2024 Festival Stakes Day Tips & Preview

Icarian Dream is the lone runner in the field with race experience on her side.

She was well supported on debut after some pleasing trials and didn’t disappoint as she let down strongly to get the win on the board over 1000m at Warwick Farm.

She then stepped straight up to stakes company and produced a solid effort get within a length of North England in the Group Three Golden Gift.

She’s race fit and should find this a touch easier.

Connections of Sir Remlap were rewarded for their patience when the gelding resumed off a lengthy break to salute at Scone eleven days ago.

The son of Rubick made his debut back in April 2023 where he finished off strongly into second before spending well over a year on the sidelines.

He’d obviously shown plenty of ability at home and he produced a strong turn to foot to score comfortably last time.

He will have taken plenty of benefit from the outing, the extra 100m here will suit and he’s sure to make his presence felt.

Piraeus is racing in top form and looks to have found a winnable race.

Two runs back he charged home down the outside in the Four Pillars to claim second and last start, it was a similar story again over the mile at Newcastle.

Beaten a head, he did put up a four-length margin back to the rest and the way he hit the line suggests he’s looking for more ground.

Winner of the Orange Cup last preparation, he has well and truly proven himself over the longer trips and I don’t think the weight will worry him.

Tommy Berry goes aboard for Richard and Michael Freedman.

She’s Unusual returns to the races.

Yet to miss a top two spot in her six raceday appearances, she’s certainly talented and she has been dominant in all three victories.

The New Zealand born mare made her debut in her homeland before making her way across the ditch and has continued to improve.

Whilst five of her six outings have been on wet tracks, she did strike a good surface in her first Australian start and stuck on well to claim second.

She comes here off two solid trials and the 1400m first up looks ideal.

Jason Collett partnered her to victory last time in and will again do the steering for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.

Bullets High is racing in fine form and looks well suited up in trip.

Starting a short-priced favourite over the mile at Newcastle last time, the Joe Pride trained gelding took a while to wind up before powering home to just miss.

It was a similar story at his prior start, and I think the son of Ace High is just looking for more ground now.

A winner over 2130m last campaign before heading to QLD to contest the QLD Derby, he’s proven over the staying trip, and this looks an ideal race for him.

Belvedere Boys hasn’t been far away in recent runs, and I think he’ll relish getting out to this trip.

Prepared by Matthew Dunn, the son of Maurice has raced consistently throughout his eleven-start career and the way he’s been finding the line suggests he’s looking for more ground.

Beaten only a length last start in a BM85 at Doomben, he’s worked through his grades nicely and this looks a suitable target for him.

He’s drawn to get the right run under Nash Rawiller and if can stay the trip, he’ll be hard to beat.

Our Kobison returns off a ten-week break.

The Gosford trained galloper won well when resuming in August before a terrific effort to finish second behind Joliestar in the Show County Quality.

A winner of six from twelve, he’s continued to rise through the grades and looks set for bigger and better things.

He’s two from two here at Rosehill and is sure to be given every chance from gate five under Kerrin McEvoy.

Private Eye is the class horse in the field and whilst his recent form doesn’t read that well on paper, he was only 1.57 lengths off Bella Nipotina in The Everest three runs back.

He was disappointing in the Russell Balding following that and last start, in The Hunter, he wanted no part of it in the early stages but picked up strongly over the final 200m, taking plenty of ground off them late and giving the impression he’s looking to step out over further.

We haven’t seen him stretch out to this trip for quite some time, but the 2021 Epsom Handicap winner presents here in in good order and if he produces his best, he’ll be hard to beat.

He’s tactically versatile and Nash Rawiller takes over from Jay Ford, which looks a big plus.

Townsend comes off a dominant win over 1850m at Newcastle and looks well placed to repeat that performance.

The son of Dundeel returned from a lengthy break with a solid performance over mile at Randwick and with race fitness on his side, he skipped away last time and never gave them a look in.

Only lightly raced, he showed plenty of talent in his first campaign, winning on debut before placing in both the Fernhill Stakes and Group One Champagne Stakes.

He does rise in grade but drops 4.5kgs and will be afforded every chance under Tommy Berry.

Confess Our Dreams is a mare in form and comes here looking to make it three straight wins.

A daughter of Shalaa, she’s building an enviable record and continues to work through her grades with relative ease.

She was just collared late after leading at her first two runs back this campaign but was dominant over the final part when taking a sit behind the leaders last time.

The form around her solid, she’s hard fit and gets in beautifully here with the 3kg claim for Zac Wadick.