A Fresh Up Cath

Talented mare Champagne Cath looks well placed at Rosehill this afternoon where she contests the Schweppes Handicap over 1300m.

A restricted race for horses with only one city win in the last twelve months, Champagne Cath having her first run as a four-year-old mare resumes from a spell and although facing the boys for one of the few times in her short career, she does rate best on Timeform weight adjusted ratings.

In the capable hands of Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller, Champagne Cath has won two of her three runs when resuming, last campaign leading throughout over 1200m at Randwick to defeat Caprossa.

Despite failing to build on that from in four subsequent runs, Champagne Cath was hampered by wet tracks and failed to produce her best.

The mare has trialled in great fashion leading into this race winning her last trial at Warwick Farm under Blake Shinn who will be her new rider this afternoon.

Shinn strikes at 22% for Waller who has also elected to fit winkers to Champagne Cath for the first time.

The main dangers in an open race look to be Countryman, Forget, Windjammer and value hope Haussmann.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Countryman also resumes from a spell but looks set for a big effort.

The lightly raced four-year-old has not raced winning a benchmark 75 handicap over 1250m at Canterbury on slow ground back in August the last of just two runs in that campaign.

Waterhouse has trialled the gelding twice, both those efforts a good sign for this afternoon.

Countryman has the speed to race handy and after Winona Costin’s 2kgs claim comes in extremely well at the weights – he is sure to make his presence felt for a long way.

The Kim Waugh-trained Forget brings a fitness edge to the race with two wins and a second from his only three runs this preparation – he is the “form horse” coming into the race.

After winning his first two runs this time in in easier grade, last start Forget stepped up to Saturday class in a benchmark 80 race just going under to Burbero over 1150m.

The additional distance today should not be an issue and although drawn awkwardly should play a role in the finish.

Windjammer a stable mate of Champagne Cath has hit winning form at this third run back this campaign and although stepping up in grade to Saturday class does look set to race well again.

A horse that has always shown potential, Waller looks to be coaxing the best from him now, his last start win coming with the promise of further improvement today.

Windjammer has won at Rosehill and with Hugh Bowman in the saddle is sure to get a great run on the back of the speed.

Top weight Haussmann looks the value runner in the race – the John O’Shea trained galloper coming off three runs this campaign all in much tougher company than he meets today and over distances short of his best.

Haussmann was not far away from Our Boy Malachi last start over 1100m but significantly his last win came over today’s distance of 1300m where he defeated capable sprinter Target In Sight at Kembla Grange in March.

Haussmann will have the benefit of a 3kgs claim courtesy of Jamie Innes who has begun a three month stint with O’Shea, reducing his weight to 56kgs – just two kgs above the limit.

If Haussmann can find his best form, he will certainly run much better than his current odds suggest.

Enjoy an interesting contest.