3 minute read
A drop back to provincial company looks ideal for Riva Romantica who should be breaking maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Riva Romantica has finished second in each of her runs this campaign, the latest when second at Warwick Farm over this trip.
She proved particularly costly for followers on that occasion when rolled as odds-on favourite however the run was still full of merit.
The Chris Waller-trained mare now drops back to provincial company where she appears very hard to beat in the Katoomba RSL Maiden Plate (1600m).
The Lucky Owners mare rates well clear of her seven rivals on 50 day weight adjusted Timeform figures and should be around peak fitness fourth run from a spell.
Blinkers are applied for the first time which will likely spark her that extra bit and with Tommy Berry in the saddle, expect the four-year-old to settle further forward than usual.
There looks to be a real sense of timing about Riva Romantica in Race 4 at Hawkesbury today and the black figures on offer for her to break maiden status appear worth taking.
Monicello shapes as the main danger.
The John Sargent-trained gelding resumed well at Kembla Grange on July 19 over 1400m.
Fitness perhaps just gave out first up over seven furlongs but the four-year-old should have taken benefit from the outing.
James McDonald is a positive rider engagement and the Testa Rossa gelding should at least keep things sporting for Riva Romantica.
Quint Australis and Ceda Miss shape as the value hopes.
The Clarry Conners-trained Quint Australis has been solid in each of her three career outings to date, the latest over this trip at Wyong.
The All American filly wanted to overrace early on during that contest and now has the blinkers removed for the Katoomba RSL Maiden Plate (1600m).
Ceda Miss drops back from midweek metropolitan company after being safely held at Warwick Farm last start.
The addition of a Tongue Tie for the first time on Thursday perhaps provides insight into her last start flop.
With added fitness third up combined with a distance rise, a market watch on Ceda Miss is strongly advised.
Overall though, the strongest case can be made for Riva Romantica in the Katoomba RSL Maiden Plate (1600m).
