From Donna Scott
Horse: Villasaurus
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 3, Highway Hcp) Villasaurus chases successive TAB Highway wins at Rosehill on Saturday. The gelding was due to run in the Highway at Kembla Grange on The Gong program but I decided not to line up in that race from a wide barrier – it was won by Everido who Villasaurus beat by over three lengths when they clashed five weeks ago. There’s plenty of form out of it and he meets a similar sort of race. I’d like to hope he’s come on from it. I think he gets a nice chance but I get quite nervous when it comes to this sort of stuff because you’ve got to have the horse spot on. He probably wants a bit further but I have a lot of time for him and there’s plenty of upside to him. I have a fair opinion of him and hopefully he can prove me right.
Horse: Valspar
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 3, Highway Hcp) He’s definitely got the ability, he just doesn’t have any luck. We may as well throw him in the deep end but I like him, he’s frustrating for me and the owners getting beaten by short margins. He’ll be on pace there somewhere. With the light weight he’s definitely worth something the place, I’m not taking him there just to be a travelling companion.
From Nathan Doyle
Horse: Private Harry
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 1, Petaluma Hcp) Private Harry will step up to Saturday company for the first time in the Petaluma Handicap at Rosehill, on his way to next month’s Magic Millions at the Gold Coast. He hasn’t beaten much yet, but you’ve got to like the way he has done things and it’s the right, natural progression to that three-year-old (benchmark) 72 race on Saturday. The best part of him in his races is that at the 500, he’s still travelling and looks like he’s going three-quarter pace work and looking back behind at the other runners, they’re off the bridle chasing him. He just does it with ease. We will definitely know where he sits after Saturday, but he probably needs to step up to warrant pushing on to where he’s going, to the Gold Coast slot race. Ashley Morgan has partnered Private Harry to his two wins and retains the mount.
From Cassandra Stummer
Horse: Coella
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 3, Highway Hcp) With 55kg for Reece Jones she has an advantageous weight drop off winning form and an inside gate. She’s super genuine, we decided Sydney with the form she’s in, a weight drop, inside gate and the level of prizemoney. She always does (run well), out in distance suits and upside. Eventually she will be a nice miler we think. That benchmark placing at Newcastle lines up for a Country class 3. She can be a bit fizzy but always puts in on race day, settles and travels. We’re planning to possie closer from the good gate. My daughter Ivy named her after a Rabbit (Coella is the Latin word for Rabbit). There’s not a lot of her but plenty in heart.
From Michael Freedman
Horse: Time To Boogie
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 9, Toyota Forklifts Hcp) Time To Boogie has been on the sidelines since January having missed a preparation through illness then he developed a throat issue that required a tie-back operation. His two trials have been great, he looks well. I’m sure whatever he can do on Saturday he will improve on just in fitness. I’ve found in the past he usually runs a good race first-up and continues to improve as the prep goes on. He seems in good order now so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards. He’s drawn a bit awkwardly (gate 10) which isn’t ideal but I’m very happy with him and I think he can run well first-up and hopefully that can set him up for a good summer. He’s the sort of horse that likes to roll forward and put himself up on speed, and Rachel (King) knows him well, it’s just always a little tricky from the 1100m start at Rosehill.
Horse: Yiska
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 10, Rosehill Bowling Club Hcp) He was by no means screwed right down for that run at Canterbury (last start) and he did a good job to get the bob in, obviously the favourite (Accredited) was unlucky but he did travel three and four deep. I think he was a bit stiff last prep, he won that last one at Rosehill but he was a bit unlucky in one or two others. On paper his form probably doesn’t read as well as it should but he’s a mature horse now. Early doors he was very hot and got himself worked up but he’s a lot more mentally mature now and he’s a pretty handy horse on his day. Yiska is a much better horse on top of the ground so should have conditions to suit and he’ll drop 1.5kg on his first-up win after Zac Wadick’s claim.
From John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
Horse: Good Banter
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 6, TAB Hcp) Good Banter was a Group 3 winner of the Adrian Knox Stakes earlier this year. She was sent to Melbourne for her third run this campaign and I felt her effort showed she was “back in the game”. She ran very well, that was a positive run for her. She gets up to her preferred distance, she has a nice draw (gate 6) and it’s a nice drop in grade for her. We will look forward to her running well and if the ground got worse than a (soft) 6 it wouldn’t be the worst for her.
Horse: Captain Amelia
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Captivant@Kia Ora Hcp) It’d been some 14 months between victories for Captain Amelia when she scored at Canterbury second-up. I was pleased to see Captain Amelia back up a promising first-up performance with her overdue win and sees no reason why she can’t hold her form in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap. I think it’s done her the world of good. We decided not to run her last Saturday because of the track and where she drew and I think it’s been worthwhile. I’m not sure whether she’s as effective at Rosehill, but I still think she can run well.
Horse: Cotehele
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, James Squire Hcp) Cotehele resumed in The Hunter last month and while he wasn’t able to make an impact there the run has been beneficial. We held him back last week from a bad draw, he wasn’t quite ready. It’s been a while since he’s been to the races, it’s not ideal that draw but he needs to go racing. He got a bit out of his ground (at Newcastle) which was surprising, I thought he’d be a lot handier.
From Peter Snowden
Horse: August Bloom
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Captivant@Kia Ora Hcp) August Bloom’s only appearance during the autumn yielded a 5th behind Facile in the P J Bell Stakes at Randwick when she was doing her best work late and I hope she can get back to a similar level. I’d certainly like to think so. She has always had good ability so I’d like to see her realise that now that she is a bit older and hopefully that can happen. She had a couple of setbacks, but she is back on track now. Two good trials have got her ready to go.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 1 – Private Harry
Sydney Race 3 – Villasaurus
Sydney Race 7 – Drift Net
