NEALE DONNELLEY previews the four feature races from Rosehill Gardens this weekend:
Group 2 $200,000 STAN FOX STAKES (1500m):
CHRIS WALLER’S boom three-year-old colt THE AUTUMN SUN makes his long awaited return to racing in tomorrow’s Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes.
The regally-bred THE AUTUMN SUN is equal favourite for the G1 $1 million The Golden Rose in a fortnight.
Unbeaten in three starts, the son of legendary stallion Redoute’s Choice has not been seen since his brilliant win in the G1 $500,000 J. J. Atkins in Brisbane in June.
He started his racing career with an easy win in a maiden at Randwick in May before again winning a Saturday race at the same venue in April.
Out of a Galileo mare, THE AUTUMN SUN is bred to be a star and judging on his three appearances at the track so far, he’s heading in the right direction.
Waller threw him into the ‘deep end’ so to speak when he went straight from restricted grade to contesting the Atkins last season, and the horse showed real class and grit to win when favourite.
He has had two trials to prepare him for his first-up run in the Stan Fox and the latest TAB market has him a hot $1.90 favourite.
A $6 equal favourite for the Golden Rose and highly fancied in the G1 $2 million Caulfield Guineas at $13, THE AUTUMN SUN’S return will be closely scrutinised.
There appear to be many genuine dangers, including last start Up And Coming Stakes winner MASTER ASH ($8).
A real improver might be $16 chance TOULOUSE who will appreciate getting out to 1500-metres.
Group 2 $200,000 THEO MARKS STAKES (1300m).
RACING fans are eagerly awaiting the return of many racing stars at Rosehill tomorrow, none more so than TRAPEZE ARTTIST in the Theo Marks.
Favourite for the $13 The Everest on October 13, TRAPEZE ARTIST is arguably the second best racehorse in Australia behind the mighty Winx.
The 4YO son of super-sire Snitzel has already won more than $3 million in prize-money and potentially this Spring could quadruple that figure.
Trainer Gerald Ryan has resisted the temptation to run TRAPEZE ARTIST, a $2.90 chance in the latest TAB market for the Theo Marks.
He comes into this 1300-metre event top-weight in a small but very select field of quality sprinters. Ryan has given him two trials to prepare for this task.
His past two starts include a stunning two-length win in the G1 $2.5 million T. J. Smith Stakes, before another big win in the G1 $600,000 All Aged Stakes in the autumn.
Although lumbered with 61kgs in this quality handicap, TRAPEZE ARTIST might simply be too fast when it counts for his rivals.
Godolphin’s HOME OF THE BRAVE ($5.50) and rising star D’ARGENTO ($3.10) could be the two serious dangers.
HOME OF THE BRAVE has international form at the highest level and was very brave when second down the Flemington straight when making his Australian debut last start.
D’ARGENTO caught the eye with his slashing third behind Winx in the G1 Winx Stakes when first-up. He won the G1 Rosehill Guineas and ran 4th in the G1 Doncaster Mile before spelling.
Group 2 $200,000 THE RUN TO THE ROSE (1200m).
THE almost unbelievable depth in quality three-year-olds in champion trainer Chris Waller’s arsenal is on display in tomorrow’s The Run To The Rose.
He has the G2-winning and G1-placed ZOUSAIN, G2-winning LEAN MEAN MACHINE and G3-winning PERFORMER all contesting this critical G2 race.
The Golden Rose is now just a fortnight away and Waller will be planning his army of talent for that race.
ZOUSAIN is resuming having not raced since his brave second behind stable-mate THE AUTUMN SUN in the G1 J. J. Atkins in Brisbane in June.
Before that defeat he won the G2 Champagne Classic and ran second in the G2 Sires Produce Stakes.
LEAN MEAN MACHINE is also resuming having not been seen since finishing down the track on heavy ground in the G1 Atkins.
His previous start was a brilliant win in the G2 Sires Produce Stakes at Doomben.
PERFORMER won the Listed Breeders Plate on debut as a 2YO before winning the G3 Canonbury Stakes.
He famously lost his rider in the G2 Todman before being beaten 5-lengths in the G1 Golden Slipper.
PERFORMER resumed and charged home when third to Graff in the G3 San Domenico and he will be fitter and ready for this now.
For mine, they all still have to beat Kris Lee’s unbeaten GRAFF who was dominant last time.
Group 2 $200,000 SHERACO STAKES (1200m).
DESPITE being trained at Randwick, popular mare DAYSEE DOOM has a profound love-affair with Rosehill and she gets her chance to win another Stakes race there tomorrow.
This remarkable 6YO mare has raced at Rosehill Gardens on 10 occasions for five wins and three placings.
Last autumn she won the Group 1 Coolmore and the G2 Millie Fox at the track, taking her earnings well over the million dollar mark.
DAYSEE DOOM had a one-start winter campaign when a close fifth in the G1 Tatt’s Tiara at Doomben, before again going to the spelling paddock.
Veteran trainer Ron Quinton has deliberately held her back for the Sheraco at 1200-metres, a distance DAYSEE DOOM ($7.00) has been successful at in the past.
Bjorn Baker is also resuming quality mare CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES ($3.10 fav) in the Sheraco.
She had a fabulous winter campaign in Brisbane running third placings in both the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup and the G1 Stradbroke.
Barrier one and James McDonald tomorrow are both big ticks for this mare.
As is always the case with these quality mares races in Sydney, there are many chances coming off all sorts of different form-lines.
FORMALITY ($9.00) and INVINCIBELLA ($9.00) both appeal with winning claims while Godolphin’s RAIMENT ($10) could be a big improver fresh.
ENDS