Gosford preview: Cross Your Heart is out to end her first campaign on a high note

A progressive filly from the John O’Shea stable has enjoyed a terrific start to her career and can sign off on her first campaign with a third straight victory.

Cross Your Heart can bring up a hat-trick when she heads to Gosford on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Only a small number of horses win their maiden and follow up with a victory at their next start but promising filly Cross Your Heart has already done that and is shooting for the rare distinction of a hat-trick when she heads to the Central Coast.

In her first campaign of racing, the John O’Shea-trained filly was a handy second behind River Pat on debut at Wyong in February when a little wayward in the straight.

Cross Your Heart took plenty of improvement from the experience and won her maiden convincingly at the same course two weeks later before following up with a nice win from Suprina in a Benchmark 64 over 1200m at Wyong.

.@G1TySchil starts the day with a win on Cross Your Heart from @WyongRaceClub! @JohnOSheaRacingpic.twitter.com/U0jtEOnUWi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2024

“She is a professional filly who is improving with each start,” said Tom Charlton, Racing Manager for John O’Shea.

“She has had a nice run in transit the last two times she has been to the races and has won. Hopefully she can get a similar situation this week.

“Seemingly she has improved since her last run. We haven’t done a lot with her, just kept her ticking over, but she is well.

“She will need to keep improving as she is going up in weight but is she does, I’m sure she will be very competitive again.”

The daughter of Deep Field again runs in a Benchmark 64 over 1200m but does go up a little in weight despite the 2kg claim of talented apprentice Anna Roper.

“Anna rides very well and her claim helps,” Charlton said.

“She has had a couple of rides for us previously and also comes in to Randwick and rides work for us every couple of weeks.

“Cross Your Heart will probably go for a break after this run. She has done a terrific job for her first preparation.”

Physical Graffiti makes his return form a long lay-off when he lines up in the Super Maiden Plate (1200m) with Tyler Schiller to ride.

The now three-year-old has only faced the starter once when third behind Empire Of Japan and Mach Ten when favourite in the 2022 Group 3 Breeders’ Plate at Randwick.

"The colt is ripping clear for a spectactular Breeders' Plate success."

Empire Of Japan takes out the opening 2yo race of the season, the @SnowdenRacing1 colt coming from last in the @ArrowfieldStud Breeders' defeating Mach Ten and Physical Graffiti. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/rtWGuqdjIH

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 1, 2022

“He naturally showed himself to put his hand up early. He was very sharp and professional therefore he ended up in the race where he ran creditably,” said Charlton.

“It probably wasn’t the strongest race in hindsight but he is a horse his owners will hopefully have some fun with and he can pay his way.”

Unfortunately, injury kept him on the sidelines for an extended period but his recent trials at Randwick suggest he is ready to run well first-up.

“He’s got ability. He has shown that in his trials but is coming back from a setback, a couple of them in fact, which have just required time,” he said.

“He had a little preparation in the Spring with a couple of trials and he has had to strong trials this time.

“He looks to be training nicely this time and he should be competitive first-up.

“He comes to hand pretty quickly and hopefully he can win his maiden.”

The third of O’Shea’s runners for the day is Amnesia in the opening event, the Maiden Plate over 1600m.

The daughter of Kermadec is coming off a fourth placing behind High Dandy over 1600m at just her third career start at Wyong three weeks ago.

“We ummed and ahhed about going out further in trip but we thought another run over this distance would suit and it is what her jockey recommended,” he said.

“If she can improve again off her last run, then she should be more than competitive.”

CONFIDENCE THE KEY TO IMPULSIVITY

Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have always seen the ability in Impulsivity but have been mindful to wait for the right circumstances to allow her build her confidence.

Patience and careful placement has allowed the daughter of Russian Revolution to show her best form this campaign which has netted two wins from three starts.

Impulsivity recorded her maiden win when resuming at Kembla in January before a third behind Negotiations and Shako at Wyong before bouncing back with a handy win from Overextend when stepping up to 1200m for the first time at Newcastle on March 8.

Impulsivity is striving for a third win in four starts this campaign at Gosford on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos

“She has done good job this campaign. She has always had ability,” said Peter Snowden.

“Bad draws have really hammered her and I have scratched her a few times because of that. When she has drawn a good gate, she has been able to salute.

“It was a good field at Wyong; a good, solid race.

“She came off that well and it was a good win at Newcastle at her next start. She drew barrier 3 where she had the run of the run and she won really well.”

The three-year-old can stretch to a third win in the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).

“This looks a good race her. She has got a bit of weight but from that good draw, she should get a nice economical and give herself every chance to run well,” he said.

“Barrier 5 this week seems okay so we are ready to go.”

In the following race, a Benchmark 64 for Colts and Geldings, the Snowdens saddle up progressive three-year-old Rapido who is resuming from a spell.

The son of Capitalist made good progression in his first campaign which ended with an impressive four length win from Lunartie at Newcastle on October 14.

“It was a pretty dominant win at his last run,” Snowden said.

“He had a tendency to overrace early days but towards the end of that preparation, he learned to relax better and when he did, he was a different horse.

“When he got back and relaxed beautifully in the run, he was really able to finish strongly and he raced away.

“He has returned in good order but in his trials he has been a bit fresh. I hope he doesn’t get running too keen too early this week.

“He is going well but he will definitely be better if he can find one to follow which will allow him to relax.”

Originally published as Gosford preview: Cross Your Heart is out to end her first campaign on a high note