The Civic Stakes meeting will be held at Rosehill this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 7 on Thursday and with further showers in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill is likely to remain in the Soft range on raceday.
In the opening event at Rosehill, the David Payne-trained Toulouse can make it two wins from two starts this preparation (Sydney Race 1. 1400m). The 2YO gelding has come back in great order this campaign. After two easy trials, Toulouse won 1st up over this track & trip on a Soft 6 track a fortnight ago. Facing similar condition on Saturday, Toulouse will be running home strongly.
Gresham has been racing consistently winning 3 of his past 5 starts and he can continue his winning form in the #Theraces Handicap (Sydney Race 3, 1500m). The Sebring gelding won back to back races over 1500m before going back in trip last start which proved to be his downfall. Stepping back up to 1500m on Saturday will really suit. Gresham is quite well in at the weight at 59kg after the 2kg claim from Sam Weatherley. With the likelihood of a wet track, barrier 11 may not be such a disadvantage. Weatherley will go forward and sit outside likely leader Radiant Choice and Gresham could prove hard to catch.
The 6YO gelding Invinzabeel will have conditions to suit in the Civic Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 1350m). Invinzabeel resumed with a creditable 3rd at Rosehill four weeks ago followed by a close 2nd over the same track & trip to Flow a fortnight later. Invinzabeel will be meeting Flow 2.5kg better on Saturday and that would be enough to turn the table on that horse. The wet track will not be a problem for the gelding and the in-form hoop Tye Angland will be aboard. Currently at $6.00 in the fixed odds market, Invinzabeel represents a pretty good value bet.
By Owens Wong, Editor
