3 minute read

Last Saturday’s Rosehill meeting may have just been another winter programme but the meeting did unearth a couple of promising types.

Although not the highest rated winner on the day, Canberra-trained Fell Swoop looks set for more wins in coming weeks after a thoroughly decisive demolition of the Benchmark 75 field over 1100m.

Held up early by Blake Shinn and produced out deep in the early part of the straight, Fell Swoop soon had the field covered racing away for an easy win running to a new Timeform rating peak of 101p. There is more to come next start from this promising galloper.

Fell Swoop has now won five of seven starts and according to our figures defeated a very strong benchmark 75 line up – a race that looks set to be a strong form reference in the weeks ahead.

Handy gallopers Inz’N’Out and Bold Circle filled the placings and both are useful in this grade, the former who was second up from a spell still has around eight pounds in hand on his previous peak Timeform figure and will benefit again from the run. While Bold Circle was resuming after being gelded and is another with several pounds in hand as he improves with fitness.

Amongst the beaten brigade was the Team Hawkes trained Onerous resuming from a spell after two jump outs in Victoria. He was heavily supported but had no luck in the straight. His effort can be overlooked and should be close to the money when next produced.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Countryman continued his excellent winning record second up from a spell – all five career wins having come when racing in that state.

Countryman has won five of 18 race starts and could be set for his best campaign ever running to a new Timeform peak of 104 – his form book says he continues to race well into his preparation.

Queensland visitor Golden Falls proved her worth in Sydney Saturday grade with a solid performance in benchmark 75 grade over 1400m running to a slightly new Timeform peak of 92p – trainer Kelly Schweida admitting after the win that she had reached the end of her campaign and would return home before considering a southern campaign later in the year.

The feature race of the day was the Listed Winter Challenge over 1500m – a relatively new race at this time of the year and won last year by subsequent Epsom Handicap winner He’s Your Man.

However this year’s winner Keepit to Yourself is unlikely to reach those heights causing an upset performance and ratings wise one that was completely unexpected. He was 17 pounds out of the official handicap and improved his Timeform rating by over 20 pounds to score. He sits on 102? with a query.

The runner up Great Esteem was also 10 pounds out of the official handicap so there is a question mark over the quality of this form with so many of the higher fancied and rated chances not running anywhere near their best.

The early three-year-old races were won in impressive fashion by Japonisme and Kimberley Star.

Both youngsters came into their races with winning form and took another step in their Timeform ratings.

While at first glance these early races may seem of little importance to what happens in the next couple of months, that is not always the case.

Japonisme was most impressive again, now winning all three runs this campaign, but Saturday’s was by far the most impressive by four lengths and going to a Timeform rating of 105, a superior figure to past winners of this race. It is worth nothing the 2012 Golden Rose runner up Albrecht was beaten in the same race before becoming a force in the Stakes races that lie ahead.

Waterhouse’s filly Kimberly Star has now won three of her seven runs taking a 3YO Plate over 1400m in impressive fashion unextended by three lengths. She took her Timeform rating to 100p, again superior to past recent winners. Last year subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Amicus finished third behind Press Report.

So it may be worth while keeping an eye on both these races going forward.

What was your favourite performance from Rosehill?