3 minute read
Racing returns to Rosehill on Saturday with the Group 1 Coolmore Classic the main highlight.
A three-year-old filly hasn't won the Coolmore since Typhoon Tracy (2009) and that trend appears set to continue.
Both Funstar and Probabeel elect to bypass the feature, the two will clash earlier in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes [1500m].
Weights have certainly played their part in recent times, only three horses have carried more than 56kg to victory in the last 20 years (Steps In Time (2014), Daysee Doom (2018) and Dixie Blossoms (2019)).
A weight spread of 8kg (58kg > 50kg) gives every horse their chance and highlights the benefit of weighting feature handicaps the week of.
The Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes [1400m] is the main Sydney lead up, 7/16 come through that event won narrowly by Dawn Dawn.
The 'weight horse' being the James Cummings trained Pohutukawa.
She finished a narrow third in the event and meets Sweet Deal (1.5kg) and Dawn Dawn (2kg) better off.
While she hasn't won since last year's Group 3 Keith Nolan Classic (almost a year to the day), she has placed on five occasions, all in Group company.
A key highlight was finishing a narrow second in last year's Group 1 Tatts Tiara [1400m].
She looks to get every chance at the weights and has drawn to get a lovely run for James McDonald.
Often a key sectional star, if close enough, she should prove hard to hold out.
The Tony Gollan trained Zoustyle kicks off in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes and appears well placed to make it a winning return.
Thrown into the furnace last preparation, he mixed his form, but his effort second up was very good, form easily good enough to be winning on Saturday.
Put away after disappointing as an even money favourite prior to a break, he has since trialled very well (he always does) and looks to get conditions to suit.
A winner of six of his nine starts, like the fact Gollan brings him back a peg and he should be able to lead these from the inside draw.
They find Tim Clark, he rates well at the weights and will have no concern with the soft track. He should prove hard to beat.
Simon Dinopoulos' Three Tips:
Race 2 #3 Ilovemyself @ $3.20
Race 4 #5 Zoustyle @ $3.80
Race 7 #5 Pohutukawa @ $5.50
