Trainer John Sargent believes his handy mare can record a second Midway win
With her confidence high, Mayrose can make it back-to-back Midway wins according to trainer John Sargent.
Trainer John Sargent believes Mayrose can cause another Midway Handicap (1500m) upset at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Mayrose was a $26 outsider when she scored a last start Midway win over the Randwick 1400m course two weeks ago.
Despite dominating that race and winning comfortably, perhaps TAB Fixed Odds price assessors felt her win was flattered by the heavy track with Mayrose ranked only a $11 chance for the Rosehill race.
“There’s no reason why she can’t win again,” Sargent said of Mayrose.
“She has trained on well and I think she is more relaxed and improved. She has the same draw (barrier four) as Randwick and should get a nice run about midfield
“If it does rain, it won’t bother her and I’m hoping she has her confidence back now. I think she is a nice chance at value odds.”
Mayrose is the in-form Sargent stable’s only Rosehill runner with the trainer travelling to Eagle Farm where he is hoping for a form reversal from promising three-year-old Perfect Thought in the Group 2 $350,000 Queensland Guineas (1600m).
Perfect Thought won the Carbine Club Stakes impressively at Flemington on Derby Day last spring then had a setback before making a delayed return in the South Pacific Classic at Randwick earlier this month when he finished down the track behind Razeta when inconvenienced by the heavy surface.
“All we want is a good track and if we get that it will show us where he is at,” Sargent said.
“The barrier is not ideal but there is a long run to the first turn and even if he is three wide with cover, he is probably better out than in as he is such a big horse.”
THE BEST BARRIERS
The best barriers at Rosehill for the last 3 years (in order of wins)
1100m: 3,6,12
1200m: 2,7,1,4
1400m: 2,6,1,3
1500m: 5,1,6,4
1800m: 3,2,6,1
THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Armed Forces $6.50-$5.50, Hyde Park $16-$14, Ravenclaw $11-$8, Dipsy Doodle $4.80-$3.90
Race 2: Lisztomania $7.50-$6.50, Chase My Crown $14-$8.50, Justfour $14-$7.50
Race 3: Anythink Goes $9.50-$6.50, Cuban Granchico $21-$11, Wrathful $5-$3.50 including a bet of $1,200 at $5
Race 4: Flag Of Honour $6.50-$5.50 with a $800 bet at $6.50, Uzziah $21-$14, Lavish Empire $9-$5.50, Contemporary $9.50-$6 after bets of $600 at $9.50, $500 at $7.50
Race 5: Fox Fighter $13-$6, Hellfest $7-$5, Vowmaster $9.50-$5.50
Race 6: Honeycreeper $9-$7, Ita $12-$9.50 with a bet of $500 at $13
Race 7: Kayobi $5.50-$4.20 after a bet of $700 at $5.50, Floating $4.20-$3.50, Money From The Sky $5.50-$4.80
Race 8: Healing Oasis $21-$16 after a bet of $500 at $15, Duchy Of Savoy $41-$16, Notions $21-$14
Race 9: Military Expert $13-$11, Wild Planet $13-$10, Democracy Manifest $3.20-$2.90, Bold Mac $15-$11
Race 10: Cap Strada $5.50-$4.40, Robusto $10-$8, Huesca $4.20-$3.80
EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 2,9,12,13
Race 4: 3,4,6,8
Race 5: 1,2,11
Race 6: 1,2,3,10
QUADDIE
Race 7: 1,2,7,10
Race 8: 4,8,10,12
Race 9: 2,8,11
Race 10: 2,3,7,12
PRICE CHECK
Contemporary (race 4) is an emergency but if he gains a start, the good money for him suggests he is going to be hard to beat. The Godolphin three-year-old is one of the best-backed runners on the Rosehill program and has firmed from $9.50-$6 after bets of $600 at $9.50, $500 at $7.50.
TRIAL POINTERS
Armed Forces (race 1) is a cleverly-named son of I Am Invincible out of Royal Missile who was herself a handy type, winning five races in WA where she was also twice stakes-placed. On top of that, Royal Missile is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Turffontein. Given all that, Armed Forces was good buying at $375,000 at the Magic Millions in 2022. The Chris Waller-trained bay has finished runner-up in both of his trials at Rosehill and looked the part in each.
Podium Queen (race 7) adds considerable interest to Saturday‘s card owing to the fact that it marks her Australian debut. The daughter of Ocean Park raced seven times in New Zealand, winning on three occasions including one at Trentham over 1400m. Like most of the Ocean Park offspring, Podium Queen is adept on wet ground; all three of her wins were on Soft tracks. Wasn’t asked to do much when midfield in an April 11 (deep) trial at Rosehill.
SECTIONAL STARS
Bianco Vilano (race 2) was a barnstorming winner of the SDRA Country Championship Qualifier at his home track at Albury on February 25. The Ron Stubbs-trained son of Foxwedge can count himself as arguably ‘the run of the race’ outside the winner, Spangler, in the April 1 Final at Royal Randwick given the amount of ground that he made up in the straight to finish fourth. Has a big weight to contend with which is offset by James McDonald as his jockey.
Fox Fighter (race 5) is a David Payne trained gelding also by the aforementioned Foxwedge. Payne, a noted buyer of bargains, paid ‘only’ $55,000 for the horse at the Scone Yearling Sale in 2020 and the gelding has now won over $440,789. Fox Fighter is on the 7-day back-up after his eye-catching fourth in the Hawkesbury Rush where he rattled off some supreme sectionals in an 1100m race that was completed in 1.02.23s and with a final 600m on 32.76s.
