The BMW Stakes meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The course proper was rated a Heavy 10 on Thursday and with light showers in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill will inevitably be racing on a Heavy track on raceday.
The noted wet tracker Astronomos will have conditions to suit on Saturday in the Neville Sellwood Stakes (Sydney Race 3, 2000m). This 6YO gelding has very strong wet track form having won 4 times out of 5 attempts in Heavy condition. And his record at 2000m is just as good winning 3 times out of 4 starts at the trip. Jason Collett knows the horse well and from the inside barrier (1), Astronomos will settle mid-field with plenty of cover. Astronomos will be hard to hold out in the run home.
Last week’s Ranvet Stakes winner Our Ivanhowe is backing up this week in The BMW and he looks to have conditions to suit again on Saturday (Sydney Race 6, 2400m). Our Ivanhowe came from 2nd last and glided through the Heavy 10 track in the Ranvet and this weekend’s meeting is likely to be held on a Heavy 9 of Heavy 10 rating. Trainer Lee Freedman said Our Ivanhowe is the best wet track horse in the world after his Ranvet victory last week. The in-form hoop Ben Melham will take over the rein and he is looking to complete the Golden Slipper – The BMW double. Coming out of barrier 7, Melham will bite his time and Our Ivanhowe will let down strongly in the straight.
Last start winner Foxplay is a class filly and she looks the testing material in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 2000m). Two weeks ago, this Waller-trained 3YO won the Phar Lap Stakes well, coming from a fair way back sprinting the last 600m in 36.11 secs on a Soft 6 track. Foxplay likes Rosehill having won twice and a 2nd placing from 4 starts at the venue. Stepping up to 2000m 4th up looks ideal. Champion jockey Hugh Bowman will be onboard and that’s another plus. Barrier 11 shouldn’t be a problem as she is a backmarker anyway. On top of their victory with Winx in the George Ryder Stakes last week, the Waller – Bowman partnership looks set to add another Group 1 victory to their CV with Foxplay on Saturday.
By Owens Wong, Editor
