2026 Winter Cup Day Preview

Friendly Fire has opened a clear and justifiable favourite in the first at Rosehill on Saturday.

Having debuted with a nice performance to finish second in the Inglis Challenge out at Wagga last month, the Farnan gelding ran home well to break his maiden over 1200m at Randwick last time out.

Fitter third-up and out in trip, he’ll take a power of beating again.

She Swings is second up and primed to strike at Rosehill.

The Trapeze Artist mare was a model of consistency during her debut prep, breaking her maiden over 1300m at Hawkesbury and progressing to some nice performances in noticeably stronger race.

Having trialled up fairly, she was only just denied by a fit All The Way Mae here a fortnight ago and with natural improvement, this looks a great opportunity for her to go one better.

Dub steps out this week a fit horse and with genuine designs on winning the Highway Handicap.

Dub was fair without really threatening in Class 2 company at Tamworth first up this time, but he took improvement into an eye-catching run in BM58 company at Gunnedah last time out when only just denied.

He’s a horse that tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run or two under his belt and something like this does look within his abilities.

Belle Detelle strikes a winnable race at Rosehill.

The Zed mare finished midfield over 1300m at Warwick Farm when resuming last month, but she relished getting further out in trip when beaten just over a head in an 1800m contest here last time out.

Another rise in trip certainly won’t hinder her chances of success this week and she has options in the run from the rails draw.

Tarzing returns to action in a winnable race.

The Tarzino gelding hasn’t been seen at the races since February, but he certainly hinted at above average talent during his brief debut prep, winning two of three starts before filling the minors behind the likes of Sarrismo at his first go here in Sydney.

He’s trialled up well and can hit the ground running this week.

Benevac steps out this week second up off a nice performance and open to improvement.

The Bivouac gelding has won only one of his seven starts since debuting, but he’s rarely far away from the winner and worked home well behind a couple of smart ones here first up a fortnight ago.

His one victory did come at this point of his preparation, and he might not be offered a better opportunity again in Saturday metro company.

Snack Bar is another second up galloper I’m keen to be with on Winter Cup Day.

It has been a short while since the Frosted gelding won a race, but he’s finished the runner up in two of four starts since transferring to the care of Bjorn Baker.

I thought that his fresh run behind Prima Bella at Randwick last month was good without being great, but he does tend to enjoy strong second up improvement, and a little extra ground. He’s also yet to miss placing in four previous goes on the soft.

Portland can make it two wins on the bounce when he takes his place in the Queen Elizabeth II (Winter Cup) field.

The Dubawi gelding had been hinting at a big winning performance throughout his preparation before producing a strong turn of foot to run on and win the Lord Mayors Cup over 2000m here a fortnight ago.

In peak order this week, getting out to the 2400m looks to suit, Winona Costin understandably retains the ride after a perfectly timed performance last time and even with topweight, I’m confident he’ll be hard to beat again.

Surf’s Up is a dual acceptor, but she looks to get ideal conditions in this contest, and it looks the likely path she’ll be taken down.

The Flying Artie filly has missed placing just twice in nine trips to the races since debuting, finding form around some classy opposition in races not dissimilar to this one.

Given that she was freshened into her latest run for third, beaten less than a length at Randwick last month, I’m expecting that to have brought her right back and assuming this is the race ultimately accepts for, she’s my best bet on the program.

Seven’s gets a nice chance to win in Sydney this week.

He has been a horse that his often mixed his form throughout his career, but he does look to have returned in good order this time, and after finishing on the placegetters’ heels at the Gold Coast first up on Hollindale Day, he was only just denied over a mile at Doomben.

Fitter third-up, down in the weights and drawn well, I think he’ll get his chance.