Interstate raiders promise to add some spice to Sydney racing at Canterbury on Friday night and again on Saturday at Rosehill.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Despite often unjustified local criticism it seems interstate trainers can see plenty of value in the structure of Sydney racing from two-year-old level through to open company.
This is reflected in the weekend fields for Canterbury and Rosehill as they have attracted a total of 11 acceptors from interstate stables from as far afield as Angaston in South Australia and Caulfield, Cranbourne and Euroa in Victoria.
The Rosehill meeting also features three Queensland-trained acceptors while another 23 acceptors on Saturday - among the final tally of 83 - come from NSW provincial and country stables.
The conundrum is why Sydney stables with more than 1500 horses in work can supply only 50 runners for a Saturday meeting offering almost $600,000 prizemoney? Owners should be the ones asking the questions.
South Australian trainer Tony McEvoy adds considerable interest to both meetings with his promising two-year-old Typhoon Tilly running on Friday night in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1200m) and the impressive three-year-old Sky Raider engaged in Saturday's Exponet BM 80 Handicap (1900m).
Typhoon Tilly is a Magic Millions eligible juvenile and is out to earn qualifying prizemoney for the $2 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14.
Fifth on debut in a Listed race over 1000m at Flemington on October 31, Typhoon Tilly is set to clash with the several other highly regarded Magic Millions contenders including Newcastle colt Hidden Warrior.
Hidden Warrior, trained by Paul Perry, was narrowly beaten at his first start in the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 1 and has since been a star barrier trial winner at Broadmeadow last week.
Sky Raider, winner of six of his 12 starts including four of his last five, lands in Sydney off a Morphettville win over 2250m 28 days ago.
He is among three interstate runners in Saturday's Benchmark 80 event, the others being last start Eagle Farm winner Grey Assignment from the Kelly Schweida stable and the David Hayes-trained Penzevengi, a last start second over 1900m at Canterbury.
The most interesting interstate acceptor at Rosehill is the Brendan McCarthy-trained More Awesome, a three time winner from nine starts who will be having his first start after a spell in the Action Business Coach Handicap (11009m), a BM 70 event for three-year-olds.
McCarthy has a big opinion of More Awesome with Saturday's race his first step towards a start in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.
More Awesome did his early racing in Tasmania where he won twice as a juvenile before he went to Adelaide where he landed the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in March.
He hasn't raced since he finished eighth to Sepoy in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield in August.
More Awesome travelled to Sydney on Wednesday night with stablemate Nice And Neat, an acceptor for Saturday's Guaranteed $1 Million TAB BIG6 Handicap (1200m).
The resuming Nice And Neat was a Rosehill winner in July before a Randwick failure prior to a spell.
He clashes with the impressive Queensland visitor Rocker, winner of three of his four starts and unbeaten in his two starts since resuming.
