He was flat last time out, but I am happy to give Count De Rupee another chance at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
Count De Rupee has been a great horse for the Price stable throughout his career, and he returned this time with a bold effort to finish second behind Marway on the Kenso course at Randwick before recording a dominant win here second-up.
Things didn’t go his way in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic, but returning to Sydney and dropping in class, he looks primed to strike.
Chris Waller holds a typically strong hand in the McKell Cup, but I think that Yonkers is the one to beat again.
Yonkers has been a good horse for Waller throughout his career here in Australia, but he returned arguably a career-best performance to destroy his rivals in Melbourne three starts back, and he has finished second in the Listed Wagga Cup and won again at Caulfield in the wake.
He is at peak fitness, the 2000m is ideal and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
There are several talented horses engaged in the last at Flemington today, but this looks a lovely race for The Astrologist.
He was nothing short of outstanding during his first prep for Leon & Troy Corstens, and The Astrologist has had two starts back this time for fifth in the Listed Chief De Beers and fourth in the Group 2 Moreton Cup.
Fitter third-up and dropping in class, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
She failed to fire in the Helen Coughlan Stakes last time, but her form prior was excellent, and I think that Intrepidacious can win her first start for Lee Freedman in the Gai Waterhouse Classic today.
Intrepidacious returned to the races with an eye-catching effort to score in BM78 company at Caulfield and arrived in Brisbane to finish second, beaten a nostril by Outback Barbie in the Bright Shadow.
A repeat of that effort would see her right into the finish of this race.