As the Spring Carnival looms, Sydney racing is starting to heat up.
A Listed event for the three year olds, the Rosebud, will headline a terrific ten race program and as the first lead up event into the $1m Group One Golden Rose Stakes, it’s set to be an exciting watch.
The rail will be in the true position and the track is currently is currently rated a soft 5.
Further showers are predicted so it’s likely we’ll be racing on a genuine soft surface.
Rebecca Hill details her best bets for every race below.
Dawn Service has just the two race starts and looks highly talented.
The first foal from star mare Sunlight, the Waterhouse / Bott trained colt was very raw on debut over 1100m but put it all together to score a commanding win at Hawkesbury last time.
Over the 1300m journey, he took up the running and showed a strong kick in the straight to extend the margin to four lengths on the line.
A very progressive type, this looks a nice stepping stone for him and he’s drawn to receive all the favours under Tim Clark
Dr Evil has been the runner up at his past two outings and looks well placed to get the job done.
The veteran galloper charged through along the rail to just go down by the barest of margins two runs back and last time, he again stuck to the paint and was strong late, just finding one better on the day.
He presents here hard fit and has won over this track and distance previously.
Proven in all conditions and he’s drawn to get the right run under Kerrin McEvoy.
Invader Zim is putting together a vey tidy record.
The son of Invader, as his name suggests, showed good improvement in each of his three starts last campaign and has come back in top order.
Beaten by the barest of margins when resuming over 1300m here, he was able to get the job done second up beating home the heavy supported Kerguelen.
The slight rise in trip looks ideal and James McDonald goes onboard for Chris Waller.
Lost kicked off her campaign with a commanding win over 1000m.
A daughter of Exceed and Excel, the Goldolphin mare showed a strong kick in the straight to charge through and put up a 2.4 length margin on the line despite racing fiercely in the early part.
Only lightly raced, she showed plenty of natural talent and looks an improving type.
Sent to the paddock after suffering a bleed in March, she’s returned in top order and is unbeaten in two second up appearances.
In a positive push, James McDonald stays in the saddle for James Cummings
Nanshe comes off a solid performance to finish second over this course and distance and with the blinkers going on for the first time, I think she can go one better.
She was luckless two runs back, striking interference 250m out she still picked sharply to get within .4 lengths of the winner.
Last time she again finished off strongly but just couldn’t reel in the leader.
A very consistent mare, she holds a great record over this trip and the shades just might help to get the best out of her.
James McDonald has been onboard in three of her four runs this campaign and he’ll again take the reins.
Gatsby’s returns the races.
The Snitzel colt made his highly anticipated debut back in February, where he proved far superior in a Canterbury maiden.
He then stepped out in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes but just failed to finish off and was subsequently set to the paddock.
Prepared by Chris Waller, the flashy youngster has impressed in two recent trials here, his latest saw him finding the line strongly whilst kept under a hold.
James McDonald has partnered him in both raceday appearance and trials and he’ll again do the steering.
Kazou kicked off her preparation in good style when saluting over this track and distance.
Given a five week freshen up she then stepped out over 1300m here but was found to be lame after failing to let down in the straight.
The daughter of Zoustar has put together a very tidy record and with five wins from just eleven race starts, she’s worked through her grades with relative ease.
She drops back in grade, the team will have made sure she’s ready to go and from barrier two she’s set to receive the gun run.
Tom Kitten returns to the races and the Group One winning son of Harry Angel has been given a very notable gear change since we last saw him on raceday.
Gelded during his break, the Godolphin galloper comes here off two very pleasing trials and he let down strongly to win his most recent heat over 1000m.
He saluted when kicking off this time last year and performed very well throughout that campaign, which resulted with him taking out the Spring Champion Stakes.
He failed to make an impression during the Autumn and as a result the team have elected to make the ultimate gear change.
James McDonald will have his first ride aboard the gelding and if he runs up to his best, he should prove hard to beat.
Etna Rosso resumed with an encouraging effort over 1800m and will have taken plenty of benefit from the run.
Held up in the early part of the straight the recently gelded galloper worked home solidly into second and the slight rise in trip here will certainly suit.
After kicking off his career in Ireland, he showed plenty of promise in his first Australian preparation and he looks to have returned in top order.
He has drawn poorly but gets the services of James McDonald and if he can find cover earlier without getting too far back, he’ll be charging home late.
Danastaur strips fitter for the two runs back and looks ready to peak third up out to 1400m.
When resuming over 1200m here, the Zoustar gelding was solid through the line and up to 1300m last time, he hit the front 250m out and was just collared late.
He’s won two from three of his third up appearances and boasts a great record over this trip.
Back in grade, he gets in nicely with the 3kg claim for Zac Wadick and with luck from the draw, should be right in this.
Best Bet: Race 5 No. 9 Nanshe
Next Best: Race 3 No. 3 Lisztomania
Value Bet: Race 2 No. 2 Dr Evil