This Saturday’s Sydney Metropolitan meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens (4th Dec). The course proper was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday and with light showers in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill will border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Shihonka will set punters on the right path in the opening event at Rosehill (Sydney Race 1, 1350m). The 3YO filly has been in good form winning two of her last three starts. Ready to step up to 1350m 4th up on Saturday. The drying track will suit and she has only been allotted with 54.5kg. Tim Clark knows the horse well and he will take the filly to the lead and Shihonka could prove hard to catch.
The lightly raced I Am Power has a good first-up record and the gelding is the one to beat in the Guildford Leagues Handicap (Sydney Race 4, 1100m). This Mark Newnham-trained 7YO has only had twelve starts but has a good strike rate of four wins and three placings. He had been very competitive against good horses like Blondeau, Our Bellagio Miss and Spaceboy last preparation. Fresh from a riding double on Wednesday, Tom Sherry will continue his association with the gelding. And with Sherry’s 2kg claim, I Am Power will only be carrying 56kg. From barrier 5, Sherry will settle just behind the pace and the 1100m should be really to I Am Power’s liking first-up.
Chris Waller and James McDonald can combine with Welsh Legend to take out the Cabra Bowls Handicap (Sydney Race 7, 2000m). The 6YO mare did alright when she finished two lengths behind Zoushack in a BM78 handicap over 1400m first-up. With four weeks between runs, Waller has sent her through a 1175m trial where she duly won with Polly Grey finished 2nd, and Polly Grey had franked the form by winning the ATC Cup (2000m) last week. The 2000m will suit and she can handle any track conditions. With reasonable pace in the race, McDonald will be able to slide across to settle mid-field from barrier 10. Welsh Legend will bide his time and will be ready to release the brake down the Rosehill straight.
By Owens Wong, Editor
