The Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes headlines a cracking 10-race program at Rosehill this Saturday.
Along with the $300,000 two-year-old feature, the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes, Millie Fox Stakes and Listed Parramatta Cup will whet punters appetites ahead of next month’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Our selections for the entire meeting can be found below.
Race 1 - 12:30pm AEDT
MIDWAY HANDICAP (1500 METRES)
Glad You Think (8) has come back this preparation in fine fettle.
The John Sargent-trained three-year-old colt settled back after drawing wide first-up at Warwick Farm last start but ran through the line powerfully to finish a neck third.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and will appreciate the rise in distance given he competed in black-type races during the Sydney Spring Carnival and won his maiden over this distance.
Apprentice Molly Bourke takes the ride and with her 3kg claim, he’ll carry just 54.5kg.
1 Unit – Glad You Think (8)
Race 2 - 1:05pm AEDT
HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Belvedere Boys (2) impressed when resuming at Doomben over 1200m where he let down powerfully to win by 1.5 lengths.
Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn brought him south for a Highway Handicap last start and the four-year-old gelding stormed home from a long way back to finish fourth by 1.4 lengths.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and the rise to 1400m looks ideal.
Dunn has booked his go to man in Sydney, Nash Rawiller so I’d suggest we may see him settle closer in the run.
1 Unit – Belvedere Boys (2)
Race 3 - 1:40pm AEDT
QUEEN BEE PROJECT SPRINT (1100 METRES)
Sheezanalister (2) is racing in a purple patch of form this preparation with three wins from as many starts.
The Bjorn Baker-trained daughter of Star Turn won well at Canterbury and Warwick Farm to open her campaign.
She then stepped up to Saturday company last start and found the line powerfully despite having little room to win narrowly at Randwick over 1200m.
There looks to be good speed in the race which should suit given Zac Lloyd can settle just off them before running on strongly.
1 Unit – Sheezanalister (2)
Race 4 - 2:15pm AEDT
GROUP 2 SILVER SLIPPER STAKES (1100 METRES)
Espionage (1) resumes here following a fruitful first preparation that delivered black-type credentials.
The Waterhouse Bott-trained Zoustar colt was brilliant in his only race start when winning the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate in September after racing three wide the trip.
He’s warmed up for this first-up assignment by having two trials with the most recent an impressive piece of work where he led all the way under a hold.
Nash Rawiller can give him a beautiful run from barrier 3.
2 Units – Espionage (1)
Race 5 - 2:50pm AEDT
LISTED PARRAMATTA CUP (1900 METRES)
Zennzella (13) returns from a short let-up and looks ready to fire based on a recent trial win.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Snitzel mare settled handy in the 1207m Warwick Farm trial before letting down powerfully under her own steam.
Prior to the break, she ran on strongly at the Gold Coast for a neck third to So United but gave away too much start on a leader biased day.
The Lord Stakes winner will appreciate a strong tempo and gets the services of gun hoop Jason Collett.
2 Units – Zennzella (13)
Race 6 - 3:25pm AEDT
YARRAMAN PARK HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Marquess (13) was no match for Amor Victorious when resuming at Randwick last start but there’s no shame in that given that horse looks highly talented.
While the Godolphin galloper may have finished three lengths in arrears, he did find the line well.
The five-year-old gelding will strip fitter and has won his past two second-up races.
With plenty of resuming stayers and get back horses in this race, he can settle in a forward position and receive a great run for Zac Lloyd with no weight on his back.
1 Unit – Marquess (13)
Race 7 - 4:00pm AEDT
GROUP 2 MILLIE FOX STAKES (1300 METRES)
Lady Laguna (6) is low flying with wins in her past three races.
The Annabel Neasham-trained four-year-old mare won the Listed Nudgee Stakes three starts back before charging to the line and making a mess of her rivals when winning the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares.
She returned to Sydney last start and comprehensively won the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes at this track.
At set weights, she gets in well with just 55kg.
2 Units – Lady Laguna (6)
Race 8 - 4:35pm AEDT
GROUP 2 HOBARTVILLE STAKES (1400 METRES)
Fukubana (11) returns to Sydney for the first time since giving a massive sight in her second race when finishing a head second to Taormina over 1200m here.
The Matt Dunn-trained son of Dundeel looks a more furnished horse this time in work.
He basically had a paid barrier trial first-up when finishing 1.4 lengths third over 1110m at Doomben before easily winning as a short priced favourite last start over 1200m.
In a telling sign, Dunn has booked James McDonald to ride.
1 Unit Each Way – Fukubana (11)
Race 9 - 5:15pm AEDT
CHANDON HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
Libertad (8) resumes here looking to keep his unbeaten first-up record intact.
The Annabel Neasham-trained three-year-old colt faces a similar task from a wide gate as he did when winning the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes first-up last preparation.
He handled it with aplomb that day and this time gets the services of Tommy Berry.
Two recent trials against quality opposition such as Aft Cabin will have him ready for a bold showing.
1 Unit Each Way – Libertad (8)
Race 10 - 5:55pm AEDT
KIA ORA STUD HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
Gently Rolled (19) has only been out of the top three once in nine starts and looks well placed to again run well.
The Bryce Heys-trained mare resumed in great order when running on strongly from the back to finish just under a length second over 1200m at Rosehill.
Last start she enjoyed the rise to this distance at Randwick, easily putting away a similar strength field to this by 1.3 lengths.
She looks to have more improvement to come and maps to get a great run.
1 Unit – Gently Rolled (19)