The Rosebud meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (12th Aug). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with overcast weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill would remain in Good condition on raceday.
Winning form is good form and The Little Pumper can continue his winning streak in the opening event at Rosehill (Sydney Race 1, 1300m). The Waterhouse & Bott-trained 3YO gelding has won two from two this preparation and he will be even fitter being third-up on Saturday. Coming back in trip with four weeks between runs should be ideal. Adam Hyeronimus will go straight to the front to control the pace and The Little Pumper is looking to make it three wins on the trot.
Freedom Rally looks an above average talent and he is the one to beat in the Ranvet Handicap (Sydney Race 7, 1400m). This Rubick gelding has won his last four starts and he is unbeaten at 1400m winning two from two. The 4YO keeps improving with each run and he should handle stepping up to Benchmark 78 grade at Rosehill. Ryan Maloney, who partnered the horse to his maiden win, is back on board on Saturday. Drawn a good gate (6), Maloney will go forward and sit one off one back in a stalking position. Expect Freedom Rally to be too good in the run home.
The in-form Jason Collett could pilot Cigar Flick to victory in The Rosebud (Sydney Race 8, 1100m). This Waller-trained filly carries the famous Ingham’s Cerise colour and she certainly is very talented. The 3YO has returned in good form when she won brilliantly first-up at Randwick a fortnight ago. And 1100m is her pet distance as she scored both her career victories over the trip. Collett will go forward and settle just behind the leading bunch and Cigar Flick will finish strongly down the Rosehill straight.
By Owens Wong
