The Sydney Saturday meeting will be held at Rosehill this week. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with very hot weather over the next couple of days in Sydney, Rosehill will surely be racing on a Fast track.
The in-form John Thompson-trained stayer Jiayuguan looks the horse to beat in the opening event at Rosehill (Sydney Race 1, 2400m). The China Horse Club-owned mare has won twice over this trip in the last three starts. The 2400m really suits this progressive stayer. Last start’s winning jockey Tye Angland stays with the mare on Saturday which is a good sign. From barrier 1, Angland will park Jiayuguan midfield along the fence and she should receive a cushy run in trainsit.
Last start 2YO winner Yankee Rose can make it two wins in a row in the Jimmy Cassidy Golden Gift (Sydney Race 2, 1100m). The All American filly won over this track & trip on her debut at big odds. She is facing similar condition on Saturday and Jason Collett retains the ride. Being one of only two horses having race experience in the field, that would be a huge advantage in favour of Yankee Rose.
Chirs Waller & James McDonald can combine to take out the Might And Power Handicap (Sydney Race 3, 1400m) with 3YO Feast For Eyes. The More Than Ready colt has been asked to lump huge weight in his last 3 starts winning at Canterbury on 28th Oct under 61kg and finishing 3rd last start over 1550 under the same weight. Dropping back to 1400m on Saturday will suit Feast For Eyes better and from the inside barrier (1), McDonald will take Feast For Eyes straight to the lead. Even with 60kg, Feast For Eyes will be hard to catch.
The Queanbeyan-trained Oh So Adorable could catch everyone off guard by taking out the Chris Waller Racing Farewells Jim Cassidy Handicap (Sydney Race 8, 1100m). The Garry Clarke-trained 5YO has been in reasonable form winning over 1000m two starts back. And with Samantha Clenton’s 2kg claim, Oh So Adorable will only be carrying 56.5kg which is very well weighted in a BenchMark78 race. From barrier 1, Clenton will have plenty of options in where she wants to settle the mare. Currently at $26.00 in the fixed odds market, Oh So Adorable is way over the odds and she is a huge value bet.
By Owens Wong, Editor
