2023 McKell Cup Day Preview

2023 McKell Cup Day Preview

Feature racing in NSW heads to Rosehill Gardens this Saturday afternoon with a stacked 10-race program on the agenda.

Our full 2023 McKell Cup Day Preview can be found below.

2YO Handicap (1400 METRES) - Race 1 11:00am AEST

Tutta La Vita is a promising young filly who was denied by the barest of margins the last time we saw her at the race track two weeks ago.

She has experience on her side and the step up to 1400m will suit at this stage of her racing life.

2 Units Tutta La Vita

Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500 METRES) - Race 2 11:35am AEST

This Midway Handicap is one of the most open editions of the race I have seen in a long time and I’m happy staying out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

Highway Handicap (1200 METRES) - Race 3 12:10pm AEST

Our Boy Ollie was placed in all five of his starts during his last campaign which included three wins.

He is a very progressive type of horse, which is important in these Highway Handicaps and he has won three of four over 1200m.

1 Unit E/W Our Boy Ollie

Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800 METRES) - Race 4 12:45pm AEST

Grebeni has three wins from eight career race starts and two of those have come this prep.

He won at this track and distance last time out and he will be ready to hit peak fitness at this stage of his prep.

2 Units Grebeni

Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000 METRES) - Race 5 1:20pm AEST

The Anabel Neasham import Naval College has barely put a hoof wrong since arriving on Australian soil and the four-year-old comes into this race off the back of two wins in a row.

He will carry the top weight in this event but the apprentice will give some weight relief and I can’t see why he won’t be winning again.

1 Unit Naval College

Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100 METRES) - Race 6 1:55pm AEST

Sneaky Shark is an interesting runner in the sixth.

The son of Capitalist finished second in the $1 million Karaka Millions in New Zealand as a two-year-old but had an extended period on the sidelines.

The now four-year-old was very ordinary when making his Australian racing debut for John O’Shea but a recent trial was promising.

Worth a shot at the stumps.

1/2 Unit E/W Sneaky Shark

Listed Mckell Cup (2000 METRES) - Race 7 2:30pm AEST

It’s been a while in between wins for Desert Icon but he has placed in two of four starts so far this prep.

There is form at this track and distance for him, finishing 2.5 lengths off Bois D’argent in the Lord Mayor’s Cup but he meets a lot of those horses better at the weights for this event.

He has drawn well and is capable of producing a rating high enough to win.

1 Unit E/W Desert Icon

Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300 METRES) - Race 8 3:05pm AEST

Vienna Princess was excellent when resuming at Randwick and she finished second behind Mirraview over 1400m.

She meets that horse far better at the weights in this contest and she will get a lovely run in transit from barrier five with Nash Rawiller on board.

1 Unit E/W Vienna Princess

Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500 METRES) - Race 9 3:45pm AEST

Space Tracker has two trials leading into his Australian racing debut at Rosehill where he finished third beaten less than half a length.

Despite being forced to come out over heels in the straight, he found the line nicely when his fitness was found out late.

He’ll be better for the run and this looks a winnable race.

2 Units Space Tracker

Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300 METRES) - Race 10 4:25pm AEST

The Annabel Neasham trained Plundering has been placed in all through runs so far this prep including a win over 1300m two back.

He was narrowly denied at Royal Randwick three weeks ago but he returns to 1300m for this event.

Can make it four wins from seven career starts and finish our day on a winning note.

1 Unit E/W Plundering