The Winter Challenge, a Listed Race to be run over 1500 metres, will see black-type competition resuming at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday when Sydney metropolitan racing returns to the circuit after a two-week break.
Sydney Saturday metro racing returns to Rosehill this Saturday (Pic – ThoroughbredNews)
An A$200,000 contest worth A$109,000 to the winner, the Winter Challenge received 17 nominations, with last start winner Tamerlane the highest rated of the contingent on a handicap figure of 107. Only New Mandate (Ire) also boasts a three-figure rating – 102.
Following the lead of fellow Victorian stables over the Winter months, Anthony & Sam Freedman and Lee & Shannon Hope are considering running last start Melbourne winners Arqana, in the first instance, and Cindy Falls (NZ), in the second, in Sydney’s feature this coming Saturday.
More broadly speaking, the 10-race program received a total of 186 nominations (including emergencies).
Three races had their deadline extended until Tuesday morning.
Amongst those races initially short on numbers is the July Sprint, an open handicap to be run over 1100 metres.
By Monday morning, the July Sprint had received just 12 nominations for a field limit of 14 plus four emergencies.
Notably, last Saturday’s smart winner In Flight could be backed-up by the Joe Pride stable in the July Sprint.
The 3-year-old daughter of Flying Artie has won her past three starts and is relishing the rain affected tracks so prevalent in Sydney in recent weeks.
Also in line to have its first start in Australia in the July Sprint is the Ciaron Maher import Sivka Burka (Fr), a three-time winner in France over 1200-to-1400m.
The only 2-year-old race of the day was well supported with 16 nominations for the 1200-metre affair which is clearly very much on the radar of the Ciaron Maher.
The prolific interstate stable put forward no fewer than six names, comprising Atomic Clock, Axius, Deep Joy, Proviseur (NZ), Qatars Choice and Sensational Wind.
The Rosehill track is presently raced as a Soft 7, while the meeting will be staged with the rail position +3m.
