The McKell Cup meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (29th Jun). The course proper was rated a Heavy 8 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill is likely to be racing on a Soft track on raceday.
Although Father’s Day has gone up in class, he drops significantly in weight in the Stayer’s Cup and he will be a top light weight chance (Sydney Race 3, 2400m). The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding has slowly worked his way up in distance and the 2400m will suit well as he has won twice and placed twice at the trip. Father’s Day has good Soft track form and with apprentice Bailey Wheeler’s claim, the 6YO will only carry the featherweight of 52kg. From barrier 8, Wheeler will go straight to the front to employ the catch me if you can tactic and together with his light weight, Father’s Day could prove hard to catch.
Irish import Ha Ha Ha could be the one to watch out for in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1400m). This 5YO is only lightly raced but she has been rather consistent with two wins and two placings from nine career starts and she handles any track conditions. The mare did well in her first Australian start a fortnight ago finishing 2nd to Amati over 1300m on a Heavy 9 track. Fitter when second-up on Saturday and stepping up to 1400m will suit. Amy McLucas will claim 2kg and will go to the lead and dictate the pace and Ha Ha Ha is the one they all have to catch.
Stepping up in distance could be a winning move for Waterford in the McKell Cup (Sydney Race 7, 2000m). The Waller-trained gelding has started off the campaign well winning first-up over 1500m before a close 2nd to Sky Lab in the Scone Cup. Though the 5YO only finished 6th at Randwick last start, we can expect him to rebound quickly. Waterford loves Rosehill having won four times with further three placings from ten starts at the venue and he can handle the wet tracks. With reasonable pace in the race, Nash Rawiller will settle mid-field and Waterford will be powering home down the Rosehill straight.
By Owens Wong