BEST BET
Navajo Peak (race 6) was third-up at 2000m when he scored a strong win at Doomben last start. He has had nearly six weeks between runs but is coming back slightly in distance to 1800m. Navajo Peak has been a top two finisher in nine of his 13 starts, winning five, and he has the tactical speed to negate his outside draw. He prefers tracks with some “give” and looks hard to beat.
VALUE BET
Lavish Empire (race 4) ran well first-up when beaten narrowly into third placing at the Warwick Farm midweeks. At his only other starts, he won by seven lengths on a heavy track at his Canterbury debut then ran second to the smart Lucky Variety at Randwick. Promising young sprinter, drawn well and will be improved by his recent run.
THE JUDGMENT
ROSEHILL GARDENS
R7: Vale Dean Holland Hcp (1500m)
Richard Haynes (TAB): “I’ve been with Floating in both runs this time in and I’m sticking solid one more time. He’s been looming into his races at the right time but just hasn’t been going on with it. Third up, nice and fit now, this is his race. Money From The Sky rattled home first-up. He’s always had a decent reputation and if he can possibly settle a little closer from his better barrier, he has the talent to win a race like this. The firmer track will be to Kayobi’s liking and Miss Madison might be the forgotten horse.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Not the greatest race I’ve ever seen but have to come back to Floating as he must have the most upside here. Battled away under 59kg last start at Randwick when staying at 1400m. Only rises to 1500m here but will get a better track and drops 3kg.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Floating is never far away but he looks well under his true odds at his current price of $3. Newly Wed has won this track/trip before and looks well suited second up over 1500m with no weight on her back. She goes on top from Miss Madison who was a second up winner last prep. Peshmerga is an interesting runner having her Australian debut and she won a trial in preparation for this. Keep an eye on any market moves for her.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Looks an even affair with the favourite Floating rock solid at $3.60. Happy to take it on from the inside draw. I like the way Newly Wed found the line first up. Won well this course and distance second up last preparation and gets in well with the claim for in form rider Zac Lloyd. Looks a good each-way play.”
Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “Kayobi is the one TAB punters have come for. The Sam Kavanagh trained runner is $5.50 into $4.20 and is holding 18 per cent of the money. There has also been good money for Manbehindthemoney at huge odds and it‘s the third best backed runner in the race.”
Verdict: Floating
R8: NSW Bookies Co-Op Hcp (1300m)
Richard Haynes (TAB): “I’m really not sure which way to go but Frumos has got me again. If this is the preparation that she lives up to the reputation (unfairly placed on her or not!), then this is a race she should be winning. She’ll settle midfield or worse, but I can see James McDonald working her into the race at the right time and getting the job done. There are a few roughies I wouldn’t be risking including Notions at double figures and I can see her running a great race first up from her favourable draw. Kouklara and Lekvarte are smart types.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “A number of these like to roll so looking at a couple that will be running on. Lekvarte has always been one of mine and I did like the way she moved late in her trial at Warwick Farm. Didn’t carry her race day blinkers that morning so still something up the sleeve. Doesn’t want it much wetter than now (Soft 5) though. The other is Air To Air.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “It looks an open race with favourite Short Shorts currently around the $5.50 mark. I thought Picarones represented the best value here at double figure odds. She tackles this race 3rd up, enjoys the sting out of the ground and gets 1.5kg weight relief for the promising young apprentice Zac Lloyd. There has been solid each way money for the Joe Pride trained Lekvarte who is a last start winner.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Lottery race. Air To Air looks to be going super with a big first up win and a stylish trial since. Holds some appeal at double figures. Seen some specking also for Notions first up $21-$14 who will benefit from the expected conditions. Very tough race.”
Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “Healing Oasis is the best backed runner at $16. The filly accounts for nearly 20 per cent of investments on the race to date with TAB. Outside of her, Short Shorts and Frumos are fighting for favouritism at $5.50.”
Verdict: Lekvarte
R9: Kerrie Borger Hcp (1400m)
Richard Haynes (TAB): “Coal Crusher has done little wrong so far this prep and you just know he’s going to be in the firing line again. He leads or is on speed from his nice barrier, and his toughness could just get him home. Democracy Manifest, as trainer Chris Waller told us last time in, is a ‘Group horse in waiting’, and he’s going to be popular with punters again. He’ll lob along in a midfield position, or closer, and he’ll be hard to deny. Brutality is getting fitter now and Cotehele will have his admirers.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Happy to be against Democracy Manifest at what I believe to be cramped odds of around $3. Had all favours when resuming and this a deeper race. Keen on Bold Mac at odds here as he has shown his best form at Rosehill over 1400m & fresh into a preparation. Resumes here off a 9-week break and did win a trial recently. Barrier 12 is the only concern as does seem to race better when going forward. Hoping Coal Crusher breaks field up allowing him to get in.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Democracy Manifest was scratched from race 5 to tackle this event and he is a deserved favourite after his soft first up victory. The Magic Man Joao Moreira retains the ride, he can handle all track conditions and he will be running on hardest late. Happy to take the $3 on offer. Wild Planet does not win out of turn but James McDonald rides and 1400m suits second up.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Democracy Manifest jumps in grade and one we are happy to lay. Thought Wild Planet was the interesting runner. Had no chance first up in the Hall Mark off a muddling tempo but hit the line with real intent. 1400m suits and hopefully can settle closer with the intriguing booking of McDonald. Double figures to find out.”
Hamish Ferguson (TAB): TAB punters love Democracy Manifest so it‘s no surprise to see him leading the market at $2.90 and accounting for 28 per cent of the early money. Brutality is the next best backed at double figure odds. “
Verdict: Democracy Manifest
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