The Listed Winter Stakes headlines another exciting nine-race program at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
As has become customary in Sydney throughout the last month, a rain-affected track will be prepared, while the rail will be set out five metres around the entire course.
North Pacific hasn’t been seen at the races since February and has made just the one appearance so far, but he is a horse of ability and can break his maiden in the first at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Team Hawkes-trained colt mustered a nice turn of foot to fill the minors in the Group 2 Silver Slipper on debut, finishing behind subsequent Golden Slipper champion Farnan.
He’s had the benefit of a trial and is ready to win.
3 Units North Pacific
Fulmina will take winning form into Race 2 on Winter Stakes Day and looks up to making it two in a row.
The Snitzel filly actually hasn’t returned a poor effort this time, winning twice and finishing second at her only other appearance, but her performance and win in BM78 company last time was the best of her career so far and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
3 Units Fulmina
Matt Dunn elected to scratch Rothenburg from the Grafton Guineas on Wednesday to run here and I think that the decision could pay dividends.
Rothenburg has continued to improve with each of his three starts back from a spell and was last seen winning one of these races, at this track and distance a fortnight ago.
Fitter fourth-up, he just needs luck from out wide to be in the finish.
2 Units Rothenburg
Darleb hasn’t missed a place at his last five starts and strikes another winnable race at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Uncle Mo colt has found form around some quality horses and was rewarded for his consistency with a lovely win in BM70 company on the Kensington course at Randwick last time out.
This is harder but is does look the next logical step.
1 Unit E/W Darleb
Varda was an impressive winner first-up from a spell and will only improve for that effort.
The Godolphin-trained filly was a model of consistency without winning last time in, but appears to have returned to the races a far more furnished prospect this time, having given her rivals windburn at Canterbury when resuming.
With appropriate luck, she’ll take a power of beating in something of this quality.
5 Units Varda
Bandersnatch has been hinting at a nice win all preparation and gets his chance in the sixth on Winter Stakes Day.
The Casino Prince gelding probably needed the run when fourth behind Phaistos first-up and while he failed to beat a runner home in the Inglis Guineas (behind Dawn Passage), he resumed from a brief freshen up to finish second here three weeks ago.
He’ll take further improvement for that effort and might not be offered a better opportunity to win in town on Saturday.
3 Units Bandersnatch
Noble Boy has improved for three starts back from a spell and the Winter Stakes looks a lovely race for him.
The former Country Championships winner finished midfield in the Ortensia Stakes and a BM88 race in his first two starts for Clare Cunningham and was last seen filling the minors behind True Detective and Trumbull in a better race.
He has more upside that many of his key rivals and I like that he’s had a trial in the lead-up to this race.
At around the $7 mark, we can have a good each-way play.
2.5 Units E/W Noble Boy
Kordia was very impressive first-up from a spell and is another horse that will only be better at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Epaulette gelding has so far recorded three wins and a second placing from his four career starts so far and was simply too good for a BM78 field here when resuming.
With only 54.5kgs in tow, he’ll be very hard to hold out.
The other one that has caught my eye in this field is Superium.
He hasn’t quite lived up to his billing through four starts this preparation, but there is no doubt that he has continued to improve and at his current price ($13 at publish), he’s worthy of a small each-way play.
4 Units Kordia
1 Unit E/W Superium
This is one of, if not the most open race on Saturday’s card at Rosehill and at publish, we’re faced with $5 the field.
Charretera has stripped fitter for two competitive starts this time in and looks a live each-way chance again ($8.50 at publish).
The Epaulette gelding doesn’t win out of turn, but he also rarely runs a bad one and he has filled the minors of a couple of BM78 races this time in.
1 Unit E/W Charretera