From John O’Shea
Horse: Fall For Cindy
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 4, Tooheys 3&4YO BM72 Hcp) The three-year-old has won two of her past three starts, split by a 4th in the Group 3 Carbine Club. We’ve always thought quite highly of her and her last two runs have been very good. It’s a nice progression after her performance on the Kenso. The other day we had to ride her out of her comfort zone because of the way the track was playing and I’d imagine we might have to ride her similarly.
Horse: Comme Bella Fille
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 5, Prestige Wedding & Event Hire BM78 Hcp) She’s finished near the tail in two runs back but if she can find the right passage in Saturday’s race the mare can return to the sort of form she was in last winter. It’s been a function of the barriers more than how well she’s going. Her trials have been good and her work has been great but unfortunately because of where she’s drawn in unsuitable races she’s having to go right back to get in and she’s not getting into the race. We need to give her an opportunity to get her into a race before we make an assessment on whether she’s going well or not.
Horse: Diamil
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 9, Gosford Gold Cup) The five-year-old will have to break a weight carrying record and shoulder 60.5kg if he’s to win the Cup and he’s better placed at Gosford than in the Hollindale against Zaaki at weight-for-age on the Sunshine Coast. It’s a big enough challenge but from my perspective he’s (4/1) at Gosford and 10/1 in the Hollindale. He was three weeks between runs, third-up, when he won the race at Randwick and he was always going to take improvement from it. And he has taken that improvement and we’re really happy. It’s going to be important for him to jump. Hopefully he’s not going to be too far from them. We want to watch what transpires in Queensland and if he was to run well we could give consideration to the Q22 or the Doomben Cup.
From Richard & Will Freedman
Horse: Fashion Legend
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 7, Takeover Target Stakes) Plan A was to go up for the Gold Coast Guineas because he was so well in at the weights but drawing (gate 11) where he did it’s just too hard a task first-up. It’s not the simplest of draws (gate 1) at Gosford being a tight turning track but if he can jump on terms and can sit just behind the leaders he’ll get the run of the race. Often if you’re sitting right on the leader’s back there’s usually room for a horse or two to come through. He doesn’t necessarily have to win on Saturday to have the same goal of trying to get a golden ticket into the Stradbroke. But I wouldn’t rule him out because he’s definitely more forward than we’ve had him. There may be a horse on Saturday that is too brilliant for him over 1200m but if he can be close enough he will be very competitive.
From Scott Singleton
Horse: Remlaps Commander
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 2, Highway Hcp) I was a bit perplexed by it (last start in the Randwick Highway debut). The colt is particularly genuine, never puts in a bad piece of work and never puts in a bad run and he just petered out. To me it didn’t look like he didn’t handle the track (Heavy 8) either. I’d love to say it’s as simple as he didn’t handle the wet but he would have tried a bit. I wouldn’t be surprised if he squeezed himself up behind. Being a colt, it’ll stop them like that. My gut feeling is telling me that. I thought I better trial him again so I’m doing everything I can to make sure he’s going as well as I think he is. The trial didn’t make it any clearer because he went terrific. It was a really good piece of work. I was happy for Jenny (Duggan) to trial him because she knew what he had to feel like when she trialled him before and when she won on him. She couldn’t find anything to complain about at all so we go back to the races and hope for the best
From Bjorn Baker
Horse: Shades Of Rose
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 7, Takeover Target Stakes) While she faces a rising star in Think About It at Gosford on Saturday, the mare can capitalise on the class drop and return to form. It’s going to be a big jump back from what she has been in. She’s got a bit of weight to carry (57.5kg) and she has drawn a bit awkwardly (barrier 10), but she’s got that natural gate speed so I’m looking forward to Saturday with her. There is a bit of speed outside her and she’s got the speed to put herself there. It maybe just took a little bit of sting out of her for sure. She just hasn’t had a lot of luck. But her work on Tuesday was very good, we’re really happy with her and she looks good so we can’t fault her from that point of view.
From Tony Ball
Horse: Bantarki
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 2, Highway Hcp) Cheeky chances for sure, up in grade certainly but dropping a stack in weight, drawn well and form on rain-affected if the track plays that way. Grant Buckley who has won on them, says the timing and the form is right for a crack. He’s happy to stick and that’ll do me. Looking forward to a great racing day. We’d planned for a way back and this level of prizemoney when they struck winning form this prep. I’m anticipating coming in a few (from barrier 13), three emergencies are drawn inside. This gelding is no star but he’s a consistent trier and “Bucko” says he’s on the up. I mean he drops 5kg, we’ll be on the pace, handles ground and it’s still only a country Class 3.
From Kris Lees
Horse: Loch Eagle
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 8, The Coast) Loch Eagle has been racing competitively, winning at Newcastle in March to earn a spot in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final in which he got back to last from a wide gate and did his best work late to finish 2nd to Spangler. For him, it’s more pace related. He’s won at Canterbury off a good tempo so it all comes down to the set-up of the race.
Horse: Bellatrix Black
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 8, The Coast) Bellatrix Black, a Group 3 winner in New Zealand, is yet to place in three local runs. She’s had little excuses each time, but she is a high quality mare and I think she’ll have a nice twelve months for us. She goes into this a little bit on the fresh side and I think she’ll react well.
Horse: Razeta
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 8, The Coast) Three-year-old Razeta was a Listed winner against her own age two starts ago over 1400m and will be extending to a mile for just the second time after finishing down the track in her only other attempt at the distance. It was early this prep, we sent her down for the Edward Manifold (Stakes in Melbourne) and things didn’t quite go right. That was her one go at the mile and it was inconclusive so I’m happy to give her another chance. She’s got no weight (52kg) on her back and she gets a few little ticks.
From Joseph Pride
Horse: Think About It
Message: (Saturday, Gosford Race 7, Takeover Target Stakes) It’s a bit of a pathway race for him. If I could have him at 1200m at Randwick I’d prefer it but he’s a very good horse and will offset that barrier and be hard to beat. He’s already won at Wyong, Kembla, Rosehill, Warwick Farm, wherever I’ve taken him so far it hasn’t been a problem for him. It looks an awkward draw (gate 13) on face value but in saying that the speed is out there with him. With every start he gets a bit faster, at his last start he led. I wouldn’t be planning on leading here but he can come across with the speed and get up there in the first five. He’ll take some beating, he’s a very good horse on the way up. I liked his trial, he showed good speed and wanted to be part of it. That’s him. You watch his replays, he can basically be wherever you want him to be. He’s adaptable, versatile in terms of track conditions. I’m not going to say he’s the complete package just yet but he’s looked pretty bombproof so far.
From The Editor
Gosford Race 4 – Fall For Cindy
Gosford Race 6 – Vowmaster
Gosford Race 8 – Military Expert
