Still residing in the considered ‘off-season’ of racing in Sydney, it is the 1100m Benchmark (BM) 88 that will headline Saturday’s Rosehill meeting.
Two nominated horses that returned in great order last month are Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou’s Mr Mosaic , and the Kris Lees-trained The Bopper.
Both resuming as first-up winners, the pair lit up the turf at opposite ends of the candle.
After being clearly headed in the straight, the speedy Mr Mosaic showed plenty of heart when fighting back late to score. Whereas The Bopper, thanks to his imposing turn of foot was able to launch late and dispose of his rivals in impressive fashion.
If both runners with their respective alternate racing patterns were to take their place in Saturday’s race, an exciting spectacle is sure to be witnessed.
Two intriguing and talented runners who have also been nominated to return over the 1100m, is Group 3 placed mare Belluci Babe and Godolphin runner Valaquenta. Both will be looking to add to their impressive first up records.
Having trained a plethora of Midway winners, Wyong’s Kristen Buchanan has nominated her Kiwi mare Princess Rihanna a for the contest. Buchanan will be hoping for a much-improved performance from the seven-year-old, after finishing rearward in a disappointing Australian debut last month.
Champion trainer Chris Waller’s mare Starla could also take her place in the field. The five-year-old hit the line gamely first-up for fourth, behind the winner Tycoonist and fellow nominated runner Liberty Sun.
Moreover, Waller has a strong contingent of runners nominated in the 1500m BM 78. Short of their preferred trip, stablemates Fortified and Crystal Pegasus could return, while four-year-old Loveplanet is another possible entrant.
Yet to miss the frame from five runs this time in, it would be presumed the John O’Shea -trained gelding Blesk would spearhead the market if he was to uphold his nomination.
After running on a Soft 7 last weekend and with minor rainfall for the remainder of the week, Rosehill could again be in the soft range this Saturday.
The rail is out three metres the course entire.