The second day of the Sydney Carnival is highlighted by the running of the George Ryder and Rosehill Guineas. Here is an early preview of the upcoming weekend’s feature racing.
George Ryder Stakes – 1500m, Group 1, weight-for-age
After the prize-money for this race increased to $1m last November, and also because the winner of this race gets automatic entry into April 12’s Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick, we have a cracking field set to line up in the 2014 George Ryder Stakes.
This month’s Chipping Norton winner Boban has opened up as favourite at around $4.50. He is closely followed by the inform mare, Appearance at $4.80. Appearance won the Canterbury Stakes last start – it was her fourth Group 1 victory.
Aside from the two favourites there are plenty of runners in this field that on their day could cause an upset.
Group 1 winners Streama and Sacred Falls, who both ran solid races last start and should be nearly ready to peak, represent good value, while El Roca steps up to open-age company after running second against the three-year-olds in the Randwick Guineas over 1600m.
Sydney’s weather could play a big role in this race because rain is forecast for Sydney every day until Saturday. I’m expecting a heavy track on the weekend.
The forecast rain should see Appearance – who has very good wet-track form – take favouritism off Boban, who is not known for handling wet tracks.
Other runners that are known to relish wet conditions are Red Tracer, Sacred Falls, Eurozone, Irish raider Gordon Lord Byron and Streama.
Chris Waller has four runners entered into this race (Boban, Red Tracer, My Kingdom Of Fife and Sacred Falls). He has trained three of the last four George Ryder Stakes winners, and is a great chance on improving on that record this season.
Inform jockey Jim Cassidy has picked up the ride on three-year-old Eurozone as a result of Glen Boss’ two-week suspension. Should Cassidy salute it would be a third consecutive Saturday that he has won a Group 1 race.
Providing the weather doesn’t decimate the expected line-up, the George Ryder promises to be a great race.
Rosehill Guineas – 2000m, Group 1, three-year-old, set weights
This season’s Australian three-year-olds have provided us with some thrilling racing over the past six months and Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas looks set to continue this trend with star gallopers Shamus Award, Dissident and Pucinni on show.
Shamus Award has opened favourite at $4.60 and should relish the return to racing against his own age after struggling against the older horses, when sixth, in the Australia Cup last start.
The Cox Plate winner looks the one to beat but a heavy track could bring the Victorian raider undone. Shamus Award has never previously raced on rain-affected ground.
Exciting New Zealand colt Puccini is set to make his Australian debut after comfortably winning the New Zealand Derby last start. After a slow start to his career he has now won five of his past seven starts.
The Randwick Guineas, which replaced the Canterbury Guineas, has been the best form guide for this race in the past. Both races have combined to produce 12 of the last 26 Rosehill Guineas winners.
History suggests that Dissident will be right in command after narrowly defeating El Roca in the Randwick Guineas, but he is untried past 1600m. In any case, he is racing well and should put in a solid performance.
A few from the Randwick Guineas that should appreciate the extra distance are Teronado, Criterion, Savvy Nature and Koroibete. They could improve sharply on Saturday.
There are a few factors that could go a long way to deciding the outcome of this race, obviously the weather and track conditions are like to play a big part but Wednesday’s barrier draw could be equally important as the 2000m start at Rosehill provides an advantage to horses drawn closer to the inside.
Barriers one to eight have provided 23 of the last 30 Rosehill Guineas winners.
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