The Golden Eagle headlines another outstanding day of racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, as the Sydney Spring Carnival reaches its final major program.
The rail will be left in the true position around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Good (4) range.
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Race 1 – 12:40pm – The Agency Real Estate Handicap, (1200m)
Katalin hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but she is yet to taste anything but success at this point of her preparation, and she can make a winning return on The Golden Eagle Day.
The Medaglia D’oro mare has recorded three wins from her six career starts to date, and she has found form around some talented gallopers.
She’s had the benefit of a couple of trials leading up to her return and she’ll take beating again.
Race 2 – 1:20pm – Fujitsu General Handicap, (1900m)
Mightybeel looks well placed to record a hat-trick of wins when he steps out at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Savabeel gelding stripped fitter with a competitive effort in BM72 company at Gosford when fresh and hasn’t looked back, winning each of his two subsequent starts with something in hand.
This is a rise in class, but he looks to be at peak fitness and it is the next logical step.
Race 3 – 2:00pm – Highway Handicap, (1200m)
Ice In Vancouver finished down the order in The Kosciuszko when resuming, but this is obviously a big drop in class, and he’ll enjoy plenty of improvement.
The Vancouver gelding has been a great horse for Tamworth horseman Cody Morgan throughout his career, and while he had won fresh previously, he clearly needed his resuming effort this time.
He’s drawn well, get some relief in the weights and I am eager to have a pretty decent crack.
Race 4 – 2:40pm – The Four Pillars, (1500m)
$700,000 goes on the line in the inaugural running of The Four Pillars and there is a case to be made for several runners, including Conrad.
Conrad has missed placing only once in five career starts so far, and she returned from a short break to finish third, beaten less than two lengths in BM68 company at Randwick-Kensington.
I’m confident that run will have brought him right back on, he gets into this race well under the conditions and we can have an each-way play at the price.
Race 5 – 3:25pm – Rosehill Gold Cup, (2000m)
Think It Over is my best bet on The Golden Eagle Day program.
The So You Think gelding recorded his first Group 1 victory in the George Ryder here earlier this year, and he has returned to the races in typically stunning form this time, winning three of five starts and filling the minors on another occasion.
He is seeking a hat-trick of wins after recording bullish victories in the Hill Stakes and the Craven Plate most recently and I simply cannot find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again in the Rosehill Gold Cup.
Race 6 – 4:10pm – Classique Legend Stakes, (1300m)
If he brings his best, I think that Masked Crusader will just win the Classique Legend Stakes.
The Toronado gelding broke through for a deserved Group 1 victory in the William Reid Stakes in March, and he was unlucky not to add the TJ Smith Stakes during The Championships.
He has won two from four back this time, including a stunning performance in the Premiere Stakes two starts back, and he only just missed in The Everest last time after absolutely storming home from the tail of the field.
The one that I am wary of is Gytrash.
Gytrash filled the minors in The Shorts when fresh, but was a little flat in The Everest last time and finished seventh.
His race record does suggest that he typically isn’t at his best second-up, and I think he’ll improve noticeably into this race.
Race 7 – 4:50pm – The Golden Eagle, (1500m)
A classy field of four-year-olds will seek their share in a whopping $7.5 million in The Golden Eagle, including I’m Thunderstruck.
I’m Thunderstruck has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence since making his debut in January this year, and it has culminating in a close-up third in the Ned Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and impressive victory in the Toorak Handicap this prep.
He has been set for this race, will relish a return to four-year-olds company and as long as he handles the Sydney way of going, I think he’ll be tough to beat.
I’m also going to have a saver on Count De Rupee.
Count De Rupee has been a standout performer for the in-form Robert & Like Price stable this year, and he returned to the races for an impressive win in BM88 company before filling the minors in the Silver Eagle last time.
Fitter third-up, we can have an each-way play at double-figure odds.
Race 8 – 5:25pm – Ned Whiskey Handicap, (1100m)
Delexo has continued to improve with each start and as the bar has been raised this time, and he looks ready to make a winning transition to Saturday metro company.
The Exosphere gelding won in Class 1 company at Muswellbrook when fresh, repeating that effort and result at Kembla Grange.
He only just missed behind Fox Fighter at Randwick two back, but responded with an easy win at Randwick-Kensington last time out.
He’s rock-hard fit and is drawn to receive a lovely run.
Race 9 – 6:10pm – Schweppes Handicap, (1500m)
I’m going to stick with Brookspire in the penultimate race on Golden Eagle Day.
The Hinchinbrook mare raced well throughout her three-year-old season, placing in black type company and striking in town most notably.
She recorded a bullish win at Randwick-Kensington when resuming this time, but she was a little disappointing when fifth behind Love Tap last time.
She has been freshened since that effort, was sent back to the trials and I think that decision will pay dividends on Saturday.
Race 10 – 6:45pm – Benchmark 78 Handicap, (1300m)
This is a tough way to end the day from a betting perspective and there is a case to be made for many of the sixteen confirmed starters.
For that reason, I’m keen to try and dig out the value, and I think that Academy can run a race at a price ($16 at publish).
Academy doesn’t win out of turn, but he has been a consistent performer this time, and he takes his place on Saturday following a credible effort for fourth behind Quantico.
He’s rock-hard fit and gets some relief in the weights with Tyler Schiller’s claim.