This Saturday’s Sydney meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens. The course proper was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill is likely to border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Two year old Gongs can go on to win the opening event at Rosehill on Saturday (Sydney Race 1, 1100m). Godolphin-owned filly Gongs has shown a lot of promise by winning a 900m trial five weeks ago, and she has gone on to claim victory on debut by 5-1/2 lengths on 22nd November at Canterbury over 1100m. So much so that James Cummings has Golden Slipper ambition with this Dawn Approach filly. With natural improvement, Gongs should go on to win her 2nd race start on Saturday.
Fresh from taking out last week’s feature race, the Starlight Stakes with Egyptian Symbol, Bjorn Baker has Impavido primed to take out the National Jockeys Trust Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 2000m). The 4YO gelding has been rather consistent lately finishing with two placings and two 4ths in his past four starts. Impavido was only beaten 2 lengths last start over this track & trip 3 weeks ago. Melbourne Cup winning jockey Corey Brown will take over the rein on Saturday and from barrier 6, Brown will settle somewhere mid-field with a cushy run. Impavido will be hard to hold out in the run home.
Bon Amis is looking to return to winning form in the Mark Hughes Foundation Handicap (Sydney race 7, 1100m). After starting off his career winning 4 straight races and running good times, Bon Amis was narrowly beaten over this track & trip 2 weeks ago. Bon Amis was a dual acceptor for the Rosehill meeting and I believe Jason Deamer has pulled the right rein in sticking with the 1100m race. Up in class on Saturday but Bon Amis will drop down to only 51kg with the 2kg claim from Blaike McDougall. The 4YO can handle any track conditions and from barrier 7, McDougall will settle behind the leading bunch and Bon Amis will finish over the top of this field.
By Owens Wong, Editor
