The Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas’ inside mail for racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Trainer Kris Lees is eyeing off a cross-border feature race double at Rosehill and Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Trainer Kris Lees has strong chances at both Rosehill and Eagle Farm on Saturday

IRISH import Point King, raced by seven-time Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams and James Packer, is poised to produce a return to form in the Listed $200,000 Kia Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Trainer Kris Lees has made a significant gear change with Point King and is anticipating an improved showing from the Irish stayer after his unplaced Australian debut at Randwick three weeks ago.

“Point King got on one rein and did a few things wrong that day so we have made a couple of gear changes,’’ Lees said, confirming he is taking off the cross-over nose band from the stayer.

“He will appreciate stepping up to 2400m, is down in the weights and I think he will react well.’’

İrlanda-Leopardstown Hipodromu’nda Kulübümüz adına düzenlenen Jockey Club of Turkey Vinnie Roe Stakes’i Point King, jokeyi Shane Crosse ile kazandı.pic.twitter.com/1Pk8xNWopc

— Türkiye Jokey Kulübü (@_TJK_) August 11, 2022

Point King, formerly trained by Joseph O’Brien, won three of his eight starts in Ireland including the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes over 2816m at Leopardstown two years ago.

Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who won a Melbourne Cup on the Williams-owned Almandin in 2016, will wear the owner’s famous colours of navy blue, white armbands and cap when he rides Point King, a $9 chance in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Winter Cup.

Lees also has another import, Fulfilled, raced by Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett’s Australian Bloodstock, having his second Australian start in the James Squire Handicap (2000m).

FIELDS AND FORM ROSEHILL SATURDAY

“We will ride Fulfilled in a more positive manner this time,’’ Lees said in reference to the gelding’s debut for the stable when 11th to Unusual Legacy at Scone last month.

“He needed the run first-up but we will ride him up on speed and I expect he will run an improved race.’’

Lees also has the Williams-owned stayers Cleveland and Adelaide River and last year’s Queensland Oaks winner Akomura contesting the Group 2 $1.2 million Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm.

💪 Adelaide River has run a number of fine races in defeat this season & the Irish Derby runner-up proves too strong in the G3 @paddypower Stakes!

A treble on the day for Aidan O'Brien & Ryan Moore #ItAllComesDownToThispic.twitter.com/dpawowgHpi

— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) September 9, 2023

“Adelaide River is the pick of them,’’ Lees said. “He is going the right way.

“We rode Cleveland back last start and I just think he ‘switched off’. We will be more positive and I think we will see a better run.

“Akomura wasn’t beaten far the other day and I can see her running well for sure.’’

Lees is also represented by $81 outsider Dream Hour in the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).

“Dream Hour gets back to Eagle Farm where he last won (The Gateway),’’ Lees said. “He has no weight, he’s doing well, so it is worth a roll of the dice.’’

BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

(Rosehill Gardens)

R1, Sovereign Hill $2.80-$2.50, Goodlucktome $6-$4

R2, Glenbower $4.20-$3.40, Yiska $5.50-$3.90

R3, Know Thyself $2.30-$1.85, Invasive Dream $11-$8.50

R4, Perfect Play $5.50-$4.40, Kureder $7-$5.50, Gulf Of Mexico $7-$6.50

R5, Captain Furai $4.40-$3.60, How Dare You $6-$5, Little Cointreau $11-$7 after a bet of $1,500 e/w at $7.50/$2.50

R6, Demiana $5-$4.20, Left Field $5-$4.60, Amati $9-$8

R7, Wild Botanica $11-$8

R8, Hopeful $3.60-$3.20

R9, Franz Josef $3-$2.40 with a bet of $2,000 at $2.60

R10, Step Aside $3.80-$3.70 with a place bet of $3,000 at $1.90, Elson Boy $9-$6.50

Eagle Farm

R6, Broadsiding $1.90-$1.70 after bets of $4,000 at $1.70, $2,350 at $1.85, Bittercreek $13-$8, Mr Artemisia $13-$8.50

