3 minute read

It might take an all-day wait at Rosehill this afternoon but it just might be worth it when Centre Pivot lines up in the final event on the card over 1500m.

The benchmark 80 handicap looks an ideal assignment for Centre Pivot who brings excellent form lines and ratings to the race.

Centre Piviot is the highest rated runner in the field on recent Timeform weight adjusted ratings and the return to the saddle by leading rider James McDonald who has ridden the gelding three times for a win and two placings is an added bonus.

Two starts back Centre Pivot demolished a mid-week field of non-metropolitan winners race over 1550m then followed that up with a second behind one of the finds of the Sydney summer racing season Vashka over 1500m at Rosehill.

And added to his chances today is the fact the Sam Kavanagh stable threw in for a big win against Vashka so they must have a very high opinion of him – something the Timeform ratings also confirm this afternoon.

Centre Pivot has won two of his nine starts and is steadily building a handy record in restricted grade which should be even further improved after today.

While there is not a lot of early speed in the race on paper, Centre Pivot does not get too far back in his races so I cannot see him being disadvantaged by that scenario.

In A Knot and Saintly Lad look the only two dangers based on ratings although Sense Of Occasion is worth a ticket at good odds in the multiples.

Very wayward early in his career, Saintly Lad has now started putting runs together and could not have been more impressive winning first up at Rosehill over 1350m 22 days back.

On that occasion he stormed home from near last on the turn to beat the disappointing Fuerza and his chances will be even better enhanced by the increase in trip today.

Hugh Bowman again rides for James and Bart Cummings but he will certainly need some early speed on if he is to get into the race late.

While that could be an issue, he was so impressive upon his resumption that those navigational issues must be left to Bowman to handle.

In A Knot’s normal running style is handy and that could be an asset here.

Kerrin McEvoy rides for David Vandyke and In A Knot also comes into the race second up from a spell finishing sixth some three lengths behind Saintly Lad over 1350m at Rosehill.

In A Knot did not appear to have the best of luck that day and he can be expected to perform much better here. In fact he is unbeaten second up from two attempts in that state.

Drawn perfectly in four, In A Knot should get a nice run throughout and take holding out.

Although better suited over longer, Sense Of Occasion was an eye catcher first up in stronger company behind Haussmann at Rosehill.

While his only second up run resulted in a close up finish, the Joe Pride-trained lightly raced four-year-old should not be dismissed on that point alone.

Definitely one for the multiples.

Enjoy the race.