3 minute read
Well travelled galloper Rockaway Star should be able to get home over the top of his rivals in today's ATC Federation Membership Handicap (race 7) at Randwick.
The Marc Conners-trained gelding, who has been racing recently in Victoria, returns to Sydney today and looks nicely placed over 1000m in this Benchmark 75 on the Kensington track.
Rockaway Star made the trek south four starts ago and raced over 1000m on a heavy Sandown Hillside, sitting second I the run before drawing to the lead.
He was there to the furlong but was no match for Jugahlation, finishing runner-up.
He then raced over 1000m at Moonee Valley on dead ground and from the inside gate settling fourth off the speed.
Returning to the Hillside course for another 1000m heavy track scamper, he bombed the start and had to be used up early.
Once gathering his pace he strode to the lead and turned in front but weakened in the straight after the early effort and finished sixth behind Johnnydrama.
Last start, on the All Weather track at Geelong over 1000m, he jumped cleanly and went straight to the lead.
From there he never looked likely to be headed as he ran away with a two length win.
Conners brought him home following the run and he has his first try on the Kensington track today.
Although he generally likes to roll forward, there is so much speed in this race rider Chris O'Brien might be able to take a sit form barrier six.
The gelding has good stats on soft ground, the trip suits, and he drops in weight on his last start win.
He looks a great each-way chance to continue his good form today.
The Paul Perry-trained Platinum Choice is a speed horse and will take running down.
The gelding resumed here over 1000m in a slightly tougher grade where he wasn't the best away so worked early as he picked up his pace and got into momentum.
He found the front the and turned there, but no sooner had he done that the swoopers began to emerge and he was swamped, finishing fifth but beaten only three quarters of a length in a good effort after given the poor start.
Last start, with a better getaway over 900m at Newcastle he had little trouble leading and kicked strongly in the straight to score by a length.
That was six weeks ago so returns here after a let-up but has won a Newcastle trial since.
Today he rises in weight but the apprentice has been replaced by Nash Rawiller.
He rates highly and if he can get through the ground well enough should be hard to run down.
For the minors Last Day Friday and Master Gaze have been consistently and can sneak into the finish, while Buckmore was poor here last start but has won at the course and on his previous run would be in the finish.