From Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Horse: Taormina
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 2, Racing For Good on 29th July Hcp) Taormina gets a chance to put the icing on the cake when she lines up at Rosehill on Saturday after making an encouraging debut when leading throughout to score on a soft track at Warwick Farm last month. It was testing conditions on the day, she handled them pretty well, although I think she will be better on top of the ground. But she travelled great, showed a nice turn of foot and was pretty tough on debut. I think she’s open to a natural bit of improvement and it looks a nice stepping-stone for her. She is quite fit now a couple of runs into the preparation so if she is able to measure up on Saturday, you could make a case to keep her ticking over into the early part of the spring and using that recent racing to your advantage.
Horse: Resonator
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Winter Challenge) He’s been pretty consistent throughout the winter for us and he’s continued to progress nicely through the grades. It will be interesting to see how he can measure up in this grade. It’s hard to fault what he’s been doing to date, he’s got a nice racing pattern, he gets a bit of weight relief and his performances at the track and distance suggest they are the ideal conditions for him.
Horse: Omni Man
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 9, July Sprint) Omni Man was on target to back up from his Randwick victory last weekend. The four-year-old has overcome wide gates at his past two starts over 1000m and again has a tricky draw in barrier 11 of 12, along with a 100m rise in journey. He’s drawn awkwardly his last couple of runs but he’s had the tactical speed to overcome that. He’s racing well and we want to capitalise on that recent form.
From Team Hawkes
Horse: Givara
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Furphy Hcp) He just been a slow maturing horse that has always showed us good ability. There are some similarities between them (Givara and his half brother Renewal). The rising five-year-old is shooting for a hat-trick of victories after coming from last to record wins at Newcastle and Warwick Farm. He was probably a bit stiff at Newcastle three starts ago but then things have turned around in his last couple. He deserves a crack in Saturday grade. It’s the right benchmark, the right distance, right time of the year and track condition should suit but the barrier draw didn’t go our way with the rail out seven metres. The rail out that far isn’t likely to be ideal for backmarkers but in saying that, you’ve just got to ride the horse and Zac (Lloyd)’s in good form. I can’t fault how the horse is progressing and if he has his share of luck he can win again.
Horse: Petulant
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 6, Precise Air Hcp) Petulant fared well in the barrier draw and will start from gate two. The four-year-old mare was luckless last time out after winning at Canterbury in her previous start. She got cluttered up at a vital stage and when the run came, she was outsprinted. She’s drawn a good gate with the rail right out on Saturday. She’s come up really well this preparation and she should run well again.
From Gary Portelli
Horse: Extreme Spirit
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 2, Racing For Good on 29th July Hcp) I was happy with his run (last start 3rd in Melbourne), but he did too much in the early stages. He got to the line OK, he was beaten less than a length, but I just felt he was too fresh and didn’t settle well enough to win. The youngster has pleased the stable since returning to Sydney and a competitive performance could see him find his way into the early-season lead-up races to the Golden Rose. That’s what we’re hoping for. I think he’ll be an autumn three-year-old myself, I believe he’s still immature. But I’d like him to have a few runs this time through and if he keeps improving and building and getting a good resume, we might have a crack at something. I’ve given him three weeks to get over his first-up run and he gets into Saturday’s race nicely.
Horse: Ruby Tuesday
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Winter Challenge) A top-three finish would also boost her residual value, and that is the driving force behind my decision to start her in the feature, rather than an easier assignment. We’re trying desperately to get black type for her owners and for breast cancer research, with ten per cent of the prizemoney going there. If she was to get black type and go on the open market as a broodmare, she’d bring plenty of money, so that’s the plan of attack. She ran home (last start) her last 600 (metres) in 33 (seconds) neat. She was a long way off them and chasing before the 600, so she ran really well and we’re very happy with the way she has come through it. She has drawn OK (barrier 10) for the 1500, it’s a nice run down the back so hopefully she gets in somewhere.
From Annabel Neasham
Horse: Sibaaq
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Winter Challenge) The Winter Challenge will be a campaign starting point for Sibaaq, but I am looking for a bold performance as the import bids to reignite his career after a lacklustre autumn. He had a really good spring. He didn’t actually win a race, but he won about $800,000 just by placing in those Five Diamond Preludes and the Big Dance. He ran really well in the Liverpool City Cup and then was disappointing second up. He just hadn’t quite come up so we tipped him out and we started again. He may need the run on Saturday but that being said, looking at the nominations I think he’ll be really competitive and he does run well fresh. I’ll be disappointed if he isn’t fighting out the finish.
Horse: Sweet Ride
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 9, July Sprint) Sweet Ride will jump from gate 7 in the July Sprint, after resuming with a closing 4th in the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield on July 8. He’s had a wind op and come back much better for it. That was a terrific run at Caulfield, he came very wide around the turn and wasn’t beaten far. Second up he’ll only be improved for having one run under his belt.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 2 – Taormina
Sydney Race 4 – Manbehindthemoney
Sydney Race 8 – Sibaaq
