The Golden Rose meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (23rd Sept). 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.
Al Aabir could have conditions to suit in the Colin Stephen Quality (Sydney Race 5, 2400m). The 5YO gelding has slowly been working up in distance and improving his fitness level. Stepping up to 2400m will suit as the last time he raced over this course and distance resulted in victory in the Winter Cup earlier this year. Champion hoop Joao Moreira takes the ride and that’s a huge plus. From barrier 5, Moreira will put the gelding to sleep at the tail of the field and Al Aabir will be charging home down the Rosehill straight.
Chris Waller and Ryan Moore could combine to take out the Golden Pendant with Zougotcha (Sydney Race 6, 1400m). The good mare took out the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes in the autumn and she wasn’t disgraced in the Doncaster Mile on a Heavy 9 track. The 5YO has come back well over shorter trip and stepping up to 1400m third-up should be ideal. Drawn beautifully in barrier 5, Moore will sit one off one back in a stalking position and Zougotcha is the one they have to catch.
The Godolphin-owned colt Cylinder has won two from two this campaign and is looking to make it a hat-trick of wins by taking out the Golden Rose (Sydney Race 8, 1400m). The Golden Slipper runner up also took out the Todman Stakes in the autumn before he failed in the Sires’ on a Heavy 9 track. The good track on Saturday will suit and he loves Rosehill having won twice with a 2nd from three starts at the venue. From barrier 6, Nash Rawiller will go forward and settle outside likely leader Moravia and Cylinder could prove hard to catch.
By Owens Wong
