From David Payne
Horse: Montefilia
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Tancred Stakes) All I can worry about is my mare, get her fit and ready, and we will have a go. She should improve a length or so off the Ranvet run and I think it will bring her into this race. Dylan (Gibbons) knows the mare, he has done nothing wrong on her and he rode her very well last week. If Dubai Honour wasn’t in that race, we would be raving about how good she was so I’m happy to keep Dylan on the mare. I think she will be hard to beat in the Tancred. I can’t fault her. She needs a bit of speed in the race which it looks like we will get and she will be running on. At this level of racing, we need a bit of luck and with Montefilia, because she is so game, if she gets a good run you just know she will be right in it at the finish.
From John O’Shea
Horse: Stroke Of Luck
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 3, Tulloch Stakes) If Stroke Of Luck can turn in another bold performance in the Tulloch Stakes, I am keen to back him up seven days later in the ATC Australian Derby. It looks a nice race for him on Saturday. He’s had the seasoning run against the older horses and the horse who beat him (Almania) was very unlucky in the Manion (Cup) on Saturday. He’s training on nicely and he’s going the right way to run in the Derby next Saturday.
Horse: Awesome John
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 3, Tulloch Stakes) A winner up to 1800m, the gelding should have no issue with the slightly longer Tulloch Stakes journey on Saturday. He’s been trained at that (2000 metre) trip now for the last month to run in this race. But I have a query on him at a mile-and-a-half. If we think he will run a mile-and-a-half he will probably go to Perth. If we don’t then he will probably stay here for a race like the Frank Packer (Plate).
Horse: Waihaha Falls
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 5, Star Kingdom Stakes) Waihaha Falls is being aimed towards the Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane and while he has been readied for a forward showing first-up, barrier 13 might sink his winning chances. It’s a shocking gate. I’d say it’s near on impossible (for him to win). But he’s going really well and we can’t fault that part of it.
Horse: Promise Of Success
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 6, Emancipation Stakes) Barrier one is the worst possible gate for her. She likes a bit of room. She does react really well second-up and she did win this race last year, but I was a bit perplexed about her first-up performance. We’re going to see how she runs Saturday and I have a view we might be inclined to put some headgear on her after this run. We’re happy with her at home, it just hasn’t reflected in her races yet.
From Richard & Will Freedman
Horse: Pavitra
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Vinery Stud Stakes) Pavitra is coming off an explosive four-length victory over a smart field in the Kembla Grange Classic. To prove she is a top-level filly, she probably needed to do that (last start) because we’ve known about Prowess for the entirety of the autumn, we’ve seen what she’s been able to do, New Zealand form can sometimes not be the strongest formline over here, but she is beating older horses at 2000-metres so she’s obviously got her fair share of talent. We’re going to have to be at our best. But so is Prowess. If Prowess is off her game she’s going to have a handful in Pavitra because she’s definitely got the talent.
From Mark Newnham
Horse: Sunshine Rising
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 4, Neville Sellwood Stakes) On the back of two Group 3 placings on end, Sunshine Rising goes into the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes with a big chance to post his first win since October 2019. It’s an achievement to get him back to the races. And to have him racing well and having a zest for racing. I’d be very happy if he was to have a nice race win against his name. Under the conditions of the race he’s well in for a horse of his rating and he’s not taking on an Anamoe. His work is good and he is in good condition so I expect him to run well.
Horse: King Frankel
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 8, Tancred Stakes) The import won the Parramatta Cup first-up then ran 4th two weeks ago and the horse might have been left a little flat second up at 2000m. He probably just lacked speed at certain stages of the race. He’s getting ready for a two mile race and already having a run at 1900m so I wasn’t surprised. At weight-for-age he’s disadvantaged with his rating but for him it’s the right lead up for the Sydney Cup. I’d say he’s on target anyway, what he does on Saturday will only tell me he’s fit enough to run two miles. He’ll run well because he’s in good form and will appreciate the step up in distance.
From Gary Portelli
Horse: Fireburn
Message: (Saturday, Rosehill Race 7, Vinery Stud Stakes) Fireburn hasn’t run a bad race all season and after her last start 4th in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), on a good 3, I was convinced she’s in good form and only needs a break go her way. Gate 5 will give Fireburn every opportunity to post her first win since the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ last year. Over 2000m there’s no reason why she can’t be in that sweet spot. More than likely she’s going to be close to the first quarter of the field and I’m sure she’ll run the 2000m. She’s just so relaxed and these class horses can get out to 2000m, we’re just hoping for a bit more rain. Just a softish track will be all right. She ran out a solid 1500m and now we can step her up with that run under her belt.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 3 – Full Of Sincerity
Sydney Race 7 – Pavitra
Sydney Race 8 – Sir Lucan
