From Team Hawkes
Horse: Makarena
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Golden Pendant) Makarena had the tough job of carting the field up to runaway leader Belclere first-up in the Sheraco Stakes, then was momentarily held up behind that tiring horse in the straight, eventually getting clear to finish 4th to Sunshine In Paris. She could have filled a placing if not for the interference. I just put a line through first-up, that’s my honest opinion. The way that leader went out in front made it near-impossible. She had to chase and lead the rest of the field up. Hopefully it’s a lovey, even tempo of a race, not like last start, and we’ll be happy. One hundred per cent she will strip fitter, and I know Amelia’s Jewel is there but they’re all beatable. Apprentice Zac Lloyd has the ride on Makarena from barrier three.
From James Cummings
Horse: Broadsiding
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Golden Rose) He’s been going beautifully, we’re delighted with the way he’s prepared for the Golden Rose first-up. We’ve kept it all up to him in order to be ready to go at seven furlongs. We got it right knowing he couldn’t beat his stablemate in the Run To The Rose. The right approach with Broadsiding was to have him here first-up seven furlongs and we have him spot on in lung and limb ready to do combat. It’ll be a big ask, but it doesn’t matter whether you’re first-up or fifth up in a Group 1 it’s a big ask and the horses have to rise to the occasion. All we can do is have confidence in our process and we’re confident we’ve got him where we need to have him. It’s a trip he will be comfortable with when fresh and from that perspective the Golden Rose is going to be a very interesting test for Broadsiding.
Horse: Traffic Warden
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Golden Rose) Traffic Warden has come through his Run To The Rose win in stellar fashion. Every time he comes to the races he elevates his rating, you don’t see that very often. That’s an exciting prospect that he’s got more to offer. I’m utterly convinced you didn’t see the best of him as a two-year-old. He’s absorbed that first-up effort in the Run To The Rose beautifully. He’s been bouncing out of his skin down on the track and he pulled up beautifully the Sunday following that effort. He’s adept on the going and he has the versatility but he doesn’t quite have the draw he had first-up. The Tulloch Lodge three will be up there near the lead and Traffic Warden can be bolting in behind them but he’s going to need to knuckle down and rise to the occasion at Group 1 level.
From Terry Evans
Horse: The Young Years
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 2, Highway Hcp) The mare is comfortable on soft tracks and her recent form, including a Taree win two starts ago and a last start 2nd at home, warranted the shot at a $120,000 race. She won’t be disgraced, she’s been ticking along nicely. We think we’ve worked out how to ride her, riding her off the pace, and she’s been getting back and getting home.
Horse: Sir Ravanelli
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 10, Rosehill Bowling Club Hcp) Sir Ravanelli was the winner of the MNCRA Country Championships last year, is a noted wet track performer. This was the race we were always going to run in but we were hopeful to get a spot (for The Kosciuszko) before. We know he can get the distance and would be suited at Randwick. It’d be lovely to get in but if we don’t there’s other races around. We’ve tried to keep him fresh and ready to go, he’s won over 1100m but 1200m is probably more his go. But a rain affected track brings him back into commission. He’s been ticking over doing trot and canter work, a couple of strong-ish gallops, keeping him fresh. We’ve been playing it by ear, treading water, to see what happened. You probably won’t want to be on the inside, he can just take his time and Digger (Darryl McLellan) can put him where he’s happy and then hopefully get to the outside and run home. If there is a bit more rain that won’t worry him either.
From Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
Horse: Lincoln Rocks
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 4, EGroup Protective Services Handicap) Lincoln Rocks makes his Sydney debut in the EGroup Protective Services Handicap. He’s going really well and he will appreciate some give in the track. He’s a horse on the up, it looks a nice race for him but he is going to have to keep stepping up.
Horse: Amelia’s Jewel
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Golden Pendant) She will line up in Saturday’s Group 2 Golden Pendant against her own sex at Rosehill having finished 2nd to Royal Patronage in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes at her first run for the stable. I thought it was a pretty good run. They went flat out, they went a really strong tempo and she closed off really well. I was happy with it. It was her first up run, we’re still learning about her, I don’t think she could’ve done much more from where she was in the field. She’s good, going well. I’m really happy with her. We just thought we’d give her three weeks between runs and see where we’re at after that. Her work has been good, Tommy (Berry) sticks, she should run well.
From John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
Horse: Premise
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 6, Irresistable Pools & Spas Hcp) Premise will take her place despite drawing wide in barrier 15. She goes on a similar path (to stablemate Good Banter), all being well, so she needs to run this weekend. The barrier has dictated her chances a bit and she’s probably not at her best if we get wet ground. But when she gets circumstances go her way, she is capable of running well in some black-type races.
Horse: Good Banter
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 6, Irresistable Pools & Spas Hcp) We put a last-minute acceptance in for the Golden Pendant because it looked like she was going to be an emergency in the (benchmark) 88. It is very much our preference to run in the 88, but it’s also very important she has a run this weekend. It’s the softer option for sure, that Golden Pendant is like a Group One. Even when she won the Adrian Knox (Stakes), she was just not there yet. I definitely expect her to have a really good four-year-old season. Ideally, she might be one to head to an Angst (Stakes) on Everest day and maybe a Matriarch (Stakes) beyond there.
Horse: Linebacker
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Golden Rose) He was perfect first-up. He caught the eye of just about everyone with his slashing first-up 4th in the Group 2 Run To The Rose two weeks ago where Kerrin McEvoy was forced to drag him back to last from the outside barrier before reeling of some sizzling sectionals. He ran 32.94secs for his last 600m in that race and 10.91secs for his final 200m. I watched him work (Tuesday) morning and he looks to have made good progress. It looks to map a lot better so I think that there’s nice tempo and I’m happy with where he drew (gate 7) and the way it’s going to pan out for him at this stage. He’s poised to have a really good season and it’s just a matter of him bringing his A-game to the races, though I’d much prefer it to be on top of the ground. I’d like him to be just behind the main bunch.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 5 – Gatsby’s
Sydney Race 7 – Semana
Sydney Race 8 – Linebacker
