We head to Rosehill on Saturday, just two weeks out from the first Group 1 of the year and we've got a taste of what's to come this weekend.
Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile resumes in the Expressway Stakes (which thankfully has more than 4 runners now) as early favourite. That Guineas looks very shaky and I'd be more inclined to back Forbidden Love to get back to something near her best, which would win this.
The highlight of the day in my opinion however, is King's Gambit resuming. Favourite for the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper, he's expected to take care of his Canonbury field and should do if his trials have been anything to go by.
The fillies' counterpart- the Widden Stakes, throws up an interesting favourite. Not quite a 'bizzaro' because if you'd seen the trials of Learning To Fly in isolation, you'd have to mark her shorter than Perfect Proposal.
Trials aren't races however, and Perfect Proposal comes through a strong debut in the Gimcrack, looking challenged in the straight, fending off the challengers, only to be bloused by stablemate Platinum Jubilee.
That form stood up fine on the Gold Coast and Perfect Proposal has trialled well, if not quite as well as Learning To Fly. She does have the major advantage of being trained by G Waterhouse & A Bott, and the racing pattern that so often comes with it.
Expect her to lead from an ideal gate with Clark on and I'd be more inclined to back her at 5-1 than the debutant at 5/2.
We'll throw her up as the 'each-way' play at $2.25 a place if so inclined before heading to Race 9 where I think Major Artie should be favourite against Bold Mac, but currently isn't (although he's on his way there).
Two runs back from a spell have been good, sent forward to lead last start and just being overrun by an in-form Banju at this track and distance last start.
He posted a new peak of 106 with Timeform there and while staying at 1500m may be the slight knock, he gets absolute control on my map with Clark taking over.
Just touched off by Francesco Guardi at the end of last preparation reads well for a fairly thin Bm88 and we'll put all our eggs in the Waterhouse & Bott basket this weekend.
SYDNEY SPECIALS
Bet of the day: Race 9 #2 Major Artie @ $4
Each-way play: Race 5 #9 Perfect Proposal @ $6/2.25
| FP | Silk | Horse, Age & Sex Sire & Dam |
Jockey Trainer |
SP
WT |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st |
|
3. HIERKOMMIEBOKKIE (SAF) 3yo F MASTER OF MY FATE (SAF) - OOH LA VAR (SAF) |
GAVIN LERENA H/M CRAWFORD/RIX |
$15
60kg |
|||||||
| Messrs Mayesh Chetty & A J van Huyssteen | |||||||||||
|
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| 2nd |
|
2. APPLE CATCHER (SAF) 3yo F POMODORO (SAF) - CAPTAIN'S CATCH (SAF) |
SEAN VEALE PATRICK KRUYER |
$2
60kg |
|||||||
| Messrs Rick Achmat, A Mahlangu, C R Harris, Dr S Davis & Mrs V J Dickerson | |||||||||||
|
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| 3rd |
|
4. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN (SAF) 3yo F WILLIAM LONGSWORD (SAF) - COUNTING ANGELS (SAF) |
JUAN PAUL V'D MERWE A N MARCUS |
$51
60kg |
|||||||
| Mr B Kantor | |||||||||||
|
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| 4th |
|
7. AMETHYSTIC (SAF) 3yo F WILLIAM LONGSWORD (SAF) - AMBER PLAIN (SAF) |
PIERE STRYDOM PAUL REEVES |
$21
60kg |
|||||||
|
|||||||||||
| 5th |
|
9. JAZZ DIVA (SAF) 3yo F MASTER OF MY FATE (SAF) - DANISH DIVA (SAF) |
RICHARD FOURIE W A NEL |
$6
60kg |
|||||||
| 6th |
|
8. HUNDREDFIFTHAVENUE (SAF) 3yo F LOUIS THE KING (SAF) - INVENTIVE GIRL (ARG) |
LUYOLO MXOTHWA MIKE STEWART |
$21
60kg |
|||||||
| 7th |
|
6. HEAD GIRL (SAF) 3yo F DUKE OF MARMALADE (IRE) - QUINE (SAF) |
GRANT VAN NIEKERK W A NEL |
$4
60kg |
|||||||
| 8th |
|
1. BLACK HOLE SUN (SAF) 4yo F GREYS INN (USA) - IDILIC CHARM (SAF) |
R A VENNIKER P D WRENSCH |
$34
58.5kg |
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