We’re back to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday for another outstanding Autumn Carnival card, highlighted by two Group 1 feature races.
The rail will be set out 6 metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Soft (5) range.
Ladbrokes have previews the meeting and hopefully found a few winners.
Race 1 – 12:45pm AEDT – Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m)
This Group 3 race for two-year-olds isn’t the easiest way to start Stakes Day from a betting perspective, but I’ll be happy to have something on warm favourite Conrad.
Conrad debuted with a nice effort to finish second at Canterbury last month, and broke his maiden impressively at Wyong last time out.
This is obviously a rise in class, but he looks to be a horse with plenty of ability, and he can record a nice black type win.
Race 2 – 1:20pm AEDT – Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m)
Entente has become something of a country cups specialist, but the Neville Sellwood Stakes represents a terrific opportunity for him to win in town.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained gelding has been a great horse for the stable throughout his career, and he has returned three lovely efforts this time, highlighted by a smart win in the Albury Cup last time out.
2000m is ideal and he is drawn to receive a terrific run under Tim Clark from barrier 3.
Race 3 – 1:55pm AEDT – Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m)
He was well beaten by Grandslam, but I thought that Young Werther was good into second in the Alister Clark Stakes at The Valley, and can win the Tulloch Stakes.
The Tavistock gelding has made only six trips to the races since debuting in September, but he has returned some eye-catching efforts and is unlucky not to have won some black type.
He’s untested at the Sydney way of going, but he looks to be at peak fitness and I am happy to give him another chance to win.
Bet Now: Rosehill Gardens Race 3
Race 4 – 2:35pm AEDT – Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m)
Krone was simply outstanding on her way to a maiden Group 1 win in the Coolmore Classic last time out and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again in the Emancipation Stakes.
The Eurozone mare has gone to another level since transferring to the care of Tony Gollan and won the Guy Walter Stakes when arriving in Sydney this time before her dominant last-start effort.
She’s at peak fitness and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
Race 5 – 3:15pm AEDT – Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m)
James Cummings and Godolphin hold a strong hand in this contest in Coruscate, Deprive and Roheryn, and I think that the Star Kingdom Stakes winner will be one of the three.
At current odds, Coruscate looks to be overs ($16 at publish) and we can have an each-way play.
Coruscate has continued to improve with each preparation since making his debut, and he went to a new level during the Spring Carnival last year, winning the Testa Rossa Stakes and the Caulfield Village early in his campaign most notably.
He races well fresh and handles soft going.
Race 6 – 3:55pm AEDT – Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m)
The Vinery Stud Stakes tends to be one of the Autumn Carnival’s most open Group 1 contests and has been won by plenty of fillies at odds in recent history.
I’m happy to take on favourite Harmony Rose and I think that the lightly raced Princess Rhaenys can return a bold effort at around the $15 mark.
Princess Rhaenys debuted with a credible effort for fourth at Pakenham in October, but resumed this time with an eye-catching and easy win over a mile at Ballarat.
Granted, this is a big rise in class, but trainer Peter Moody reportedly has a big opinion of her, and he has been seeing them as well as anyone this year.
Bet Now: Rosehill Gardens Race 6
Race 7 – 4:35pm AEDT – Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m)
This is a wide-open edition of the Tancred Stakes and there is a case to be made for nearly all of the fourteen confirmed starters.
With that in mind, I’m eager to have a play on something at odds, and I think that the race looks ideal for The Chosen One.
The Chosen One is a black type winner in Australia and New Zealand, and he has been an above-average galloper since making his debut.
He returned plenty of bold efforts during his spring preparation, highlighted by a third placing in the Caulfield Cup and fourth placing in the Melbourne Cup, and he has stripped fitter for two starts back this time.
A mile and a half is ideal and the booking of Hugh Bowman is also positive.
Race 8 – 5:15pm AEDT – Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m)
With ballot-free entry into next weekend’s Doncaster Mile on the line, a typically smart and open field has been taken for the Prelude, including Rock.
Rock has been a good horse for the Hawkes yard throughout his career has returned one of the most devastating efforts of the spring in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle.
He has recorded three wins from as many starts at this point of his preparation previously and from barrier 5, he can keep alive that record on Saturday.
Race 9 – 5:30pm AEDT – Cleanaway Handicap (1400m)
This is a wide-open race and a tough way to end the day from a betting perspective, but I’m keen to have an each-way play on Nudge.
Nudge has picked off plenty of races like this one throughout her career, and she will enjoy good improvement into this one after finishing a credible fourth in BM88 company here when resuming.
Her barrier is a little concerning, but the booking of James McDonald isn’t, and the $17 that is available at publish looks overs.