The BMW meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 7 on Thursday. And with fine weather forecast for Sydney over the next couple of days, Rosehill is likely to border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Trainer of the moment Gai Waterhouse can take out the opening event at Rosehill on Saturday (Sydney Race 1, 1400m) with last start winner Street Rapper. The 2YO colt won over this distance leading from start to finish at Wyong three weeks ago and champion jockey Damien Oliver will employ the same tactic from barrier 5 on Saturday. Currently at $9.00 in the fixed odds market, Street Rapper is at good value.
Top class mare Catkins is very well weighted in the Emancipation Stakes (Sydney Race 4, 1500m). Under the set weights with penalties condition, Catkins will only be carrying 57kg on a 53kg limit. The mare has come back in terrific order winning her first 2 starts this preparation before finishing 2nd to Cosmic Endeavour last start in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes. 1500m is Catkin’s pet distance as she won & placed 11 times from 13 attempts at the trip. James McDonald will be replacing the suspended Hugh Bowman. As Catkins has great tactical speed and can settle on the speed or back in the field, barrier 10 shouldn’t worry her at all. Catkins will be hard to beat in the Emancipation Stakes.
The first of the two Group 1 races for the meeting is the Vinery Stud Stakes (Sydney Race 6, 2000) and it’s difficult to look beyond the favourite First Seal. Two starts back, the Fastnet Rock filly won the Surround Stakes in a very dominant fashion and she was very unlucky last start in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic finishing a nose 2nd to Plucky Belle. I believe she was beaten by the wide gate under the hefty impose of 55.5kg in an open handicap for a 3YO filly. Back to set weight condition against her own age group will see her being hard to beat. She’s a very relax filly with an economical action so the 2000m should not worry her. New jockey James McDonald was super impressed by First Seal havng been on-board the filly in 2 crucial gallops during the week. From a better barrier (7) on Saturday, McDonald will settle the filly mid-field one off the fence and First Seal will ‘explode’ in the straight.
Though the Melbourne Cup winner (Protectionist) & 3rd placed-getter (Who Shot Thebarman) are both engaged in The BMW (Sydney Race 7, 2400m), I believe the Japanese horse To The World & English import Hartnell will fight out the finish. To The World has a pretty high international rating but there is still a fair bit of unknown regarding the 4YO, hence I opted for the Godolphin-owned Hartnell. The Authorized gelding ran a blinder in his first Australian start behind his in-form stablemate Contributer in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) coming from a long way back. And he was just as impressive last start winning the Sky High Stakes (2000m) racing on the pace throughout. Hartnell is in form, versatile, has stamina & a good turn of foot and he is my tip for The BMW.
By Owens Wong, Editor
