3 minute read

Rosehill on Saturday boasts a strong nine race card of winter racing where the Sydney Jockeys' Premiership has the potential to heat up.

Saturday’s meeting shapes as an above average nine race card where Hugh Bowman could potentially launch a serious challenge at Brenton Avdulla for the Sydney Jockeys’ .

Bowman presently sits 8.5 wins shy of Brenton Avdulla at the top of the premiership however can go some of the way in bridging that gap at Rosehill on Saturday with three of his nine rides currently possessing favouritism.

Gold Symphony shapes as his best ride at each way odds who contests the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m).

The four-year-old has performed well so far this campaign, placing in Clearly Innocent’s Luskin Star Stakes before closing well late for a sixth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben three weeks ago.

It was a strong performance by the son of Reward For Effort after he was forced to travel wide for the majority of the race.

He appears suited dropping in grade third run from a spell.

The four-year-old has won third up in the past and along with a pleasing run at Group 1 level, his Luskin Star Stakes effort is particularly relevant for Saturday’s sprint feature.

Gold Symphony ran third in the Luskin Star Stakes, marginally ahead of Civic Stakes race favourite Sir Bacchus who ran fourth.

For beating Sir Bacchus, Gold Symphony now meets him half a kilo better at the weights.

With that in mind, the each way price about Gold Symphony has more appeal than the $3.80 favouritism tag Sir Bacchus possesses.

Gelded prior to commencing his summer prep, Gold Symphony has been strong since and form earlier this season around the likes of Antonio Giuseppe and Happy Clapper when winning the National Sprint further highlights how well he has performed since that ultimate gear change.

By Race 7, it is expected Bowman will have pegged back a couple of wins on Avdulla.

The current premiership leader is expected to fight back though in Race 8 when he partners Sir Plush in the Schweppes Benchmark 93 Handicap (1100m).

Sir Plush was hugely impressive first up, winning a Benchmark 85 convincingly at this course and distance a fortnight ago.

He now rises in grade on that outing however still expect him to go on with the job here with a second up success.

The son of Pins will be fitter for the outing and is unbeaten at this trip from four starts.

It is also worth noting prior to last start, Sir Plush was generally thought to have needed firmer ground under foot having looked somewhat one paced on rain affected ground before that outing.

He now goes from a Heavy 8 surface to what by jump time should be a Rosehill track rated a Soft 6.

Expect Sir Plush to continue his progression through the grades.

Sydney Specials: Rosehill – July 1

Best Of The Day: R8; #10 Sir Plush @ $2.40