplaced runs in the Doncaster Mile (1600m), but Waller was encouraged by their performances.

“Militarize showed us he is close to finding peak form,” Waller said. “He didn’t get a lot of luck that day.”

The plan is to run all four horses in the Doomben Cup, joined by Osipenko, who ran well at Hawkesbury.

Pre-post markets have Buckaroo as the $3.20 favourite for the Hollindale Stakes (1800m), ahead of Lindermann ($5), with Militarize ($14) and Kovalica ($19) further out.