The Golden Rose meeting will be held at Rosehill this weekend. The course proper was rated a Slow 7 on Thursday and with fine weather forecast for the next couple of days, Rosehill could end up with a Slow 6 rating.
The Makybe Diva Stakes meeting will be held at Flemington this weekend. The track was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with overcast weather forecast for the next few days, Flemington will be racing at worst on a Dead surface.
Melburnian Weinholt can continue his winning way in the Sportsyear Sprint (Sydney Race 3, 1200m). Last start, Weinholt won in this class over this track & distance. He has gone up 2kg to 58kg but a stronger rider in Luke Nolen will take over the rein. Barrier 9 wouldn’t worry him as he’ll drop back in the field. With reasonable pace in this race, Weinholt can run over the top of this field. Weinholt is currently at good odds at $8.50 in the fixed odds market.
La Amistad is stepping up to a more suitable distance and will make her presence felt in the Kingston Town Stakes (Sydney Race 5, 2000m). The younger half sister of Makybe Diva resumed with a slashing 3rd in the Rowley Mile & Team Hawkes have been aiming the mare at the Caulfield Cup. La Amistad only received 50kgs when weights were released last week for the Caulfield Cup and will need a decent penalty or two or win an exempt free race to gain a start in the 2400m Group 1 Handicap. Her winning run could well start in the Kingston Town Stakes on Saturday.
The drying Rosehill track has prompted me to tip Nostradamus ahead of the filly Bring Me The Maid in the Group 1 Golden Rose (Sydney Race 7, 1400m). Nostradamus won well 1st up in the San Domenico Stakes but flopped on a Heavy track 2nd up in the Run To The Rose. Back to firmer footing on Saturday will certainly help and he has the required fitness to run out a strong 1400m being 3rd up in the Golden Rose. Team Hawkes have been able to lure Brett Prebble from Hong Kong to ride Nostradamus on Saturday and that’s another positive indicator. Currently at $8.00 fixed odds, Nostradamus represents terrific value.
Randwick Guineas winner Dissident looks the horse to beat in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (Melbourne Race 7, 1600m). The Peter Moody-trained 4YO won brilliantly 1st up in the Memsie Stakes having shown a terrific turn of foot in the straight after settling just off the leaders. From barrier 6, Ben Melham will try to do the same again on Saturday. Dissident has made the transition from a Group 1 winning 3YO to a top WFA galloper comfortably. Stepping up to 1600m 2nd up is ideal and being an on pace runner with a great turn of foot, Dissident looks hard to beat in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
By Owens Wong, Editor
