The Sydney Saturday meeting will be held at Rosehill this weekend. The course proper was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday and with showers forecast for Saturday, Rosehill is likely to remain in the Soft range on raceday.
The Waller-trained Foxplay is on the way up and looks the horse to beat in the opening event at Rosehill (Sydney Race 1, 1350). First up, the filly ran a good 2nd over 1300m at Warwick Farm, the longer straight at Rosehill on Saturday will suit him much better. Champion jockey Hugh Bowman will be on board and that’s another plus. From barrier 6, Foxplay will settle mid-field and he’ll finish off the race strongly.
Don’t Doubt Marley has gone up in grade on Saturday but will only carrying the minimum weight and that gives her a winning chance (Sydney Race 4, 1200m). Two starts back, the filly ran a great race in the Listed Denise Joy Stakes, beaten only 1.4 lengths coming from last, before finishing strongly for 2nd over 1300m at Warwick farm. Having drawn barrier 9 is not ideal but Don’t Doubt Marley is a back-marker so it shouldn’t be too big a disadvantage. The longer Rosehill straight and the light weight of 53kg will give the filly a good chance in running over the top of the field. Currently at $7.00 fixed odds, Don’t Doubt Marley is a pretty good value bet.
Team Snowden and Blake Shinn combination has a strong chance to take out the TAB.com.au Handicap with Dark Steel (Sydney Race 5, 1350m). This promising colt did well last start in the Scone Guineas, finishing 5th beaten only 1.8 lengths. The runner-up in that race, Spill The Beans, had franked the form by taking out the Group 2 QTC Cup last week. Dark Steel enjoys his races being spaced so the five weeks between runs should suit him fine. From barrier 5, Blake Shinn will settle the colt just behind the leaders and he’ll be ready to pounce in the straight.
The Waller-trained Disgraceful has been very consistent and he will be in the finish once again in the Ranvet Handicap (Sydney Race 6, 1350m). The 4YO has finished with a couple of 2nds since his spell and was very unlucky last start being hampered by another runner in the straight. With the in-form Koby Jennings’ 2kg claim, Disgraceful will be carrying 59kg. Drawn beautifully in barrier 1, Disgraceful looks the horse they all have to hold out.
By Owens Wong, Editor
