The ‘Run To The Rose’ meeting will be held at Rosehill on Saturday. Rosehill was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with fine weather leading up to Saturday, Rosehill should stay as Good 3 on raceday.
Memsie Stakes will be the starting point for a lot of Spring Carnival aspirants and Caulfield was rated a Dead 4 on Thursday. With a few showers leading to a fine day on Saturday, I anticipate the Caulfield track will border on Good 3/Dead 4 on raceday.
In the opening event at Rosehill (Sydney Race 1, 1400m), the top weight Bull Point is a promising horse. Last start, he was a little outclassed in the Rosebud won by the brilliant Eurozone. Down in class on Saturday and he should have the wood on this field. With both stable jockeys Nash Rawiller and Tommy Berry not available to ride in Sydney on Saturday, Waterhouse has engaged Glyn Schofield for Bull Point and I believe Schofiled is a good choice for the 3YO. Gai should help punters to kick off the meeting with a winner.
In the Australian Turf Club BM80 Handicap (Sydney Race 2, 1900m), I like the John O’Shea-trained Cloud Valley. The O’Reilly mare has been racing consistently with a win and 2 placings in her past 5 starts. Stepping up to 1900 should not worry her as she had won over that distance before. The experienced Jimmy Cassidy will be replacing Lester Grace and that’s another big plus. From barrier 5, Cassidy will park Cloud Valley just behind the leader with plenty of cover, and will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn. Currently at $9.00 fixed odds, Cloud Valley represents a value bet for punters.
In the James Mccall Retirement BM90 Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1300m), the Chris Waller-trained Velrosso can continue his wnning way. The 5YO started off this preparation racing on unsuitable wet tracks but once he was back racing on firm surface as he was in his past two starts, he had won both outings. The Good 3 track on Saturday will suit him and stepping up to 1300m 5th up looks ideal. Velrosso also loves Rosehill as he has won 5 times and placed twice from 11 starts at the venue. With the 3kg claim from the in-form John Kissick, Velrosso will only be carrying 56.5kg. Looks good value at $4.60 in the fixed odds market.
In the McNeil Stakes for 3YOs (Melbourne Race 4, 1200m), we see the clash between three promising horses in Miracles Of Life, Fast ‘N’ Rocking and Prince Harada. Fast ‘N’ Rocking was unlucky not to have won last start whereas Prince Harada is aiming at the Caulfield Guineas so I suspect the 1200m maybe short of his best at this stage of his preparation. Last season’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner Miracles Of Life could well be the one to look at in this race. Trainer Daniel Clarken didn’t want to over-tax the then 2YO filly and made the astute decision to skip the Golden Slipper. I believe that was the decision that would ‘make’ Miracles Of Life a top 3YO. And the Not a Single Doubt filly certainly has come back in good order as evident in her 6½ lengths win in the 1000-metre Morphettville trial on August 12. I believe Miracles Of Life will be too speedy and is ready for a 1st up win.
By Owens Wong, Editor
