The Southern Cross Stakes meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (3rd Feb). The course proper was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday and with mainly fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
The Team Waterhouse-Bott-trained Prost has racing experience and he could be the one to watch out in the Canonbury Stakes (Sydney Race 3, 1100m). The Snitzel colt was beaten ¾ length 3rd in the Breeders Plate on debut and he has been given a freshen up since. Prost has come back a stronger horse and he has been winning two trials in preparation for Saturday. Tim Clark will take advantage of gate 1 and take the box seat and Prost will be too good in the run home.
Hard To Say could return to winning form by taking out the Southern Cross Stakes (Sydney Race 4, 1200m). The Jason Deamer-trained 4YO gelding was in terrific form winning all his four starts last preparation culminating to victory in the Choisir Stakes. First up in the Magic Millions Sprint, Hard To Say ran a courageous 5th behind King Of Sparta. Fitter when second-up on Saturday and he did win second-up last preparation at Doomben. The gelding has only been allotted with 53kg and has drawn beautifully in barrier 3. Dylan Gibbons will settle just behind the speed and together with his light weight, Hard To Say is going to run over the top of the leaders.
Last start winner Robusto could make it back to back wins by taking out the Breed 4 Speed With Kia Ora Stallions Handicap (Sydney Race 7, 1500m). Last start in a Rosehill BM88 race, the 4YO gelding powered to the line for James McDonald to win easily by nearly two lengths. Robusto is rock hard fit and he is ready to step up to 1500m. He likes Rosehill with two wins and two placings from five starts at the venue and he also has a pretty good record over 1500m. Having drawn the rail, McDonald is going to sit behind the leading bunch on the rail and Robusto will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
By Owens Wong
