We’re back racing at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday, with three black-type races on the card!
The Group 3 Festival Stakes is the feature over 1500m, supported by the Listed Starlight Stakes and the ATC Cup in what is shaping up to be a massive day of racing in Sydney.
Like last week, big fields call for some each-way plays across the meeting, but we should have fine conditions for racing with the sun shining and the potential for a track upgrade.
DR HOOK (2) found the line well in his latest jump out here on his home track.
By Too Darn Hot, the Hawkes-trained three-year-old stoked up at the 200m mark, eventually accelerating hard for a narrow win with plenty of sustained speed all the way through the line.
Tyler Schiller rode him that day and operates from a nice low draw, so look for him to be making his presence felt late.
GEEMES (11) has the ability to threaten here up to metro grade for the first time.
The daughter to Group 1 winning sire Grunt goes around in search of her hat-trick following a whopping three-length win at Hawkesbury last start, angling wide into the straight and really digging deep to win under the hands and heels of Alysha Collett.
That effort indicated she’d handle the rise to 2000m, and she should have just as much late speed carrying 2.5kg less. If there’s some cover on offer from the wide gate in the early stages, she’s in the mix to keep on her winning ways.
SHENANDOAH RIVER (15) can make it three on the trot with Braith Notck sticking in the saddle.
This is a big rise in class for the Cavanough-trained filly, who rolls in full of confidence after winning a Class 1 at Scone following her maiden victory by just over 1.5 lengths.
She took over well to lead into the turn and let down with a solid turn of foot, indicating she’d handle getting out over further. On another dry track, she’s capable of measuring up now in town.
Happy to give BELLE DETELLE (5) another look here.
Chris Waller’s mare handed in a pleasing effort on return at Randwick two back over 1500m when third to Rotagilla, but the pace and the tempo of the race was against her two weeks later at Newcastle, where she was three-wide into the turn and entitled to finish 4.5 lengths off.
Keep in mind she was 1500m up to 1800m that day, so she may have needed the run second-up. Drawn a nice low gate and capable with her best, she’s a good price in a race that might lack a bit of early speed.
SNACK BAR (7) has been a tough horse to follow over the last 12 months but his best is good enough here over 1100m.
The son to Frosted has placed in all three starts first-up for Bjorn Baker and was last seen running third here at Rosehill over a touch further; forced to check across heels at the top of the straight before running on nicely into the money.
He’s no stranger to handling 1100m and longer back from a break and the blinkers come off now after showcasing some nice late speed to win his latest Hawkesbury trial.
TAVROS (3) is an honest type who last won at Moree four races back in late August.
He’s gone on to take on tougher assignments in three starts since, placing twice before finishing within two lengths of Osipenko in the Little Dance where he was seen doing his best work over the final furlong.
A handy three-week break plus the rise to 2000m look perfect based on the way he finished off, and providing he’s close enough when it counts, he should be just as strong in the finish.
I’ve been keen on ZEALOUSLY (5) a couple of times recently, only for him to be scratched.
That was the case last week ahead of The Warra where the stable clearly wanted to avoid the wet track, so this does set up as a more winnable assignment back on top of the ground with five weeks between runs now.
We last saw him tackle the Caulfield Sprint when third to Rey Magnerio, the wide run telling over the late stages where he tired after sprinting into the lead.
Carrying just 54kg though under Kerrin McEvoy, who rode him to a win the start prior at Warwick Farm, his class and his record over the short trips make him the one to beat.
Leaning the way of ACCREDITED (4) in a very open race.
This six-year-old to All Too Hard is looking to break a run of recent placings that dates all the way back to July, the latest coming at Newcastle where he was held up briefly for a run and forced to dart back to the inside on his way to finishing three-quarters of a length off Coal Crusher in The Hunter.
Third-up, his record reads very well for this, and he’ll likely eat up 1500m having given Robusto everything he could handle in the Winter Challenge over this journey earlier in the year.
Leaning the way of IMPERIALIST (8) back on a dry track.
The Waller-trained four-year-old by Churchill won comfortably two back at Taree over the 2000m trip, then heading straight to Randwick at the start of the month to contest the Rosehill Gold Cup on a wet day.
The conditions cost her in the end in a race that was never really run to suit, so a more genuine tempo from a better gate this time are already two big ticks in the right boxes.
Tommy Berry has steered her to a win in the past, and this looks within his grasp again with this gelding deep into his prep.
FROSTY GIRL (2) might turn out to be the best bet of the day if Nash Rawiller can do what Joao Moreira couldn’t a few weeks ago.
The word ‘slaughter’ was used quite a bit to describe the ride at Rosehill, the pair held up badly at the 400m mark and never afforded clear air until the race was already won, eventually settling for third to Yes Lulu.
By Super Seth, we got a serious look at her first-up at Warwick Farm when she made it three on the bounce, and now that she’s fitter and drawn well, she should be making amends.