The first ATC meeting for the 2013-14 season will be held at Rosehill this Saturday. The track was a Dead 4 on Thursday and with fine and sunny weather in Sydney, Rosehill is likely to be rated a Good 3 on raceday.
Melbourne racing is back to Mooney Valley on Saturday. The track was rated a Slow 6 on Thursday and with further showers forecast, Mooney Valley is likely to remain in the Slow range on raceday.
In the ATC BM65 Handicap (Sydney Race 1, 1400m), Sugar Rush had won well last start over this distance at Newcastle. The 3YO filly has been restricted to racing over 1000m until Gai Waterhouse decided to step her up to 1400m last start. Sugar Rush obviously relished in the extra trip as she was tracking the leaders nicely into the straight. When Thomas Huet released the brake, Sugar Rush simply ran away from the field. Sugar Rush looks to start off the meeting as a winner for the punters.
In the Rygate Surveyors BM80 Handicap (Sydney Race 4, 1350m), I like the Darren Smith-trained The Gallows. The 5YO ran a great 4th last start here at Rosehill on an unsuitable Slow track. Stepping up to 1350m looks ideal and the anticipate Good track on Saturday suits The Gallows much better. With the 1.5kg claim from the newly crowned Champion Apprentice Sam Clipperton, The Gallows will only be carrying 53kg. From barrier 3, Clipperton will settle the gelding just behind the pace on the fence. At the juicy odds of $15.00 fixed odds, The Gallows represents a fantastic each-way bet.
The Waterhouse-Huet combination looks primed to take out the feature race, the Winter Challenge (Sydney Race 6, 1500m). The same combination took out the Winter Stakes with Under The Sun two weeks ago and they should make it another feature win on Saturday. Under The Sun has a great record at Rosehill having won 3 races and placed a further 4 times from 9 starts. He has never missed a place over 1500m and can handle all conditions. From barrier 2, Huet can effortlessly take the gelding to the lead and will prove hard to catch.
In the TAB.com.au BM90 Handicap (Sydney Race 7, 2000m), I am sticking with the Waller-trained Sacred Flyer. The lightly raced 7YO won last start over this course and distance in the same class. Sacred Flyer likes Rosehill as he has won twice from 3 starts at the track and he has never missed a place from 4 starts over 2000m. Though going up in weight, Sacred Flyer has drawn much better than last start and Glyn Schofield decides to stick with the gelding. Sacred Flyer should kick-start the new season for Champion Sydney Trainer Chris Waller with a victory in this race.
By Owens Wong, Editor
