Gai Waterhouse is preparing a strong contingent of spring hopes for Rosehill Gardens this Saturday and will saddle-up the favourites in both feature races including her promising staying type Greatwood in the 2014 Premier’s Cup.
Gai Waterhouse's import Greatwood (inside) is favourite to win the Premier's Cup 2014 this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
Sydney racing on Saturday is headlined by the Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) where Waterhouse will be represented by her Group 1 winner Almalad, favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au to win this first-up ahead of next month’s Golden Rose.
The major support race is then the $100,000 Listed Premier’s Cup (1800m) for the dour long distance gallopers, the handicap clash due to jump at 4:25pm as Race 7.
A full field of 13 starters plus four emergencies are engaged in the Premier’s Cup this year including Waterhouse’s favourite Greatwood with the inside running from barrier one.
The imported Manduro gelding has had just the one run on Aussie soil but that hasn’t stopped Ladbrokes.com.au installing him as the $3.10 Premier’s Cup betting favourite.
Group 2 performed in Britain the four-year-old caught the eye in their debut down under at this track over 1400m on August 16 when third, beaten under a length, by the up-and-coming Entirely Platinum in the Canterbury Hurlstone RSL Handicap.
That’s an effort he is tipped to improve on getting up to the 1800m on Saturday as they gear up for some tougher tests this spring with nominations in for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate in Melbourne during October as well as Sydney’s $400,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 4.
The inside alley however might not be the best place to be on Saturday with Rosehill currently rated a Heavy (10) with little improvement expected before race day.
There are three other single figure chances in the Premier’s Cup odds then with:
- #5 He’s Your Man ($4.80) – True to form Chris Waller is well represented numbers-wise in the Sydney races, the best fancied of his contingent here being this French import last seen winning the Listed Winter Challenge over 1500m at the track on August. Sees the distance for the first time this season but should relish the step up with winning form up to 2400m suggesting The Metrop and Caulfield Cup could be good targets.
- #3 Bonfire ($5.50) – Heavily weighted with 58kg, Waterhouse’s other runner is another import from GB looking to make an impact down under during the carnival season. Like Greatwood is a Manduro gelding but this six-year-old has more experience. Debuted at this track and distance for Waterhouse a fortnight ago and was beaten under half a length by Hoylonny when carrying 61kg so actually drop back in weight for this.
- #14 Best Case ($8) – Anthony Cummings-trained first emergency needs a scratching to get a run but with the rain-affected track that is a likely occurrence. Sam Clipperton will ride on the 54kg minimum, same weight the Savabeel four-year-old had when eighth to Entirely Platinum last time out. Will be better over more distance and have autumn form in better company including a Group 2 Tulloch Stakes third on a Heavy (8) Rosehill track, ATC Derby eighth and third in the SA Derby over 2500m in May.
Outside of these at more generous odds are then the likes of Waller’s last start winner at the track and distance Hoylonny ($13), the Joe Pride-trained Albany Cup winner Canny Ballard ($13) and Peter Moody’s resuming import Wish Come True ($15) which ran second in the Italian Derby last year.
See below for the full Premier’s Cup 2014 odds, fixed win prices Ladbrokes.com.au punters can lock in right now!
