From Matthew Dale
Horse: Man Of Peace
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 4, July Sprint) It is too short for him and he’s off a decent break, I’m very much looking at it as a kick off point but I want to see him show that little bit of intent to be back at the races and get benefit out of the hitout. Louise (Day, who is a senior rider now) will ride him but there’s a couple of kilos there we would have been accessing previously. He’s had two jump outs and won an official trial at Moruya ahead of his return.
From Les Bridge
Horse: All Time Legend
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 4, July Sprint) I’ve got to find out what the best distance is for him. I think he has a good race in him. He didn’t have a lot of luck at his last couple at a mile. All Time Legend has trialled just the once ahead of his return. Barrier trials are just for a look around, he felt good and the jockey (Kerrin McEvoy) was happy with him so I was happy. I think he will run well. He’ll just ride him quiet and have a crack down the outside.
From John O’Shea
Horse: Sound Of Cannons
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Schweppes Hcp) The gelding was hampered at a vital stage late in his close 3rd behind Spencer over the same course back on July 3. He was pretty unlucky the other day, he gets to map well with no weight and there’s no reason why he won’t run well again. He’s been a horse that has struggled to adapt in terms of his racing manners. He’s finally getting the message and as a result he’s racing consistently.
Horse: Maddi Rocks
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 6, City Tattersalls Club Hcp) I’ve been really happy with her, she has an awkward draw (gate 8) but she had good form coming to us. If you go back to her run in the Magic Millions there’s no better form than form around Krone. Blinkers on for the first time. She is first go in blinkers so she may be able to be a little further forward, if she gets the right run in the race they’ll know she’s there.
Horse: Kirwan’s Lane
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Winter Challenge) He’s gone up 20 points in the ratings, it’s a matter of him getting the right scenario on Saturday then he can have a break and we see what happens in the summer. He’s a very happy horse, he looks like he’s going to get a surface to suit and he has a nice draw (gate 4). He likes drying ground, to get his toe in a little bit. When it is really heavy he struggles. Hopefully he’s back in a better scenario.
From Brett Partelle
Horse: Rifles
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 4, July Sprint) We’ve always had a good opinion of this horse, and with the small fields you might find there’ll only be seven runners. I was very impressed with his work this (Tuesday) morning. He’s got a very good turn of foot, when he’s on song. On his day he can run very good sectionals, which could see him run a cheeky race in any sort of event on his day, if he’s got his mind on the job.
Horse: Commander Bell
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Schweppes Hcp) The rising six-year-old hasn’t been disgraced racing up in grade his past two starts, peaking on his run late in the Listed Grafton Cup to finish 4.2L back most recently. I’ve always believed he can get to the next level. I think the next 12 months will be when he really knuckles down. He’s always been a lightly framed horse, but he’s presented good. In those two provincial wins he showed authority. I know it was in lesser grade but the run at Rosehill, the sectionals don’t lie. He’s gone straight into that Listed event in Grafton and he still ran very well considering where he came from. Commander Bell is down in grade on Saturday and is rock hard fit to run out the 2400m ahead of him. (I want him to settle) Midfield, just to put him to sleep and use his energy when it’s needed in those last two furlongs, because he’s got a good turn of foot as a stayer, which a lot of stayers don’t have.
From Annabel Neasham
Horse: Military Expert
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 1, Elite Sand & Soil Hcp) Military Expert was narrowly beaten on debut by King Of Sparta on the Kensington track earlier this month and the colt has muscled up since that first start. I’m hopeful he does run well because he’s one of the nicer colts I have in the stable. I know it’s only off season but I think he will end up being well above average. He’d need to run very well to be thinking about something like the Up & Coming Stakes (at Randwick on August 14) but those races are on offer after this. It’s not really my style to take a maiden to a two-year-old race like this on a Saturday but he’s shown enough, and wasn’t far off winning, to want to roll the dice. An extra 50m and a bigger track are both pluses but the most significant factor in the colt‘s favour is the race experience.
Horse: Blue Soldier
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 10, Quayclean Hcp) I think he is going to take a couple of runs for the penny to drop over here (being an import). I’m looking to build his confidence, he works like a horse that will get over a bit of ground. I’m not expecting him to win this weekend. The gate (12) won’t be ideal because I think he is a horse that likes to roll a bit but he needs to kick off somewhere.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 1 – Military Expert
Sydney Race 4 – All Time Legend
Sydney Race 7 – Kirwan’s Lane
