Race by race recap of key performers and ones to watch moving forward from Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill.
A six week stint of Saturday meetings conducted at Rosehill has come to an end.
The track raced well through the duration and played host to a number of runners who won't look out of place at stakes level.
Last Saturday, progressive mares in Test The World and Noire continued working through their grades.
Of the beaten brigade at Rosehill on Saturday, a pair of well backed favourites both rolled second up in Flow and Heliosphere are each worth following at their next starts, both victims of circumstances in transit.
Race 1: Gongs - 2YO Handicap (1100m)
Saturday brought about two wins from as many starts for Gongs. The latest has netted her a Timeform rating of 101.
An easy watch for favourite backers as Gongs proves too good for her rivals, kicking off proceedings at #Rosehill for @JamesCummings88 & the @godolphin stable. pic.twitter.com/4YSwNaS4vb
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2017
Gongs is the first two-year-old to win twice in Sydney this season. James Cummings’ juvenile team is starting to grow in momentum and size now.
The daughter of Dawn Approach is the pick of his fillies. He’s also got some nice colts such as Encryption, Ranier and Plague Stone.
Chris Waller has some decent two-year-olds as well. He’s got the best one we’ve seen so far this season in Breeders’ Plate winner Performer.
Orcein and Charge on Saturday were each good late when placing behind Gongs. Each give the impression they will be suited over more ground.
Race 2: Sparky Lad - 3YO Set Weights Plus Penalties Handicap (1400m)
That was Sparky Lad’s second run back from a freshen up. Josh Parr produced a smart ride by holding a position which kept the favourite Heliosphere wide.
Sparky Lad pings to the outside and nabs Heliosphere on the line to land the second at #Rosehill for @cwallerracing. A well-timed challenge from @JoshuaParr8 in the saddle! pic.twitter.com/dtiUaBGnEf
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2017
Sparky Lad has run to a Timeform rating of 100.
Heliosphere is the horse to be follow out of the race. He was painfully unlucky. The colt was caught three wide with no cover throughout. The fact Heliosphere continued to fight out the finish despite such a torrid run was admirable.
With even luck he should be winning third run from a spell.
Poetic Charmer was last across the line. Team Snowden will reportedly send him for a spell and have the Your Song colt gelded. On the best Poetic Charmer’s shown this prep, watch for him returning to the races later this season. He’s only a Benchmark 67 horse so being a couple of stone lighter next prep he could progress right through the grades.
Race 3: Magic Choir - Class 3 Highway Handicap (1400m)
Adam Hyeronimus gave Magic Choir a beautiful ride, third on the fence behind the leaders and the horse rewarded him for it in the straight. 75 was the Timeform rating placed on the run.
Magic Choir sits patiently off the speed and flashes home to cause a boilover in the third at #Rosehill. pic.twitter.com/STMeJqJmGJ
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2017
He’s lightly-raced for a four-year-old, just six starts and has now won three of his past four.
It will be interesting to see how far he can go. Magic Choir is still a stallion so if his current progression through the grades comes to a stop, connections at least have the option to geld the son of Magic Albert in an attempt to gain some extra lengths.
In the meantime however, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Race 4: Noire - Fillies and Mares Benchmark 83 Handicap (1400m)
Kerrin McEvoy produced a carbon copy of Magic Choir’s ride the race prior, third on the fence.
Noire had plenty up her sleeve after it in the straight.
Noire lets loose a kick at the turn and holds on to score in the fourth at #Rosehill. That's a double for @KPMcEvoy & @cwallerracing! pic.twitter.com/iaAKsMS2Ng
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2017
She’s produced a Timeform rating of 95 to win.
It was an important win for her as it’s shown connections she can get over a longer trip.
Noire’s form from her maiden prep reads great too. She held her own against some nice types such as subsequent Group winner Savapinski, Slow Burn and Test The World.
Her stablemate Miss Ballantine was good in second. The stable took the Blinkers off her this prep and she’s responded well to that change having commenced her prep with two seconds from as many starts.
