The winter racing action in Sydney continues on Saturday with a bumper 11-race card for 2024 WJ McKell Cup Day taking place at Rosehill Gardens.
The wet weather looks to have finally moved on for a couple of days at least paving the way for a (hopefully) rain-free Sydney meeting and a likely upgrade to the Heavy (8) Rosehill course at time of publish.
The meeting’s feature race is of course the Listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) where potential spring staying types go on show.
We’ve done the full Sydney Saturday race form for our readers with our insider WJ McKell Cup 2024 Day preview and tips found in full below!
Midway Handicap to start proceedings and a some nice Each Way value on Life Coach third-up and seemingly forgotten in the markets despite a last start win.
This Supido three-year-old is Kembla Grange-trained by Brett Lazzarini and makes his Rosehill debut at start number 10.
Winning form up to 1250m suggests the 1300m is a non-issue, and the gelding is third-up and fit ready to fire.
Previous winning form three runs in, is Group 2 performed earlier in the year, and was enormous with 60.5kg at Wyong on a Heavy (9) saluting over the six furlongs on June 6.
Likely firmer going now and big weight drop to 54kg.
Can surprise.
Plenty of in-form mile types in race two, but have landed on the consistent Glen Milligan-trained Shihab with the rails run for hoop Aaron Bullock.
An early market mover with a bit of support, and am happy to get on the train.
This Zoustar four-year-old won a Class 2 at Taree two back carrying plenty of weight on a Heavy (9) before a good show for second, albeit beaten over five lengths, behind Know Thyself here over 1400m on June 15.
Was finishing very strongly the closing stages.
Two weeks between runs is ideal, can handle the kilos, extra distance suits and that favourable alley puts him right in winning contention.
Good field gathered for Rosehill’s Stayer’s Cup this year but cannot go past the airborne Naval Commission for Ciaron Maher.
He’s currently narrow second elect behind Father’s Day who is also running well but gets the inside run with Zac Lloyd to ride.
Chasing win number four on the trot and will be absolutely flying down to 54kg here.
The Merchant Navy four-year-old has carried between 59kg and 60.5kg for his hat-trick of lead-up victories, the latest of which was over 2200m by a length on a Soft (7) Warwick Farm track.
Distance no worries, course conditions a non-issue with his versatility, in prime form and doesn’t look like slowing down just yet.
Connect four!
Big field of staying types in race four – a Benchmark 78 featuring some good horses.
Decadent Tale for Jason Deamer looks spot on for this with the confidence of a last start win.
Apprentice Baily Wheeler is riding well and partners this six-year-old Kermadec mare from a favourable barrier four draw.
She’s a dual place-getter from three 1800m runs with winning form up to 2200m.
Handles all track conditions especially Heavy (8:3-1-2) and has faced some quality fields in her time.
Group 3 performed just this autumn and her win at Randwick over the mile on a Heavy (9) last start when defeating November Falls by a length was eye-catching.
Likely to carry just 54kg after saluting with 57kg that run.
Stronger assignment now but extra distance suits and she’s weighted for a good showing.
One of the day’s better fields for the fifth and the Annabel Neasham-trained Defining has been knocking on the door for a win all prep looking well overs for a potential blowout victory here.
Alysha Collett rides this classy Not a Single Doubt chestnut who is drawn midfield.
She comes aboard for her brother Jason who has ridden the Kiwi-bred mare for her latest two producing back-to-back Warwick Farm placings on Soft going.
First run at Rosehill but has great form at the distance (6:2-1-1), track conditions suit and she’s been the picture of consistency this campaign.
Went down a nostril flare here with 59kg on June 5 and can atone now at big odds.
Short distance sprinters on show in the sixth where it is a wide-open affair.
Top trainer of sprinters, Joe Pride, looks in with a winning chance saddling-up a couple including this three-year-old Flying Artie filly.
She is putting together a good record (7:3-2-0) including two wins from four starts for a 50% winning strike rate at the distance.
Previous Rosehill winner just last start on a Heavy (9) at this track and trip a fortnight back beating One Destiny by three-quarters of a length.
Up in weight now but Jay Ford retains the ride and barrier four looks ideal.
Has form around some good horses and is going well enough to win again.
The day’s feature runs as the seventh with a talented line-up in the 2024 WJ McKell Cup field.
Plenty of form lines to look at but looking for Each Way value and have Danish Fortune as contender to consider at 20/1 at time of publish.
Barrier three and down to 53kg after a credible second over the Randwick mile on a Heavy (9) last time out.
Run before was out of the money at Morphettville but over an unsuitably short distance (1050m).
Last 2000m run was in March when third behind Fawkner Park in the Listed Albury Cup on Good going.
Fawkner Park franked that form with wins in the Wagga Cup and $1.2 million The Q22 plus a Group 1 Doomben Cup third to boot.
Now it is this Magnus six-year-old’s turn to surprise from a good gate, with a nice weight and versatility on all track types.
Talented line-up in race eight and am happy to stick with the punters’ pick.
Pure Alpha from the Chris Waller stables is in good hands with Nash Rawiller riding on 59.5kg.
It is a big weight for this lightly-raced, Kiwi-bred Ardrossan three-year-old but he’s showing class at the right time to suggest he can lump it.
Has had just the four starts to date for two wins and two second placings so is on the right trajectory for a crack at this line-up.
Pet distance (3:2-1-0) and seems to be going from stride-to-stride.
Last start win at Randwick on June 12 on a Heavy (8) with 58.5kg by over a length gives him confidence.
Third-up and fit now, will be on speed and can sustain.
This BenchMark 88 is shaping up as a great afternoon clash where, even from wider out with 58.5kg, War Eternal looks the one to beat.
Bjorn Baker’s Pierro five-year-old has been smashed early by punters backed into $8 at time of publish from an opening price of 17.
Comes off a narrow Randwick win over 1400m on a Heavy (9) with the same weight when also drawn right out.
He was a class three-year-old a couple of years back when fourth in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas and Group 2 placed back in 2022.
Decent form in the lower grades since and looks a genuine shot at back-to-back victories.
The penultimate event of the day is a BenchMark 78 where Kapakiri second-up for Chris Waller looks the value at double-figures.
Franz Josef is deserving favourite chasing a third straight win, but he is lumping 61kg so looks out weighted for mine.
This Kermadec four-year-old has form around the top elect having run third first-up behind him over 1500m here on June 1.
Meets him notably better in the weights for the rematch, will be fitter second-up and is at the right distance now (4:2-1-0).
Drawn barrier four (Franz Josef is out in 14) and gets the run of the race from there.
Scratched from a Caulfield race in favour of this and will be running on strong.
Can win.
Sprint showdown for the card closer with barriers and weights really coming into play.
Chris Waller’s Starman has been oh so close this campaign without a win.
A couple of scratchings have him coming in from barrier 15 to 13 at time of publish and he looks value at around $11 in the markets.
Rory Hutchings has the ride on the consistent Zoustar five-year-old who is rock hard fit now and ready to win.
Comes off three straight Sydney placings, the latest of which was behind War Eternal on a Heavy (9) at Randwick over 1400m on June 8.
Back to the 1200m now and firing on all cylinders.
Will be there when it counts.