3 minute read

Back to Rosehill for a fairly nondescript Winter meeting.

The Winter Cup "headlines" racing at Rosehill this Saturday and when Hopeful is favourite in a listed race you know we're deep into the off season.

Having struggled to find one at odds we will look to the feature for one of our bets where a bit of faith is needed to find Point King, but faith that could be well repaid if the horse is able to find anything like his overseas form.

He made his Australian debut over 2000m in a Bm88 and struggled but was nine months off into that and should strip much fitter.

He was 17 pounds off his peak rating in the UK which same when beaten a nose at Group 3 level over 2816m and with 53kg here in a very weak listed staying race, it's easy to take the gamble that he can improve.

There's been a stack of early support into $9.50 now and hopefully that's an indicator of the improvement he's taken.

For our best of the day we head to Race 7, a handy Bm72 over 1100m where Hanau can make the jump to Saturday grade for Godolphin.

He's a three-year-old gelding who raced four times over the Summer, winning twice and running second in the other three. It may look a big jump to come straight to Saturday grade first-up but having a look at some of the horses he was racing and indeed beating, it may not be all that far.

Two starts back Hanau was beaten a nose in second with over a length back to Infancy, who won a listed race at her next start and then ran second in a Group 3. Hanau then came out and ran to 98 on the R&S scale with a big closing win at Canterbury over some handy types.

Compare that to the race-favourite Passeggiata who also holds a peak rating of 98 on the R&S scale but dipped slightly to 96 last start with the shine seemingly coming off her and Hanau looks capable of measuring up quickly.

His recent trial when going to the line with fit and firing stablemate Pereille was very good and wet ground should only help his cause. Happy to back him at $5.50.

SYDNEY SPECIALS

Bet of the day: Race 7 #5 Hanau at $5.50
Each-way play: Race 8 #7 Point King at $9.50/2.80