3 minute read

Expect Sacred Flyer to continue on his winning ways when contesting the Tab.com.au Benchmark 90 Handicap at Rosehill.

The Chris Waller-trained galloper has returned in excellent order after a lengthy spell and was rewarded last start when saluting over 2000m here two weeks ago.

Sacred Flyer now finds a similar contest and takes on five of the same rivals he accounted for last start.

While meeting them worse at the weights, added fitness still early on in his campaign fourth run back gives the son of High Chaparral the necessary edge to post consecutive wins.

He appears ideally placed contesting a race where just four horses sit within the handicap and of that quartet, possesses the most upside.

If anything, Saturday’s Tab.com.au Benchmark 90 Handicap (2000m) is a race of less depth than what Sacred Flyer won last start.

Travolta rates as the main danger however rising noticeably in distance off a let-up is hardly ideal.

The race prior, Group 1 winning French import Bayrir profiles as a most appealing value bet when looking at the feats achieved by the Medicean entire during 2012.

Bayrir already possesses an impressive resume with just eight career starts under his belt and winning the 2012 Group 1 Secretariat Stakes (2011m) at Arlington is the jewel in the crown.

The four-year-old won a French Group 2 prior to that and the following run placed in the Prix Niel (2400m) at Longchamp.

His last outing under the care of French trainer Alain Royer de Dupre was a respectable sixth in the Hong Kong Vase (2400m), just 2.5 lengths off 2011 Melbourne Cup runner up Red Cadeaux.

Make no mistake, this is a serious Group 1 winning racehorse taking on fringe stakes level gallopers yet only carries 1.5kg more than the current market favourite Under The Sun.

Bayrir appears pitchforked in at the weights and while the Graham and Linda Huddy-raced entire will be better suited over more ground, Waller has found a winnable first up assignment for him heading towards the spring.

Hunter Jack is currently favourite for the Rygate Surveyors Handicap (1350m) and off a freshen up could be vulnerable.

The Tim Martin-trained gelding was going well against his own age prior to that break but now takes on open age company.

Fitness is a concern over 1350m off a break and rivals such as Magic In The Mix, Elfina and Canny Ballad all rate higher using weight adjusted figures.

SYDNEY SPECIALS

BANKER: Race 7 #4 Sacred Flyer @ $2.60

PLAY OF THE DAY: Race 6 #1 Bayrir @ $4.60

LAY OF THE DAY: Race 4 #5 Hunter Jack @ $3.40