3 minute read
A look back at some highlights of the racing from Rosehill on Saturday.
Canadian just misses for Baker
Bjorn Baker almost started where he left off last week when Canadian Ruler came within a neck of upsetting odds-on favourite Tutta La Vita in the opening race.
Baker trained a career-best five winners at Randwick last Saturday and looked like he might make the perfect start at Rosehill when Canadian Ruler kicked strongly in the straight before the top fancy got her head in front over the final bounds.
It was Canadian Ruler's first start in town after winning his maiden at Bathurst and Baker was pleased to see the Darby Racing youngster make the transition well.
"He's continuing to improve and he's another promising horse for Team Darby," Baker said.
"It's always a big jump from country into the city and he made that leap pretty well.
"He galloped a couple of times with Ozzmosis. We knew he had a tough ask and we thought he'd be a lot better suited over 1400 and that was the way it worked out."
Canadian Ruler is by Vancouver, the sire of stablemate and fellow Darby Racing sprinter Overpass.
Baker said he would see how the gelding came through Saturday's win before deciding whether to continue through the winter or tip him out.
Tulloch Lodge to take on new apprentice
Apprentice Amy Mclucas will be a more frequent sight in town as she prepares to transfer her indentures to Tulloch Lodge.
The 23-year-old is currently with Lucy and Emma Longmire in Goulburn and due to come out of her time next week but she has applied for an extension to her apprenticeship.
McLucas, who took out Saturday's Highway Handicap aboard the Matt Dale-trained Acappella Sun, has been riding work for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott twice a week and booted home a winner for them at Warwick Farm on Monday in So United.
"I'm in the process of making an application to go on loan to Gai and Adrian," McLucas said.
"It's an exciting opportunity."
Sun shining on Dale's Goulburn move
The Highway Handicap victory by Acappella Sun underlined the reasons Matthew Dale relocated from Canberra to Goulburn earlier this year.
With Canberra-trained horses the first to get balloted out of the Highways, Dale said Acappella Sun wouldn't have got a run in the race if he was still based in the ACT.
In fact, Dale said he wouldn't have been given the horse to train at all if he didn't make the move.
"They only sent me that horse as soon as I moved to Goulburn," Dale said.
Luckless from an inside draw last start, apprentice Amy McLucas made sure Acappella Sun ($5) got out in plenty of time on Saturday and she proved too good for her rivals to score by a half-length over the fast-finishing Zaru ($16).
"Amy rode her a touch closer and at the top of the straight she barged her way out, she wasn't going to get boxed in," Dale said.
"As a result, she has probably hit the front a bit early and was a sitting duck in the last 100 metres. But she has scored a really well-deserved win."
Neasham tips bright future for Fawkner
Annabel Neasham isn't sure what level Fawkner Park can reach, but she is looking forward to finding out.
The former European took his record to three wins from as many Australian starts when surging late in Saturday's TAB Handicap (2000m) and Neasham believes there is more in the tank.
Fawkner Park was sourced from Europe by Australian-born, UK-based bloodstock agent Stuart Bowman, the man responsible for finding Neasham's multiple Group 1 winner Zaaki and Epsom Handicap victor Top Ranked.
"He's three from three now here in Australia so he's a really exciting horse for (owners) Bennett Racing," Neasham said.
"They've backed me, lately they have sent quite a few European horses to me and yet again, he's another Stuart Bowman find.
"We've got quite a few nice ones at the moment and he's probably headlining those, just good off-season horses that look like they might progress into something a bit better."
Fawkner Park ($3 fav) scored by three-quarters of a length over Miracle Spin ($4) with the winner's stablemate Naval College ($3.90) third.
Quote of the day: "Confident jockeys make confident decisions." – Trainer Chris Waller following Kerrin McEvoy's winning ride on Tutta La Vita
