3 minute read

The powerful Godolphin stable can break back into the Sydney Saturday winning ranks this afternoon at Rosehill with handy galloper Medcaut who lines up in a Benchmark 90 race over 1400m.

Scratched from a recent meeting to avoid a wet track, Medcaut comes into the race on the back of two recent trials plus an excellent fresh up record.

A winner of five of 18 starts, Medcaut has not raced since finishing unplaced in May behind Tales Of Grimm in the Scone Cup beaten just under five lengths, O’Shea then electing to send him to the spelling paddocks after a short campaign that included just four runs.

Today he comes off a 278 day break although he was being prepared back in June for a campaign having two trials before going amiss and spelled again.

Last preparation Medcaut was successful first up over 1400m at Rosehill, the same track and distance of today’s assignment, winning comfortably from Laohu, Frespanol and Sure And fast finishing behind him.

That collateral form stands him in good stead for today and with stable rider James McDonald taking the mount, he looks very well placed to continue his excellent first up record.

The main dangers are Wine Tales and God’s In Him, both very capable gallopers on their day.

It has been 392 days since Wine Tales last win but that said her recent form has not been all that bad, particularly if her good track ratings are used as the basis for assessment.

Last start she pulled up lame after running fifth at Randwick over 1600m but before that had run an unlucky second to Casino Dancer in the G3 Angst Stakes also over 1600m at Randwick – that form subsequently proving very strong.

However three switches this afternoon could well be enough for Wine Tales to recapture her best form – blinkers back on, Schofield rides and back to 1400m.

If the pace is on, Wine Tales could easily be the one swooping late.

God’s In Him is the class horse of the field. Team Hawkes make no secret of the fact they have high hopes for this gelding and the progression in his Timeform ratings during the last twelve months certainly confirms this view – improving some 35 pounds.

God’s In Him has not been seen since running an unlucky second to Vashka in the G2 Shannon Quality over 1500m at Rosehill 56 days ago, so effectively he is resuming from a spell today.

While that form reads very well for a benchmark 90 race, there must be a query about him producing a peak performance first up under 61kgs – which will also be the highest weight he has ever been asked to carry.

With regular rider Tommy Berry riding in Japan, Brenton Avdulla who is already one for one atop the gelding regains the mount.

Interestingly Medcaut and God’s In Him have met once previously with Medcaut having over four lengths to spare and he now meets God’s In Him some five kilos better.

Lasts start benchmark 78 winner Better Not Blue is sure to have admirers especially with Jessica Taylor’s 3kg claim but he does face a very big class rise.

Third up today, Better Not Blue has been in sparking form in two runs since a spell winning narrowly last time out over 1250m at Canterbury on a slow track. In fact all four career wins have been on rain affected going and he is certainly going to get those conditions this afternoon.

Another last start benchmark 78 winner was Gamblestown and he is a fringe winning hope today after running to a new personal best rating in that performance.

Trained by Joe Pride, Gamblestown has been up for a long while and it is hard to see him improving further in this afternoon.

Enjoy an interesting race.