Racing Confidential: Gun duo Storm Boy, Joliestar heavily backed to win feature races at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Punters are brimming with confidence about the chances of gun colt Storm Boy and Thousand Guineas Joliestar ahead of their second-up assignments at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Boom duo Joliestar and Storm Boy have been heavily backed to keep their winning momentum going at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Joliestar, a stunning first-up winner of the Show County Quality last month, has firmed from $2 to $1.80 with TAB Fixed Odds to win the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes after some big bets this week including $4000 at $1.80, $2000 at $1.95 and $2000 at $1.90.

Storm Boy was also very impressive when resuming in the San Domenico Stakes two weeks ago and he dominates betting for the Group 2 Run To The Rose, firming from $2.30 to $2.10 after bets of $2350 at $2.30 and $2000 at $2.10.

Joliestar returns with a bang! That was arrogant 😳 @[e-mail]/PJd0XxfDtb

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2024

• All Sunshine ahead of The Everest hope’s Sheraco defence

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Happy birthday to Winx

Jockey Hugh Bowman waves to fans after Winx’s 2018 Cox Plate victory at The Valley. Picture: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

Winx, the all-time great champion, will turn 14 years of age by birth date on Saturday.

This coincides with the anniversary of her spectacular win in the Theo Marks Stakes nine years ago when she collared Sons Of John right on the line to win by a head – the smallest winning margin in her unforgettable 33-race winning streak that closed out her incomparable career.

The mighty Winx is still making headlines even in retirement with her first yearling, a filly by Pierro, selling for a world record $10 million at the Inglis Easter Sale earlier this, a movie-documentary called A Horse Named Winx has just been released in cinemas nationwide, and the mare is due to give birth to a Snitzel foal next month.

• Winx’s near-death experience detailed in A Horse Called Winx

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Harron’s colt closes in on return

Espionage wins at Randwick in September last year. Picture: Bradley Photos

Espionage, one of the best two-year-olds from last season, moves closer to his three-year-old return when he trials at Warwick Farm on Friday.

The crack colt, who is raced by leading syndicator James Harron, is contesting an 800m heat in preparation for his comeback in the Listed Heritage Stakes later this month.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Espionage won the Breeders Plate and Kindergarten Stakes season and is in the mix for Harron’s Everest slot.

Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf is also trialling in a 1200m heat ahead of the Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick on September 21. Champion jockey James McDonald has retained the ride on the promising four-year-old after they combined to win so impressively at Rosehill last month.

• Gun rides poised to make Kerrin the Big Mac at Rosehill on Saturday

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The world of podcasting has a new Boss

Champion jockey Glen Boss. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

Hall of Fame jockey Glen Boss has just started his own podcast where he interviews the stars of racing and sports.

The podcast series called “Who’s The Boss”, features the three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey and acclaimed journalist Julie Snook, has already interviewed NRL greats Peter Sterling and Alfie Langer.

The latest in the series is with Gai Waterhouse and is available from Friday after 3pm on YouTube and @whosthebosspod.

• Rosehill tips for Saturday: Lady out to prove she’s a champ

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Cleary back on the winners’ list

Trainer Frank Cleary at Rosehill back in 2003. Picture: Brett Costello

Golden Slipper-winning trainer Frank Cleary prepared his first winner in four years when My Last Hooray won at Queanbeyan on Tuesday.

Cleary is virtually retired these days and has only had 11 starters since he trained Social Smile to score in September, 2020.

But Cleary is acknowledged as a master horseman and trained many topliners including 1999 Golden Slipper winner Catbird, Clan O’Sullivan, Select Prince and Wayne’s Bid.

Originally published as Racing Confidential: Gun duo Storm Boy, Joliestar heavily backed to win feature races at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday