3 minute read
Talented mare French Rose can return to winning form in today's Heckenberg Handicap (race 6) at Warwick Farm.
The grey mare had a very honest campaign last time in and after a cracking fresh-up run looks hard to hold out over 1200m as she drops in grade to a Benchmark 70.
Prepared by Gerald Ryan at Rosehill, French Rose won three races last time in.
The second of those was here over the same journey in slow ground, where she settled second last and turned there before running on strongly to score a nose win in a hot form race.
She then raced over 1200m at Canterbury Park and did the same, not getting as far back but hitting the line hard to score, again in a good form race.
Ryan then tested her over a little further as she stepped out to 1400m for the Listed Canberra Guineas.
After getting well out of her ground she turned last in the big field and made steady ground but couldn't bridge the big gap, finishing sixth behind Kudakulari.
After a good spell she resumed at Randwick in a Benchmark 80 where Nathan Berry took the ride.
Settling fourth on the inside, she hit the line well to finish runner-up behind easy winner Phenomenal Lass.
French Rose rises in weight but drops in grade for today's race and will be fitter for the longer journey.
She won here on slow ground four runs back and has drawn for a good run today over the same trip.
Ryan has her entered for Canterbury's meeting tomorrow as well but opted to start here and she looks the one to beat.
The stable have a strong hand in the race with Mrs Onassis lining up as well.
The Gerry Harvey-owned mare was an all the way maiden winner four back before finishing fourth at Gosford when coming form back in the field.
She then ran third at Wyong on heavy ground without a lot of luck, finishing only a length form the winner, before stepping up to 1250m at Canterbury Park.
There she raced just off the speed before battling away with finish fourth.
Ryan has added the blinkers for today's race and she has a light weight and a good draw.
Gai Waterhouse is using today's race as the spring kick-off for Live And Learn.
The mare was a fast finishing debut winner over 1200m at Kembla Grange then was runner-up at Gosford when trying to leads throughout before being just grabbed.
Over 1200m at Kembla Grange she was one-paced to the line so was stepped up to 1500m for her final run of the campaign where, again at Kembla Grange, she got back but worked home late.
She is fitter for two recent trials and is well placed here with a light weight and a good draw.
She handles soft ground and should be working home strongly.
Pass The Parcel has finished runner-up at her last five runs but just can't seem to break through.
She has drawn wide today but should be getting home strongly, as always.
The heavy ground suits.
Lough Rea ran a better race last time and can feature again on her best form.