From Mark Jones
Horse: Life’s A Party
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 4, Highway Hcp) We’d also accepted for Mudgee on Friday but the track was heavy, she had 58kg and barrier 12 and is only a little thing. We thought long and hard about the tougher race. But in the end it’s worth a crack down there as there’s not many Class 2 Highways. She’s in winning form and the 54kg on maybe an improving track. Added to that the level of prizemoney while she’s eligible. She’s only lightly raced, so could still improve, won well enough the time was decent and she gets a weight drop. But obviously a lot harder race, those bigger stables bring the right horses. But we’ll let her do what she does best, lead or on-pace and see what happens.
From Karen Owen
Horse: Sound And Vision
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 6, Country Classic) We weren’t actually planning on the Country Classic, we were just hoping to get him fit and well enough to be running over 2000 metres. When he won at Kempsey two starts ago, we thought maybe we will have a go at the Taree Cup. We wouldn’t have expected he’d go that well there, and then when he ran so well in the Taree Cup, it was a logical progression two weeks later to the Country Classic. It would be great, but it will be quite a strong field so we just hope he can go there and run well.
From Brad Widdup
Horse: Cross The Rubicon
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Doyle’s Breeding And Racing Hcp) Cross The Rubicon hasn’t won for 20-months but enjoys wet tracks and she did finish 3rd in the Provincial-Midway Championship earlier this year. Her form is better than it looks and one thing, she has never looked better, she looks great. She is a slow beginner and it can really stuff her up but she will be better suited out to 1400 metres, and fillies and mares’ grade will suit her as well.
Horse: Phearson
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Festival Stakes) He comes into Saturday’s race off two competitive performances, finishing runner-up to Festival Stakes favourite Grebeni in the Goulburn Cup two starts ago and 3rd to Ka Bling over 1300m at Newcastle last time out. It’s his first go at 1500, but hopefully the tempo will suit him. I dropped him back to 1300 the other day and from a wide draw he had to work, where the 1500 tempo might suit him – might. He’s in good order and he has drawn a barrier (5).
Horse: Sneaky Paige
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Starlight Stakes) I got her last time off Mark (Newnham) and things didn’t go to plan. I wouldn’t say I rushed her last time in, but I probably treated her like I knew her, and I didn’t. We gave her a break and started again and her two trials have been excellent. She has had a better prep this time in, I know her a bit better, and she has been trouble-free. He (Tyler Schiller) trialled her and was happy to stay with her, so it was a good booking. We’re kicking her off in a solid race, but she handles soft going and she has trialled up really well.
From Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Horse: Serpentine
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 9, Christmas Cup) Serpentine, who has been freshened since finishing down the track in the Melbourne Cup. He seems to have bounced out of the Cup in good order. He’s had a bit of time between runs now and seems to have freshened up nicely. His form prior to that was very consistent and good, so hopefully he can bounce back.
Horse: I’m A Dirty Rascal
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 9, Christmas Cup) I think he will really appreciate jumping out to this trip quite sharply. It was a good run the other day against the pattern (at Newcastle) and in a race shape that didn’t necessarily suit him. He can be a nice improver for us and hopefully go through his grades. I’m A Dirty Rascal is on the 53kg minimum with Tim Clark to ride.
From Darrell Burnet
Horse: You’re On Mute
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 4, Highway Hcp) You’re On Mute got the job done in a Leeton maiden before returning from a spell on Snake Gully Cup day at Gundagai last month. She’s come back a few lengths better horse and first-up we had a bit of a punt on her and got the coin. I never thought she would be a Highway horse but she gets in with 51 kilos, she jumps, travels, handles wet ground, she tries and has a will to win so I definitely think it’s worth a crack
From David Payne
Horse: Fox Fighter
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Starlight Stakes) Fox Fighter has an affinity for his home track (Rosehill) where the five-year-old has raced seven times for six top-three finishes, including a brace of wins. A lot of people don’t do their homework, but he always runs well here, and he would have needed that first run because he’d had a good spell. I’m happy with him and he will run well. Fox Fighter finished third to Zethus in the corresponding race last year and heads to Saturday’s renewal off the back of a solid 5th behind Hard To Say at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day. I was happy with that run. He was running on strongly again and if there is speed in the race on Saturday, he will be finishing off.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 4 – Tanglewood
Sydney Race 7 – Rustic Steel
Sydney Race 8 – Malkovich
