The Coolmore Classic meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with heavy showers forecast for Sydney over the next couple of days, Rosehill is likely to be racing on a Soft to Heavy track on raceday.
The former Darren Weir-trained Verry Elleegant can take out the Phar Lap Stakes for her new stable on Saturday (Sydney Race 5, 1500m). Now with Chris Waller, the 3YO finished an eye-catching 2nd when 1st up in the Vanity Stakes (1400m) four weeks ago. And the horse who just finished behind Verry Elleegant in the Vanity, Fundamentalist, has franked the form last week in the Randwick Guineas when she just got caught on the line by the sensational The Autumn Sun. Verry Elleegant has a great record on Soft tracks winning 3 times with a 2nd from 4 starts. Nicely drawn in barrier 2, James McDonald can settle just behind the pace on the fence and Verry Elleegant will be flying home in the last furlong.
The under-rated Alassio can provide Team-Waterhouse another Group 1 victory in the Coolmore Classic (Sydney Race 7, 1500m). The 5YO has not missed a place in her last 5 starts, including victories in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes and Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes in her past 2 starts. The mare is rock hard fit and she is ready to step up to 1500m. Alassio can handle any track condition and has drawn nicely in barrier 6. Tim Clark will go forward on the mare and at $12.00 in the current fixed odds market, Alassio is a terrific value bet.
Though Seaway is going up in class, he does have conditions to suit in the Ajax Stakes (Sydney Race 8, 1500m). The 4YO gelding won 2 from 2 so far this preparation and he is in tip top form. Seaway has won 4 races with a 2nd placing from 5 attempts at 1500m and he also has a pretty good record at Rosehill. The anticipated Soft track would not bother Seaway as he has won twice and placed once from 3 starts in the wet. He has been allotted the limit weight of only 53kg and Kerrin McEvoy will once again be on board. From barrier 6, McEvoy is like to go to the front and with his light weight, Seaway could be hard to catch.
By Owens Wong, Editor
