From Jack Pilkington
Horse: Alabama State
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 1, Midway Hcp) Alabama State’s last start 2nd behind Unique Ambition in a 1300m Midway two weeks ago was an excellent performance considering he was forced back onto a part of the track both I and jockey Craig Williams didn’t want to be. Craig gave him a glowing report last time and said 1400m would be no problems. He’s got lots of ability, he’s still a bit raw and whatever we have now is a bonus for the autumn. There’s nothing too complicated about the race, we know all those horses. The speed has drawn in 1,2,3, and 7, and I think we just end up trailing them. He jumps well but he doesn’t tend to get into stride as quick as a natural leader. Hopefully it’s all uncomplicated and we can get over the top.
From Michael Freedman
Horse: Spirit Of Wealth
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Roman Consul Stakes) Obviously it’s a big step up in grade but she’s done nothing wrong thus far. We figured it’s probably worth finding out where she sits at the moment. She seems to have trained on well from Warwick Farm and she’s drawn a nice gate (3) there on Saturday. The fact she went from a maiden to a 68 race and was able to win comfortably it’s usually a good indication they’ve got above average ability. She did a bit wrong at Warwick Farm the other day, I’m not sure why, she had a bit of a look around and wanted to wander off the track a bit. With the nice draw (gate 3) hopefully she can do it the right way. But she’s got a good racing style and can quicken up when you need her to. It depends on the pace of the race, she’s not that one dimensional that she has to lead. She’s had to do that in her first two starts but I think she’s got the versatility that if he (Tommy Berry) wants to take a sit on her he can.
Horse: Blanc De Blanc
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 9, The Nivison) Blanc De Blanc has finished runner-up to talented gallopers Briasa and Ostraka in her two runs this spring. It’s the first time we’ve been able to get a proper preparation into her without any setbacks since her two-year-old year. Both her runs have been good. I think it’s an open Nivison and if she can find the right spot from the draw (gate 7) she will run well. At this stage of her career, where she’s already stakes placed, trying to chase these black type races is more important than winning a city race.
From Anthony Cummings
Horse: El Castello
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 4, Gloaming Stakes) The colt is a much better horse now than six months ago, in particular to his Midway win three weeks back. I think he’s shown that, he’s much more professional and has a better idea of how to finish it off. He got to the furlong and he really accelerated and showed a turn of foot. In his previous couple he was a bit green and goofy, and lengthened without quickening. Whereas the other day he actually quickened and I thought that was a significant improvement and with a similar performance it’ll make him tough to handle. From barrier five there’s no excuses. If I had the chance to write the script I wouldn’t change it. It was three weeks between runs and while the step up (in distance) isn’t huge you’ve got to treat it with respect. So he had the trip away and to have a look at Rosehill (on Wednesday), I think it’s good.
Horse: Strait Acer
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Alan Brown Stakes) He had a course proper gallop last Saturday, it was a strong piece of work and he’s come through that well. It’s a bit of a tough gate (17) but with a few emergencies he’ll come in a few and that will be to his benefit. He’ll be in the second half of the field, three wide with cover would be fine, and hopefully he gets the right options presented on straightening.
Horse: Tristate
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 10, Rosehill Bowling Club Hcp) It was a good run last time, he still can’t draw a gate but he’s drawn better than last time, so we’ll go there and see what he can do. Hopefully we can get a trail over and tuck in behind. We don’t have to lead but it’s always there for him to do if it works out.
From Chris Waller
Horse: Switzerland
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Roman Consul Stakes) Second start for Switzerland as a three-year-old. I was buoyed by a 3rd placing in a 900m Rosehill trial last week won by Remarque. We rode him too aggressively (first-up), he got fired up and he wasn’t the same horse. He’s trialled since, he trialled well and he’s going good. Switzerland will start from barrier four with Nash Rawiller to ride.
Horse: Gatsby’s
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Roman Consul Stakes) He wasn’t beaten far the other day and we’re looking forward to riding him just a little bit quieter if we get the opportunity. (We want to) sit back and unleash. Gatsby’s, who will be ridden by Josh Parr.
