Proven galloper Centennial Park has been given topweight in Saturday’s Group 2-Shannon Stakes, the feature race of an eight race program at Rosehill Gardens which is complemented by the running of the Gr 2-Stan Fox Stakes, Gr 3-Golden Pendant, Gr 3-Gloaming Stakes, Gr 3-Colin Stephen and Listed-Reginald Allen Quality Handicap.
The David Payne-trained eight-year-old was allotted the number one saddlecloth with a benchmark of 100 and Centennial Park sits just one point above Ron Quinton’s Monton, which has half a kilo advantage and an inside barrier. Centennial Park drew the extreme outside barrier 12 after acceptances were finalised.
Peter Moody’s High Esteem, one of the younger runners in the race, is coming into the event off a second placing in the Gr 3-Cameron Handicap and will no doubt use that experience to push through the field.
The Stan Fox Stakes has a final field of seven, headlined by another David Payne galloper, Criterion. A set-weight race for three-year-olds, the Stan Fox will be run without a filly present in the 1500m contest.
Gai Waterhouse has entered classy colt Aussies Love Sport, a winner at his past two starts, while James and Bart Cummings will start Eurozone.
Despite not winning in his last two outings, Eurozone has been a highly impressive galloper, beginning his career undefeated for three races and winning the Listed-Rosebud.
The third running of the Golden Pendant for fillies (3yos) and mares has attracted a field of 10 and features stalwarts like Red Tracer and Appearance.
Rosehill is currently rated good (3) with the rail out 3 metres.
– Racing NSW
