The Festival Stakes meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (30th Nov). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with showers in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill will be racing on a rain affected track on raceday.
Brad Widdup-trained Jedibeel will have conditions to suit in the Starlight Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 1100). The 5YO gelding has been very consistent who have not missed a place since April. He ran a close 2nd first-up in the Choisir Stakes and he has a good second-up record. He has a mighty 1100m record with five wins and four 2nds from eleven attempts at the trip and he has never missed a place on Slow and Heavy tracks in seven starts. Tommy Berry will settle just behind the leading bunch and Jedibeel will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
Ciaron Maher-trained St Lawrence can win his third race in a row by taking out the Festival Stakes (Sydney Race 8, 1500m). The 6YO has his races spaced which seem to suit the gelding. He had won his last two races over the Randwick mile showing a terrific turn-of-foot. He’s gone up in class on Saturday but down significantly in weight. He also has a good Soft and Heavy track record. The in-form Chad Schofield retains the mount and he will sit somewhere mid-field and bide his time. Watch St Lawrence flies down the Rosehill straight.
Townsend has been in winning form and he is primed to take out the ATC Cup (Sydney Race 9, 2000m). This team Waterhouse & Bott-trained 4YO is a galloper on the up. The gelding resumed with a good 2nd to Sounds Of Heaven in the Filante Stakes before setting the pace to win by three and a half lengths over 1850m at Newcastle. Fitter again being third-up on Saturday and he handles the wet tracks. Up against a more competitive field but gets some weight relief (54kg). Tommy Berry will go to the lead to dictate the pace and Townsend is the one they all have to catch.
By Owens Wong
