Stable watch: Ray Thomas gets the inside mail for Rosehill

TAB BIG BETS: Anthony Cummings, trainer of Pittsburgh, maintains there is no reason to run scared of Astern and Defcon in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

Rule the river ridden by Adam Hyeronimus wins race 8 during Randwick Races.Trainer Anthony Cummings pictured pic Jenny Evans

ANTHONY Cummings, trainer of Pittsburgh, maintains there is no reason to run scared of Astern and Defcon in the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“Pittsburgh is a talented colt and I feel this is well within his capacity,’’ Cummings said. “He has some decent form behind him from last spring when he didn’t do a lot right in his races.

“In his trial at Hawkesbury last Monday, he was very tractable and did all the right things so he has learned a lot form his first preparation.’’

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R1: SPARK OF LIFE HCP (1100m)

Trainer Peter Snowden says it is time for Redzel to start to realise his potential.

“Redzel ran well first-up and is back to his own age which helps but he still has to win a race,’’ Snowden said. “He has his chance as his work has been great and now he has been gelded, he seems a better horse at home. Hopefully he can turn his form around.’’

TAB market movers: To Be Sure $3.20-$2.80

R2: RANVET HCP (1500m)

Keepit To Yourself, the iron horse of Sydney racing, is close to regaining his before form, according to trainer Jim Lee.

“He wasn’t right after the Villiers (last of 20 behind Happy Clapper) so we gave him a freshen up and he has turned the corner,’’ Lee said.

“I’ve been really happy with his two runs back and 1500m is his go. Koby (Jennings) was really keen to ride him and he is ready to run a big race.’’

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R3: TAB HIGHWAY PLATE (1100m)

Speedy Beau Tirage is poised to protect his unbeaten first-up record in another competitive TAB Highway.

Trainer Keith Dryden, who prepared Halfpenny Gate to win a TAB Highway at this track last month, said Beau Tirage has “been in work a fair while but is going along nicely”.

“I feel he will be very competitive,’’ Dryden said. “He does go very well fresh and I’ve been able to get my former apprentice Jamie Innes to ride and that takes 3kg off his back.’’

R4: SILVER SLIPPER STAKES (1100m)

Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes is aiming for a record eighth Silver Slipper win with the emerging Mount Panorama.

Team Hawkes has won the past two Silver Slippers with Mossfun (2014) and Headwater (2015) while Hawkes was still training under his own name when he prepared Strategic (1994), Clang (1995), Domesday (2005), Plaigiarize (2006) and Shaft (2007) to win the race.

“Mount Panorama should run a nice race, he’s an improving horse,’’ Hawkes said. “John O’Shea’s colt (race favourite Astern) might be too good but you have got to be in it to win it.’’

TAB market movers: Astern $1.90-$1.80 ($1,000 @ $1.90)

R5: MILLIE FOX STAKES (1300m)

Trainer Lee Curtis doesn’t mind that Press Report is “flying under the radar” again.

Press Report is rated a $13 chance despite her game effort last start when she led until the final bounds before being run down by Amicus in the Breeders Classic.

“Hughie Bowman (rider of Amicus) said my mare peaked at the 100m and his horse sensed it and went after her,’’ Curtis said. “But she was very brave in defeat and has come on really well since. Her work last Saturday was tremendous.’’

TAB market movers: Catkins $2.20-$2.10 ($4,000 @ $2.20)

Lee Curtis is happy for Press Report to fly under the radar at Rosehill. Picture: Brett Costello

R6: HYLAND SPORTSWEAR HCP (1350m)

If patience is a virtue, then trainer David Payne should be rewarded with Bold Circle on Saturday.

“He has been entered for a number of races in the last few weeks but because of bad barriers and wet tracks, he hasn’t had a start,’’ Payne said. “I wanted to wait for the right race and he looks well suited here. He has the inside barrier, a good track and the distance is perfect.”

R7: HOBARTVILLE STAKES (1400m)

Kris Lees concedes Le Romain’s rapid improvement this campaign has taken him by surprise.

“Le Romain has always shown us a bit but I didn’t expect to see him get to this level so quickly,’’ the trainer said.

“But his run in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (second to Spill The Beans) was very good. The set weights and firmer ground will test him but he is going to be suited by the 1400m.’’

TAB market movers: Press Statement $2.80-$2.60 ($500 @ $2.80, $600 @ $2.60)

R8: PARRAMATTA CUP (1900m)

With James McDonald in Melbourne and Sam Clipperton suspended, Godolphin has turned to Tim Clark to ride form stayer Allergic.

“He is a nice pick-up ride,’’ Clark said of Allergic, dominant winner of his past two starts. “Allergic won easily at Randwick but he drops to the limit weight for what looks a very suitable race.’’

TAB market movers: Hasselhoof $4.60-$3.50 ($500 @ $4.60, $1,100 @ $3.80, $1,100 @ $3.70), Allergic $2.60-$2.40 ($3,100 @ $2.60)

R9: KERRIE WILSON SPRINT (1100m)

Esgrimidor hasn’t raced since his Canterbury win six weeks ago but trainer Todd Howlett maintains the gelding is going as well as ever.

“I wanted to wait for the right race because he is going so well and I didn’t want to run him for the sake of it,’’ Howlett said. “I was really pleased with his win at Canterbury and he has done everything right since.’’

TAB MARKET MOVERS

FLEMINGTON

Race 1: All Cerise $3.40-$3 ($420 @ $3.40, $1,600 @ $3.20, $300 @ $3)

Race 2: Weatherly $4.20-$4 ($500 @ $4.20)

Race 5: Perfect Reflection $2.60-$2.30 ($1,000 @ $2.60, $2,000 @ $2.50, $1,000 @ $2.50)

Race 6: Palentino $3.20-$3.40-$3 ($600 @ $3.20, $500 @ $3.20, $300 @ $3)

Race 7: Chautauqua $2.60 unchanged ($530 @ $2.60)

Race 9: Yesterdays Song $6-$7 ($367 @ $6, $500 @ $7)

Originally published as Stable watch: Ray Thomas gets the inside mail for Rosehill