A lucrative $2 million Group 2 heads the racing action at Sydney’s Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and betting on the 2024 Hill Stakes is a tight affair currently led by the in-form Royal Patronage.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained French import has been excellent down under and looks a genuine hope over the 2000m fourth-up and fit off some strong form races.
A Group 2 Tramway Stakes winner fresh down under at Randwick defeating Amelia’s Jewel, Royal Patronage subsequently went on to run third in both the $1 million 7 Stakes and last weekend’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap.
He was brave with 56.5k from barrier 17 in the Epsom over the famous Randwick mile and should appreciate a better gate up in distance with Tim Clark riding this weekend.
The latest Hill Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Royal Patronage as the narrow $3.60 favourite with three of his rivals also at single figures in the current markets.
The immediate danger at $4.20 is the James Cummings-trained Pericles who was scratched from Melbourne’s Toorak Handicap in favour of this richer Sydney weight-for-age showdown.
The consistent son of Street Boss is drawn a dream in gate four for Nash Rawiller and comes off a string of good lead-up runs including a last start third to Buckaroo in Caulfield’s Group 3 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
Chris Waller saddles up the early Hill Stakes market mover Kovalica from gate two with apprentice Zac Lloyd, riding in outstanding form this season, a plus in the saddle on the $5 third elect,
Kovalica is third-up and fit with the son of Ocean Park third in the Tramway before a good Epsom fourth only two lengths off the winner Ceolwulf.
Waller has dominated the Hill Stakes results in recent history having prepared six winners in the past 11 years including Montefilia last year.
The master Sydney-based trainer launches a two-pronged attack on this year’s Hill Stakes field also saddling-up his Group 1 winning mare Hinged ($21) wider out with Tommy Berry riding.
The 2024 Hill Stakes is scheduled to run as Rosehill Race 7 at 4:10pm (AEDT).
Hill Stakes 2024 Odds & Results
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
3. Attrition (9)
J: Beau Mertens 59kg
T: Mitchell Freedman |
||
|
2nd
4. Kovalica (2)
J: Zac Lloyd 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
3rd
2. Royal Patronage (8)
J: Tim Clark 59kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott |
||
|
4th
1. Pericles (3)
J: Nash Rawiller 59kg
T: James Cummings |
||
|
5th
5. Nonconformist (4)
J: Harry Coffey 59kg
T: Grahame Begg |
||
|
6th
6. Golden Path (5)
J: Chad Schofield 59kg
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
||
|
7th
7. New Endeavour (7)
J: Adam Hyeronimus 59kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott |
||
|
8th
10. Navajo Peak (1)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 59kg
T: David Payne |
||
|
9th
11. Stockman (6)
J: Reece Jones 59kg
T: Joseph Pride |
Data retrieved: 22/11/2024 08:13:03 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
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Race comments
ROYAL PATRONAGE (2) progressive entire who had too much work to do from the wide draw when a fighting on pace third behind Ceolwulf over 1600m in the G1 Epsom Hcp last Saturday. Tim Clark sticks and he will appreciate the 1900m. Hard to hold out. KOVALICA (4) clearly come back much better this prep and will relish the step up in trip. Finished off strongly when fourth over 1600m in the G1 Epsom Hcp last Saturday. Gets a soft run from the low gate and the in-form Zac Lloyd rides. PERICLES (1) racing in a rich vein of form and will find this easier after bumping into the smart Buckaroo when third over 1800m in the G1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on September 21. Races well at this track and the booking of Rawiller is a bonus. GOLDEN PATH (6) tough gelding who comes out of a strong form race after finishing third to Eliyass and Ceolwulf over 2000m in the G3 Kingston Town at Randwick last start. That form is good enough to take this out.