Race 5: Gambler’s Blues - Benchmark 80 Handicap (2000m)
Third up Gambler’s Blues was ready to go after consecutive seconds to kick off his prep.
A blanket finish to Race 5 at #Rosehill, but it was Gambler's Blues who landed the prize with a speedy rails run. pic.twitter.com/jHz10Wy2Zq
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2017
The seven-year-old has recorded a Timeform rating of 93. He’s holding his form well. There is probably even room for a little more improvement fourth up.
Three Chris Waller runners finished within a length of the winner.
Carzoff was the real head turner of the three.
Mornington ran fourth as a well supported favourite and is starting to prove costly for followers. There is a 2100m Benchmark 80 at Warwick Farm in two week’s time which might be the race he needs.
Race 6: Invinzabeel - Benchmark 90 Handicap (1400m)
The first leg of the quadrella was an interesting race. There looked to be no speed on paper and the well supported favourite Flow was meant to get a picnic out in front.
Instead they went extremely hard early and those fast early sectionals were always going to take their toll late.
Invinzabeel bursts through a gap and fends off his rivals to bring it home in the sixth at #Rosehill, gifting @cwallerracing a treble! pic.twitter.com/QoZ5yOA42b
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2017
Invinzabeel was restrained out of the early speed battle just in time by apprentice Lee Magorrian.
He’s won two straight now and the latest netted the six-year-old a Timeform rating of 108.
The December Handicap over 1400m at Warwick Farm on December 23 is where he should go next. He’s got a good record at the course.
The way the race was run, Flow was extremely brave to be beaten less than a length in fourth. There is a 1400m colts, geldings and entires Benchmark 85 Handicap at Warwick Farm on December 23. He’ll take beating around Warwick Farm third up and back in grade.
Race 7: Test The World - Benchmark 89 Handicap (1100m)
Test The World is a fantastic mare. She’s won six of her ten starts now and placed in the other four.
Test The World fights back to take out Race 7 at #Rosehill in impressive fashion for @BBakerRacing . Another win for the in-form mare!! pic.twitter.com/zdsCmS2tWC
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2017
Her latest win netted the Bjorn Baker-trained mare a Timeform rating of 100. That’s a new career peak for her.
They’ll no doubt be chasing black type with the Testa Rossa mare soon.
The Christmas Classic (1200m) at Randwick on December 30 is a potential route. There are options for her in Brisbane too.
Bon Amis and To Excess were both excellent. Each are extremely consistent. To Excess clocked the fastest final 600m of the day at Rosehill, 32.61.
Race 8: Drachenfels - Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m)
Drachenfels wound up well out wide and was too good. We assessed the run with a Timeform rating of 100.
Drachenfels works his way through the field to greet the judge with his last stride in the eighth event at #Rosehill. Double on the day for @JamesCummings88. pic.twitter.com/cyYJ5kTvG7
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2017
He’s working through his grades beautifully.
Pipeline was brave in second and has shown sharp improvement on what was a strong first up showing against similar company three weeks ago.
Lanciato and Torpenhow each caught the eye late.
Lanciato is interesting. This is a horse who used to be raced over a mile and beyond. Mark Newnham has kept him fresh and at sprint trips in 2017. He’s recorded two wins and two placings through four runs.
Race 9: King Darci - Benchmark 83 Handicap (1500m)
After a relatively soft lead, King Darci had to fight hard in the straight but held off a couple of nice horses to win. He’s produced a Timeform rating of 98.
King Darci produces a bold front-running display, staving off the challenges of Bastia & Cellarman to bookend the program at #Rosehill. pic.twitter.com/2x3BF2gJ8k
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2017
Runner up Bastia was good rising in grade. His record suggests he’ll be even better if able to find a soft track over the coming weeks.
Cellarman in third was the real eye catcher.
They made a stack of gear changes to Cellarman a few runs back.
Since those changes he’s recorded two wins and two thirds from four starts.
