3 minute read

Strong field sizes and a firm track will greet punters for Sydney’s first winter meeting of the year at Rosehill on Saturday.

Wet tracks and fields decimated by scratchings are often the theme throughout a Sydney winter and while punters are likely to encounter that over the coming months, Saturday at Rosehill is shaping as picture perfect.

Punters can get off to a winning start early in the day courtesy of Dagny in the Schweppes Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m).

Chris Waller elected to apply Blinkers to Dagny for the first time a fortnight ago and what ensued was a soft 1.5 length success at this course over 1400m.

She beat three mares on that occasion with a bit up her sleeve who she again faces on Saturday, Wahng Wah, Labdien and Cottage.

While they all enjoy a weight swing against Dagny, such was the ease of her last start success, it is hard to see any of the three who she accounted for turning the tables.

The rest of the field are all double figure chances who largely look out of their depth.

Dagny should be continuing her progression through the grades on Saturday and can provide us with a win early in the program.

Races later in the day at Rosehill are generally pretty open contests with some good each way bets about.

God’s In Him shapes as an excellent each way play at $11.00 contesting the Eremein Handicap (1800m).

The Team Hawkes-trained gelding caught the eye late along the fence when contesting the Scone Cup (1600m) three weeks ago, settling back and charging home for a 1.5 length second behind Duca Valentinois.

Duca Valentinois has since come out and franked the form, running second in the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

God's In Him's first up run over 1400m at Randwick on a testing track was also respectable.

The seven-year-old has obviously returned in great order this campaign and should be hitting his straps third up on Saturday.

The son of God’s Own is one of the class runners of the event with those in the field from the Team Cummings-trained Believe down sitting well outside of the handicap.

Team Hawkes step God’s In Him up to 1800m which is admittedly unchartered territory for the lightly-raced galloper.

He was hitting the line at Scone last start in a way suggestive he’ll thrive up to the distance so the $11 on offer certainly has appeal.

Sydney Specials: Rosehill – June 3

Best Of The Day: R3; #1 Dagny @ $2.40