The Golden Eagle meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (4th Nov). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with showers forecast for Sydney on Saturday, Rosehill could border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Private Eye could turn the table on stablemate Think About It by taking out the Giga Kick Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 1300m). The Joseph Pride-trained 6YO has come back in great order this campaign having beaten fellow The Everest runners Overpass and Buenos Noches in The Shorts first-up before beaten by less than a length after being trapped wide from a bad gate in The Everest. Even fitter being third-up on Saturday and he loves 1300m having won four times with a 3rd at the trip. Nash Rawiller will once again be on board and he will park just behind the leading bunch in a stalking position. Private Eye will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
Queensland Derby winner Kovalica has come back in good order this campaign. Two starts back, the 4YO was beaten a nose by Rediener in the Epsom Handicap. Then in the King Charles III Stakes, the gelding ran the race’s fastest last 600m of 33.01 secs and was the only horse to break 11 seconds for his last 200m (10.97 secs) as he charged from last into 5th behind Fangirl after drawing the outside gate (14) there. Once again Kovalica has drawn wide (gate 16) and Tommy Berry is likely to drop back in the field and bide his time. With pretty good pace in the race, Kovalica will showcase his good turn-of-foot and run over the top of this field.
British visitor Canberra Legend looks the horse to beat in the Rosehill Gold Cup (Sydney Race 9, 2000m). The 4YO has solid form in Group 2 and Group 3 races in England and the 2000m should suit. Interestingly James Ferguson has put winkers on the horse on Saturday to help him settle better in the race. And he has dropped significantly in weight as he has only been allotted with 53kg. The in-form Kerrin McEvoy has taken the mount and he will settle somewhere mid-field from gate 10 and together with his staying ability and his light weight, Canberra Legend will be hard to hold out.
By Owens Wong