R8, Vilana $7-$5.50, Magic Time $13-$11, Steparty $26-$12 with a bet of $2,800 at $23, Freedom Rally $15-$13, Yellow Brick $26-$15, Here To Shock $26-$21

FIELDS AND FORM ROSEHILL SATURDAY

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 2,3,6,11

Race 4: 3,7,9,11

Race 5: 5,8,10

Race 6: 4,6,8,9

QUADDIE

Race 7: 2,5,9,13

Race 8: 1,2,5

Race 9: 1,6,15,16

Race 10: 9,10,14

PRICE CHECK

TAB Fixed Odds punters have rallied behind the favourites in the last two races, Franz Josef (race 9) and Step Aside (race 10). Franz Josef has firmed from $3-$2.40 including a bet of $2,000 at $2.60 and Step Aside $3.80-$3.70 after a place bet of $3,000 at $1.90. At Eagle Farm, Broadsiding (race 6) has firmed from $1.90-$1.70 after bets of $4,000 at $1.70 and $2,350 at $1.85.

TRIAL POINTERS

Hanau (race 7) is a superbly-bred grey three-year-old by super sire Snitzel out of Snow White, herself a full-sister to champion Pierro. Hanau has demonstrated natural ability with two wins (and three seconds) from five starts. The Godolphin gelding resumes off two good barrier trial efforts, the most recent when he matched motors with talented stablemate Pereille at Hawkesbury. The 1100m is short of Hanau’s best but he does have an explosive finish.

I’mintowin (race 9) is first-up over the Rosehill 1500m – the same course and distance he won so impressively when resuming back in November. Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have primed the lightly-raced former New Zealander with two barrier trials, the most recent when he led most of the way to defeat stablemate Ha Ha Ha over 1200m at Randwick. With the 2kg claim of apprentice Amy McLucas, I’mintowin gets in 5kg over the limit.

SECTIONAL STARS

Eye Pea Oh (race 6) tends to get back in her races, often striking trouble which impacts her finishing positions. This was the case again in a Rosehill Midway last start when she was back near last on the turn but stayed on the rail and ripped home her final 600m in a fast 32.93s to finish fourth. She was the only horse to break 33s at the meeting although the heavens opened soon after this race and later in the day the track deteriorated and the final five races were abandoned.

Hopeful (race 8) ran on strongly to finish second in the Lord Mayor’s Cup last week, closing out his final 600m in 36.82s in extremely heavy conditions at Randwick last week. His finishing sectional compared favourably to impressive winner Eliyass who came home in 36.52s. Hopeful hasn’t won a race for just over two years but gets his chance in the Winter Cup, particularly as he is going back out to 2400m.

What a way to start the day!

Eye Pea Oh bursts through under a top Jason Collett steer!@[e-mail]/n0Y9kBVwqZ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 28, 2023

BEST BET

Know Thyself (race 3), a three-year-old by Arrowfield Stud’s boom young stallion The Autumn Sun, didn’t get to the races until February but reeled off impressive wins at Newcastle and Scone that month before having a break. He resumed at Canterbury and was very unlucky not to keep his perfect race record intact, with a fast finishing second after being held up in the straight. Despite taking on older horses in the Highway, he’s drawn to get the right run and will be strong late.

VALUE

Elson Boy (race 10) is racing in career best form and comes to Rosehill after five consecutive wins including his very good effort at the Scone stand-alone meeting when he overcame a wide barrier, settled on speed and was too strong for subsequent winners Ostraka and Jewellery. Elson Boy gets in with 56kg after the claim, he handles rain-affected tracks and will be in this race for a long way. Good each way value.

"There's 5 in a row!"

The picket fence continues for Elson Boy as he leads all the way under @ChelseaHillier4 to take out race 5 at Scone 🔥 pic.twitter.com/whk9GjJNcj

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 18, 2024

Originally published as The Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas’ inside mail for racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday