Winners For 2022 Bookmakers Recognition Day

The W.J. McKell Cup meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (18th June). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill will be racing on a Good track on raceday.

French import Arapaho put in a good effort to finish 2nd last start and he is looking to go one better in the Roger Norton Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 2000m). The 5YO has three conditional runs earlier this campaign before he annihilated the field by almost 8 lengths two starts back. Sixth-up on Saturday, Arapagho is ready to run out a strong 2000m. The 3kg claim from in-form apprentice Dylan Gibbons will bring the weight for the gelding down to 61.5kg. Gibbons will box seat from the inside gate (1) and Arapaho will let down strongly in the last two furlongs.

Team Hawkes-trained Petulant has been very consistent and the filly looks the testing material in the NSW Bookmakers Co-op Handicap (Sydney Race 6, 1100m). The 3YO has never finished worse than 2nd from four career starts. Petulant is only lightly raced and she is still on the up. Fitter second-up and stepping up to 1100m looks ideal. With only 55kg on her back, William Pike will go forward and possibly lead the race and Petulant could prove hard to catch.

The drying Rosehill track will certainly suit Skyman and he’s the one they have to beat in the McKell Cup (Sydney Race 7, 2000m). The 6YO gelding did a good job last start finishing 3rd to Surf Dancer and Arapaho over 1800m on a Soft 6 track. He is ready to peak being 5th up on Saturday and he has a good record over 2000m with two wins and three placings from seven attempts at the trip. William Pike will settle mid-field on the fence from barrier 2 and with a cosy run in transit and only 53kg on his back, Skyman is going to run home strongly.

By Owens Wong

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