The action returns to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and some quality black type events headline the ten-race program.
Hill Stakes Day might not boast a Group 1 feature, but several races on the program almost always figure as key form indicators for the remaining weeks of both the Sydney and Melbourne Spring.
Check out all of my thoughts and Hill Stakes Day tips below.
Race 1 - 12:35pm AEDT
Midway Handicap (1400m)
Apollo Mission is two from two since resuming and gets a great chance for the hat-trick in this week’s Midway Handicap.
He was too good for a BM68 field at Kembla when resuming in August and repeated the dose, this time for the tune of three lengths last time out.
He’s about six weeks between starts but has been kept up to the mark with a nice recent trial.
1 Unit E/W Apollo Mission
Race 2 - 1:10pm AEDT
Highway Handicap (1500m)
Another wide-open Highway Handicap looms and there’s a case to be made for a few of them, including Occhiata.
Occhiata is yet to strike in three runs back from a break, but she’s improved noticeably with each and was last seen finishing on the placegetters’ heels over 1400m here.
She steps out this week in peak order and will need some luck in running from a wide draw, but the booking of Tim Clark does add confidence.
1 Unit E/W Occhiata
Race 3 - 1:45pm AEDT
Vale John Nicholson Handicap (2000m)
Bear On The Loose has turned in some decent performances since arriving in Australia and looks well placed to score again on Hill Stakes Day.
Having produced some strong performances and results over the UK, the classy gelding stamped himself as one to follow when debuting here at Rosehill in late June for an eye-catching win in BM78 company.
He was freshened after running fourth behind the likes of Aramco stepping up in grade, and I thought he was good when second behind Floating last time out.
I’m confident that hit-out will have brought him right back on the 2000m looks ideal this week.
3 Units Bear On The Loose
Race 4 - 2:20pm AEDT
Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m)
Swiftfalcon was excellent at Randwick last weekend and I’m keen to stick with him on the quick back-up in the Gloaming Stakes.
Swiftfalcon went to the paddock after breaking his maiden in a 1400m handicap here back in June, and picked up where he left off down at Flemington,
Having made a successful transition into black type company in last week’s Dulcify, this is the next logical target, and he can stamp himself as the one to beat in the Spring Champion Stakes by winning again.
4 Units Swiftfalcon
Race 5 - 2:55pm AEDT
Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m)
Coleman returns to the scene of what was arguably a career-best performance to date in the autumn, and he’s the one for me in the Roman Consul Stakes.
Having shaped as a leading contender for a Blue Diamond Stakes down in Melbourne in autumn but ultimately bombing in that race, Matt Laurie and his team shifted their focus to the Golden Slipper, where the horse was send off a $31 in betting, but was ultimately only denied a short nose by The Everest contender Lady Of Camelot.
So far this time in, Coleman has finished sixth amongst open company in both the Group 1 Moir and the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato, and dropping back to three-year-olds company this week should see him very hard to beat.
4 Units Coleman
Race 6 - 3:35pm AEDT
Listed Tapp-Craig (1400m)
Snack Bar is third-up and rates as a key winning chance in the Tapp-Craig.
Snack Bar is yet to miss placing in seven career starts, winning twice and returning to action this time for consecutive third placings in the Up And Coming Stakes and the Ming Dynasty Quality.
He’s a month between starts, but I like that he’s been kept up to the mark with a nice trial, while the booking of the in-form Zac Lloyd is also a bonus.
2 Units Snack Bar
Race 7 - 4:10pm AEDT
Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m)
Some talented horses have accepted into the feature race, but I think it’s a perfect one for Royal Patronage and I’ve put him on top in the $2 million Hill Stakes.
Boy, he was good in the Tramway on debut in Australia last month, while he’s since finished third in both the 7 Stakes and the Epsom Handicap.
He’s another one on the quick back-up that I really like the look of this week, while getting out to the 2000m looks ideal at this point of his preparation.
4 Units Royal Patronage
Race 8 - 4:50pm AEDT
Alan Brown Stakes (1400m)
I thought that Encap was excellent when returning to winning form last time out and he can make it two in a row on Hill Stakes Day in the Alan Brown Stakes.
Encap turned in some fine performances last spring, winning in Group 3 company and only just missing in a Golden Rose, while a notable run of ‘outs’ was snapped second-up when he won the Theo Marks here a month ago.
He’s another that has had a trial since that appearance and from an inside draw on Saturday, Kerrin McEvoy can take him a little closer to the speed this week and have a crack at them earlier.
2 Units E/W Encap
Race 9 - 5:25pm AEDT
Group 3 The Nivison (1200m)
Coco Jamboo flies fresh and The Nivison is a nice campaign launchpad for her.
The Massaat mare snuck home to win in Group 3 company first-up last time before a couple of fair, while someone luckless runs up in Brisbane.
She’s trialled well ahead of this return and can win again.
2 Units Coco Jamboo
Race 10 - 6:05pm AEDT
Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1100m)
Keen to stick with Pharari third-up in the last on Hill Stakes Day.
Pharari mustered some quick times, albeit in lesser company last time in, but she returned to action for a dominant win at the midweeks in Melbourne.
Having backed up that performance with a near miss in a similar race here a fortnight ago, she’s fitter third-up and primed to strike once more.
3 Units Pharari