The Coolmore Classic meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (11th Mar). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather leading up to the weekend, Rosehill will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Fresh from riding a winning triple at the Kensington meeting on Wednesday, Zac Lloyd could take out the Maurice McCarten Quality on Clemenceau (Sydney Race 5, 1100m). This Team Hawkes-trained gelding has been mighty consistent having never missed a place from nine career starts. The 4YO races well fresh winning twice from four first-up runs and is a proven performer at 1100m winning four races from six attempts. Lloyd will go forward and park outside likely leader Coal Crusher and together with his light weight (53kg), Clemenceau could prove hard to catch.
The Mark Newnham-trained Sunshine Rising showed a good turn-of-foot first-up with a closing 3rd in the Carlyon Cup over the mile and stepping up to the 2000m Sky High Stakes suits (Sydney Race 7, 2000m). The veteran has good 2nd up record and a strong rider like Nash Rawiller looks perfect. With pretty good pace in the race, Rawiller will bide his time at the back of the field and watch Sunshine Rising flies down the Rosehill straight.
Good mare Hope In Your Heart could upset this Coolmore Classic field on Saturday (Sydney Race 8, 1500m). Kerry Parker-trained Hope In Your Heart had a breakthrough spring campaign with two Group 3 wins and she continues her good form by taking out the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) first-up. Stepping up to 1500m second-up looks perfect and the in-form Tim Clark knows the 4YO well. Tim Clark will settle mid-field with good pace up front and Hope In The Heart will hit the line strongly.
By Owens Wong
