Ken Callander says Red Tracer ticks all the boxes in the George Ryder Stakes

KEN Callander says Sydney’s favourite mudlark, Red Tracer, will have conditions to suit against her Group 1 George Ryder Stakes rivals.

As you can see, Opinion thrives in the wet, judging by his win two starts back. Picture:

Sydney’s favourite mudlark Red Tracer will have conditions to suit when she takes on a big field in the 1500m G1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill this afternoon.

Already twice a G1 winner Red Tracer has raced four times on slow tracks for three wins and six times on heavy tracks for five wins. A winner of 15 races, Red Tracer did not have a lot of luck at her last start when third to another star mare Appearance in the 1300m Canterbury Stakes.

In the Rosehill Guineas, 2000m, Kiwi three-year-old Puccini, a winner at 2400m, might be too strong for the locals over the final 200 metres in the heavy conditions.

Race 1 (12.15)

Betting: $2.20 Junoob, $2.90 Opinion, $3.80 The Offer, $11 Desert Jeuney

Comment: Junoob toyed with Opinion and The Offer over 2000m at Randwick last start, but, when faced with heavy conditions, Opinion beat him easily at their previous meeting, although Junoob does have a slow track win. The Offer is also adept in soft ground. Desert Jeuney ran OK last week and could earn prizemoney.

Bet: 3 Opinion

Exotics: Quinella 3 Opinion, 6 The Offer

As you can see, Opinion thrives in the wet, judging by his win two starts back. Picture: Simon Bullard

Race 2 (12.50)

Betting: $3.60 Mr Cha Cha, $4.60 Kumaon, $6.50 Kuro, $7 Klammer, $8 Modocrt

Comment: All runners are on trial in the conditions. Mr Cha Cha has natural pace, has run particularly well at his last two runs and has performed on dead going. Kuro looks an improver and is a big hope, Kumaon, the Darley runner, won at Rosehill in December and Modoc, Klammer and Time For War are in the mix.

Bet: 1 Mr Cha Cha

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Mr Cha Cha, 3 Kumaon, 4 Klammer 8 Kuro

Mr Cha Cha (left) has form behind good horses and performs well on dead surfaces. Picture: Simon Bullard

Race 3 (1.30)

Betting: $3.20 Lilliburlero, $5.50 Single Style, $6 Avoid Lightning, $8 Plucky Belle, Recoinage

Comment: On a good track Lilliburlero would be a special but she has only performed moderately in two slow track runs and has to be taken on trust. Avoid Lightning was having her first run for Les Bridge when unlucky behind A Time For Julia at Randwick and she can handle the wet. In an open race Plucky Belle is a definite hope and Aerobatics, Single Style and Recoinage should be considered.

Bet: 3 Avoid Lightning

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Lilliburlero, 3 Avoid Lightning, 5 Plucky Belle, 8 Single Style

Race 4 (2.10)

Betting: $6 Veloce Forte, $7 Peggy Jean, Bring Me The Maid, Tetsuko, Lady Sharapova

Comment: Like in the colts race there is not much wet track form to go on although Press Report did finish second (4 lens) to Mossfun in the Silver Slipper on a slow surface. Tetsuko is smart and did not have much luck at Randwick last run and her stablemate Aerobar will be right in it if she can overcome her barrier. Peggy Jean, Bring Me The Maid and Veloce Forte look the pick of the rest.

Bet: 4 Press Report

Exotics: Box trifecta 3 Bring Me The Maid, 4 Press Report, 5 Tetsuko, 8 Aerobar

Avoid Lightning will be a sharp improver on a rain-affected surface.

Race 5 (2.45)

Betting: $5.50 Calming Influence, $6 Sidestep, $6.50 Open Book, $7 Havana

Comment: Northern Glory has won in the wet, has pace and has won two recent trials in good style. Calming Influence is also good in the going and has a touch of class, although first-up. Sidestep, Boss Lane, Open Book and Flight Academy all ran well behind Shamalia at Randwick and Cosmic Endeavour can do better than she showed in the same race. Havana, up in grade, is worth a thought.

