The Winter Cup meeting will be held at Rosehill this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill is likely to border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Top weight Passage Of Time is the class horse in the Events By ATC Handicap (Sydney Race 3, 1300m). This Joseph Pride-trained gelding has been having a good preparation with 2 victories from 4 starts. Two starts back in the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben, the 5YO wasn’t disgraced beaten only 3 lengths by the winner Tyzone. And Tyzone has franked the form by running 2nd in the Stradbroke Handicap last week. Passage Of Time returned to the winner’s stall last start in a BM 88 handicap under 60.5kg at Rosehill. In a race without any pace, Sam Clipperton could well go to the front and control the pace of the race. If they leave him alone in front, Passage of time could prove hard to catch.
The Kim Waugh-trained White Boots could be the dark horse in the TAB.com.au Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1800m). This 4YO gelding has been racing consistently having won twice with a further 3 placings from his last 6 starts. His only failure came with his last start 9th behind that good stayer Grey Lion in the Lord Mayors Cup, and Grey Lion went on to finish a close 2nd in the Brisbane Cup last week. With four weeks between runs, Waugh had sent White Boots over a 1000m trial (which he duly won) at Gosford on 4th June to keep his fitness up to the mark. Down in class on Saturday and with Robbie Dolan’s 2kg claim, White Boots will only carry 55kg. Currently at $14.00 in the fixed odds market, White Boots represents a terrific value bet.
Hush Writer was very impressive in taking out the McKell Cup over Saturday’s track & trip a fortnight ago and he is again the horse to beat in the Winter Cup (Sydney Race 6, 2400m). This French import hadn’t acclimatized in the Spring when he had four runs without success. This time around, Team Waterhouse has timed the 4YO’s campaign to perfection having won the McKell Cup 1st up from a spell. Hush Writer is even fitter when 2nd up on Saturday. The in-form Tim Clark will take over the rein. From barrier 7, Clark is likely to share the lead with Our Big Mike and Hush Writer is looking to lead the race from start to finish.
By Owens Wong, Editor
