The Lord Mayors Cup meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (20th May). The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with overcast weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill is likely to border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Top weight Preemptory is primed to take out the Highway Handicap (Sydney Race 3. 1200m). Danny Williams has got this gelding racing very consistently with a win and two placings from his past three starts in Highway Handicaps. The 4YO is rock hard fit and dropping back to 1200m with three weeks between runs should suit. Hannah Williams has been in tip top form and with her 3kg claim, Preemptory will only be carrying 57.5kg. From barrier 3, Williams will settle just behind mid-field and Preemptory will run over the top of this field.
The New Zealand import Union Gap has won his past two Sydney starts and he is ready to make it a hat-trick of wins by taking out the Vale Ian Finn Handicap (Sydney Race 7, 2400m). This 4YO gelding resumed with a good win over the mile before another victory at Warwick Farm over 2130m. He should be ready to step up to 2400m when 3rd up on Saturday. Alysha Collett will go to the lead and dictate the tempo and Union Gap could prove hard to go past.
The very much in-form Dylan Gibbons could take out the Lord Mayors Cup with Thalassophile (Sydney Race 9, 2000m). The Waller-trained 4YO has come back well this campaign winning the Group 3 Aspiration Handicap first-up before a good 2nd in the Epona Stakes. Stepping up to 2000m fourth-up should be perfect. The mare has drawn beautifully in gate 3 and she has only been allotted with the limit weight of 53kg. Gibbons will be sitting just behind the pace with a cosy run and Thalassophile will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
By Owens Wong