Bet: 8 Northern Glory

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Sidestep, 3 Boss Lane, 7 Calming Influence, 8 Northern Glory

Race 6 (3.20)

Betting: $6 Rain Affair, $7 Sessions, Villa Verde, Kencella, $8.50 Temple Of Boom

Comment: Rain Affair and Kencella will ensure a hot pace. I think See the World is overs — he has won four from five second up and loves the going. Rain Affair loves it wet and Kencella and Famous Seamus will be suited. Villa Verde went terrific last start and should handle it and Bel Sprinter has a hope if he can handle it. Sessions needs to do better

Bet: 7 See The World

Exotics: Box trifecta 3 Famous Seamus, 7 See The World, 9 Villa Verde, 12 Kencella

Northern Glory ticks a lot of boxes in the Darby Munro Stakes (1200m). Picture: Simon Bullard

Race 7 (4.00)

Betting: $2.90 Red Tracer, $5 Boban, $7.50 Sacred Falls, $9.50 El Roca, Eurozone

Comment: Red Tracer is all quality and loves the wet, but she will need a good M. Rodd ride to get the right run. Terravista and El Roca, both big hopes, look the pacemakers with Sacred Falls (a mudlark) racing forward. Boban is top grade, but has no slow track form and is a query. Eurozone looks suited with blinkers and the wet track and Streama is a chance.

Bet: 12 Red Tracer

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Boban, 4 Sacred Falls, 12 Red Tracer, 14 El Roca

Race 8 (4.40)

Betting: $4.60 Dissident, Puccini, $7 Shamus Award, Teronado

Comment: I have a question mark on the class of the Aussies and Puccini was very strong in the NZ Derby. Shamus Award should lead from Dissident with Order Of The Sun also up front. Shamus Award, on his best, will give a sight, Dissident is brave and flying at the moment and Teronado will be strong at the line. Criterion, Thunder Fantasy, Savvy Nature and Atlante are in the mix.

Bet: 4 Puccini

Exotics: Box trifecta 2 Dissident, 4 Puccini, 7 Atlante, 9 Teronado

Ken Callander says beware of boom Kiwi horse Puccini. Picture: Richard Robinson

Race 9 (5.20)

Betting: $5 Scorpio Queen, Lucky Lago, $7 Diamond Drille, $8 Epingle, Mahara

Comment: Porcellanus looks the leader but will need to improve to have a hope. Lucky Lago has ability but was also disappointing last run. Epingle is fresh from strong wins in the Hobart and Launceston Cups, Scorpio Queen ran a great race in the Coolmore and Diamond Drille, Mahara and Danesiri ran great races in the Aspiration Quality at Randwick. Amarchi is a roughie who loves it wet.

Bet: 1 Epingle

Launceston Cup winner Epingle, brings her good form to Sydney.

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Epingle, 2 Diamond Drille, 3 Scorpio Queen, 10 Danesiri

Best Bet: Opinion

Value: See The World

WHO’S HOT

The wet track has pointed punters to the Chris Waller-trained Red Tracer in the George Ryder and she has come in from $3.80 to $2.90 on Fixed Odds.

WHO’S NOT

Junoob is very short at $2.20 on TAB Fixed Odds in the first at Rosehill and the heavy track will ensure he is longer odds on track.

Junoob won well last start but was lapped by stablemate Opinion two runs back in the heavy going. Picture: Simon Bullard

DROP A HINT

Peter Moody’s Bring Me The Maid has had two runs for a Flemington win and a Moonee Valley placing. She is a great hope in the Magic Night Stakes.

EYE CATCHER

Danesiri missed the kick badly at Randwick last start and did it tough before running third to Diamond Drille. Watch for her in the last.