The Winter Cup meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday (15th Jun). The course proper was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday and with light showers in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill will be racing in the Soft range on raceday.
Front runner Sovereign Hill is going to kick off the Rosehill meeting with victory on Saturday (Sydney Race 1, 1400m). This 2YO colt won well on debut last October before going for a spell. He came back on 11th May over 1200m on a Heavy 9 track where his condition gave in before a very good 2nd behind the promising Emirate two weeks ago. Fitter when third-up on Saturday and stepping up to 1400m should suit. Adam Hyeronimus will go straight to the lead to control the pace and Sovereign Hill is the one they have to catch.
The very consistent For Victory can go on with his good job by taking out the James Squire Handicap (Sydney Race 4, 2000m). The 4YO gelding has won twice with further four placings in his last six starts. He found the line well when 2nd, beaten by ¾ length last start at Scone. He’s rock hard fit and is ready to step up to 2000m and he has a good record in the wet with five placings from eight starts on Soft tracks. Kerrin McEvoy will settle mid-field and For Victory will fly down the Rosehill straight.
French import Hopeful is primed to peak in the Winter Cup (Sydney Race 8, 2400m). This Annabel Neasham-trained gelding is on a quick back up after he came on strongly when 2nd beaten by 1 ¾ lengths at Randwick last Saturday. Stepping up to 2400m will suit better. The anticipated wet condition will also help as all Hopeful’s six career victories and eight placings were achieved on Soft and Heavy tracks. Keagan Latham will box seat behind likely leaders Sir Lucan and Youth Spirit and Hopeful will prove the strongest in the run home.
By Owens Wong
