3 minute read
There is hope for an improving track, but a likely rain soaked Rosehill faces punters on Golden Slipper day, easily one of the best days of the year.
Star mare Winx steps out for the second last time, while boom colt The Autumn Sun lines up beyond a mile for the first time in his career.
That rules out two of the nine races, while the final event is as tough a get out as I've seen in the last few weeks.
On weather watch for the Slipper as if the track stays in the heavy it's hard to get away from Cosmic Force, however any better than that and firmly in Tenley's corner.
It is an open Slipper, but I'll be surprised if one of the top four in the market doesn't win, they look to hold a decent ratings edge.
Still hard to lock down two-year-olds, they are always rapidly improving as we saw last week with Cosmic Force.
Away from the Slipper the Group 1 Galaxy is the betting race of the day, a near capacity field with speed drawn across the track, every horse should get their chance.
By all reports they will be looking for cover on Nature Strip (good luck), no doubt he has the talent, but this certainly spells disaster, over to you JMac.
The James Cummings trained Viridine hasn't won in over 500 days, but prepared to ignore that stat as he appears a new horse since gelded.
Following the same path as last year, Viridine contested the Challenge Stakes first up and was clearly the run of the race.
Narrowly beaten behind Ball Of Muscle, he recorded the fastest 800/600m of the meeting and returned a new career peak in the process.
Last year he started the $4.25 second elect and while no match for In Her Time, he stuck on well to finish third and confident he is going a lot better this year.
He essentially carries less weight this time around (52kg) as well, given he carried 51kg last year as a three-year-old.
When assessing Timeform weight adjusted ratings, he is clearly the weight horse and more than happy to back him each-way.
He lands in the perfect spot for Tim Clark and with even luck, he should prove very hard to hold out.
The Chris Waller trained Shraaoh is back in good order and appears well placed to break through in the third event.
Unsuited over 1500m in his return, Shraaoh displayed sharp improvement up to 2000m last start, when a sectional star behind Hiyaam.
He arguably should have won and now appears set to peak racing third up.
At the weights he gets every chance with McEvoy aboard and he will no doubt relish the step up to 2400m.
Expect him to also settle a lot closer now drawn inside and with clear air in the straight, he should prove very hard to hold out late.
Simon Dinopoulos' Three Tips For Sky Sports Radio:
Race 3 #10 Shraaoh @ $3.40
Race 6 #12 Unforgotten @ $6.00
Race 8 - #8 Viridine @ $6.50
