This Saturday’s Sydney meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens (2nd Jul). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday but with showers forecast for Sydney over the next couple of days, Rosehill is likely to be racing on a Heavy track on raceday.
Paul Messara has a good filly in Shalstar running in the Highway Handicap (Sydney Race 1, 1100m). The 3YO has won three races with a 2nd from four career starts. Resuming at Kensington on 15th June, Shalstar was impressive winning over 1000m. Second-up on Saturday, Shalstar will strip fitter and stepping up to 1100m should suit. The in-form Sam Clipperton will take over the rein and from barrier 3, Clipperton will settle just behind the leading bunch and Shalstar will be hard to hold out.
Sungblue will have conditions to suit in the Ned Australian Whisky Hcp) (Sydney Race 2, 1300m). This Brett Cavanough-trained gelding has slowly worked his way into form culminating to a last start victory in a Highway Handicap (1400m) five weeks ago. The 3YO has a good record on rain affected tracks and has drawn beautifully in barrier 4. Jason Collett will be able to settle one off one back in a stalking position and Sungblue will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
Chad Schofield and Chris Waller have joined forces with Kalino in taking out a BM72 handicap last Saturday and the combination is backing up this weekend in the Ranvet Handicap (Sydney Race 6, 1500m). The 3YO gelding had two conditional runs before he took out the mile race at Randwick last week. Kalino has won on Soft and Heavy tracks before and he will be fitter again being 4th up on Saturday. Schofield will settle somewhere mid-field with plenty of cover and Kalino will run over the top of this field.
By Owens Wong
