Stay with Phaistos
Rosehill, G3 Fujitsu Festival S., $160,000, 1500m
Phaistos (Helmet) was a beaten favourite in the Listed Sale Cup and it may pay to follow the money trail here. He finished third on a heavy track and his record suggests he’s far more effective on better ground.
His stablemates Gaulois (Street Cry {Ire}), Sambro (Fastnet Rock) and Ranier (Lonhro) will offer solid back-up and Outrageous (All Too Hard) won well enough in a lower grade during the Melbourne spring carnival to strongly suggest he can make an impression in black type company.
Gaulois
Irithea (Snitzel) led before weakening to fifth in the G2 Hot Danish S. and can surely improve with the outing on a course she has previously been successful on three times.
Evalina (I Am Invincible) produced a late finish from the tail of the field for fifth in The Hunter and off the minimum she makes each way appeal at a price. Noble Boy (Bon Hoffa) is a talented customer and not out of this if he gets a few early breaks from an outside barrier.
Golden chance
Rosehill, Listed ATC Cup, $140,000, 2000m
Black On Gold (Sebring) was successful in the Listed Ladies’ Day S. when resuming at Hawkesbury in good style and he has also won three times when produced second-up. He likes this course and is a winner at the trip.
Black On Gold
His barnmate Manntastic (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) was fourth in that race and a step up to 2000 metres will be more to his liking and Savacool (NZ) (Savabeel) another Chris Waller runner, is honest but the fact she’s never won on the track in eight attempts is a concern.
A better hope may be the progressive Rocha Clock (Pierro), who was impressive winning the Inglis Bracelet at Flemington. Costello (Americain {USA}) was an upset winner of the Listed Rosehill Cup on a wet track, but his record shows he is equally at home on better surfaces.
Varda makes sense
Rosehill, Listed Schweppes Starlight S., $140,000, 1100m
With a handy pull in the weights, Varda (Lonhro) might prove a handful following her effort to finish a close-up fourth when resuming in the Listed Century at Flemington. The 4-year-old has twice won when second-up and is unbeaten in two appearances at Rosehill.
Snitz (Snitzel) made excellent progress last preparation to win the Listed Takeover Target S. and is effective when fresh while Passage Of Time (Northern Meteor) is another accomplished first-up performer and a recent trial winner.
Spaceboy (Deep Field) and Invictus Salute (Exceed And Excel) are another pair of in-form lightweight prospects while Glenall (Redoute’s Choice) has had a change of stable and that can often produce a turnaround in form.
Speed to burn
The Valley, Listed McMahon’s Dairy McKenzie S., $140,000, 1200m
Deep Speed (Deep Field) lost his unbeaten record when third in the Listed Springtime S. at Flemington and he can return to winning ways here. Two runs back he bolted in over this course and distance and a repeat looks on the cards.
Nicolini Viti (Nicconi) has won both of his starts this preparation, including a defeat of race rival Ilovethegame (Ilovethiscity) on this track earlier this month. Free To Move (Unencumbered) was a last-start fifth in the G3 Red Anchor S. and this is an easier assignment.
Pioneer River (Snitzel) was a smart winner two runs back and Ocean Beyond (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) was an easy debut winner, but this is tougher.
Hard to reel in
The Valley, Fiorente @ Sun Stud Carlyon S., $140,000, 1000m
Sartorial Splendor (Brazen Beau) is a speedy galloper who led all the way to win when resuming on the track and from an inside barrier he promises to take some catching again.
Coruscate (Exceed And Excel) has won two of his last four and was runner-up in the Listed Doveton S. at his most recent run. His only failure was a sixth in the G2 Linlithgow S. so he’s right in his comfort zone here.
Condo’s Express (Rubick) was beaten by Sartorial Splendor last time so is an obvious contender again and Prezado (Denman) has been in the money four times from six first-up runs so is a place chance. Meteorite (Deep Field) is going well and has a liking for The Valley where he has won twice before.
Winning machine
Doomben, Listed Sky Racing Tattersall’s Recognition S., $125,000, 1350m
Winning form is hard to ignore and The Harrovian (Fastnet Rock) has that in spades as he’s undefeated in his last nine appearances. He’s drawn well to extend his hot run.
Red Chase (Red Element) won well enough over this course and distance last time out to follow again and Emerald Kingdom (Bryanbo’s Gift) was unplaced behind that runner from a tricky gate and has drawn much better this time.
This is well short of Profit’s (Dundeel {NZ}) best, but he is a class act and a recent trial winner and the capable Boomsara (Spirit Of Boom) has again drawn a bad alley and will need plenty of luck. Testashadow (Testa Rossa) is racing well, but another who will need some good fortune from out wide.
In-form mare fancied
Doomben, Listed Spirit Of Boom Classic Fillies & Mares, $125,000, 1200m
Jadentom (Rothesay) excels at this distance and her victory on the track last time out puts her right in the frame. As the highest-rated runner in the field she is well-served by the conditions of the race.
Blazing Miss (Sizzling) is in good form with a recent success at Randwick to her credit and from the inside alley will be in this for a long way.
Skate To Paris (Bradbury’s Luck) is a talented mare resuming, but she has failed to win in seven past first-up attempts and a better hope may be Jami Lady (Spirit Of Boom). She was unplaced off the back of a spell and has been successful three times with a run under her belt.
Niedorp (Not A Single Doubt) is a quality mare, but will need a ton of luck from a horror gate and a better chance could be Socialising (Bel Esprit). She has a good first-up record and has had the benefit of a recent trial.