From Brad Widdup
Horse: Tenbury Wells
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 4, Gloaming Stakes) Tenbury Wells was tested against Broadsiding in the autumn, but it all came a bit too soon, and with that experience he’s toughened right up. He’s done nothing wrong this time in. He’s always shown a bit and he’s been terrific since he’s come back, he’s really grown up mentally. I think he’s a nice horse, he’s mature for his age and he’s going really well. This time of year it’s not always the superstars, the ones that are mentally and physically mature can have the wood on them. I can’t fault him, he’s had a good preparation leading into this. From the inside barrier, Tenbury Wells will be able to make his own luck up on the speed as he’s done in his two wins. He’s been handling that way of racing, I think he’s adaptable but he seems to enjoy racing up on the speed. I think he’s more than capable, I’m not going to get carried away but he’s a really tough horse and doesn’t do a lot wrong. He handles getting out over ground and that’s a big part of it. We’ll use this race to see which way we go.
Horse: Maili
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 6, Tapp-Craig) The filly was Listed placed before a break at Eagle Farm in June and is fitter for her unplaced effort first-up at Newcastle. She ran well up in Brisbane, she’s probably not ready for this at the moment. I think she’s an autumn filly to be fair but she’s an honest type and it’s good prizemoney. I’m happy to expose her at the moment and see if we can toughen her up, but maybe it’s a little bit early for her.
From Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Horse: Prost
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Roman Consul Stakes) He’s a talented horse on his day. We didn’t get to see that from him first-up, he seemed a little bit lost up the straight so I’m happy to be forgiving of that. I’d expect him to be able to bounce back and run a more competitive race.
Horse: Ikasara
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Roman Consul Stakes) He was a good effort first-up, he was jumping straight into Listed grade just off the one start as a two-year-old. He handled himself well and stuck on bravely, he’ll improve up in trip and improve second-up.
Horse: Anode
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 6, Tapp-Craig) It looks a nice race for him. It probably wasn’t the greatest set up for him second-up in the Golden Rose but I thought his first-up run was excellent and he can bounce back.
Horse: Royal Patronage
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Hill Stakes) I was proud of the six-year-old’s effort last weekend (3rd in Epsom Hcp), beaten just under two lengths by Ceolwulf after riding on speed, and he’s well suited in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m). He’s come through the run very well so we’re keen to see him back up and importantly we’re starting to get out to an ideal trip now for him. We tried to keep him as sharp as we could over the mile. The draw and the weight made things a little bit difficult for him in the Epsom but I thought he was very brave the way he stuck on. This should be a nice, natural, step for him and I think the back up should suit him at this stage of the preparation.
Horse: New Endeavour
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Hill Stakes) New Endeavour was second-up when 3rd in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes two weeks ago and he’s tracking well to break through this spring. He’s showing nice improvement, his two runs in have been excellent and he’s now starting to get out to a more suitable trip.
Horse: Converge
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Alan Brown Stakes) Converge isn’t a noted first-up performer so his work has been altered to help him sprint well fresh after being tested up to 2200m in the winter. We tried to stretch him out a little bit last preparation. We’ve been training him differently this time in, trying to keep him a little bit sharper for his first up run. Traditionally he has found 1400m a bit short of his best.
From Gary Portelli
Horse: Encap
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Alan Brown Stakes) I was thrilled to see the gelding bounce back to winning form last start in the Group 2 Theo Marks on September 14. It answered our questions, has he come back and is he good enough? I think he answered both those questions. I have given Encap four weeks between runs ahead of Saturday’s Alan Brown Stakes and I can’t fault the way the son of Capitalist has progressed since his last-start victory. Encap cruised home to finish 4th in a 1207m Warwick Farm barrier trial last Monday as part of his preparation towards Saturday’s race. He’s come on stronger than I’ve ever seen him. He’s had a nice quiet trial the other day and he dragged his way down the straight. He’s pulled up well, so he’s going to go there in probably peak condition.
From Bjorn Baker
Horse: Belclare
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Alan Brown Stakes) Belclare who has been kept up to the mark with a barrier trial 4th behind stablemate Overpass since her Australian debut in the Sheraco Stakes last month. She trialled brilliantly on Friday, she is going to have an easy gallop tomorrow (Tuesday) and we’re really excited about her. She is already a dual Group One winner in New Zealand and from what we’ve seen, we couldn’t be happier with her. She gets into a handicap race, she probably gets in with an OK weight, touch wood, and she is a high-class mare.
Horse: Iknowastar
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Alan Brown Stakes) While he hasn’t won first-up, he has looked sharp in his two trial wins and he has a strong fitness foundation. He’s trialled very, very well and he’s ready to run a race too. He has come back in great order. He performed really well last preparation, so I’m looking forward to him going there with a good weight. He is definitely a chance.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 6 – Anode
Sydney Race 7 – Royal Patronage
Sydney Race 8 – Punch Lane
