3 minute read

A pair of consistent four-year-olds each strike suitable races at Rosehill on Saturday.

The first comes early in the card with La Chica Bella contesting a mares Benchmark 75 over 1500m.

La Chica Bella looks ready to post the first win of her prep in a race which on paper possesses only two key winning chances.

The Joe Pride-trained mare has improved with each run this prep. Two back she ran second over 1400m at Rosehill behind I Am Serious. The four-year-old settled handy and stuck on well.

Form out of the race has held up nicely as well. The winner I Am Serious has since come out and won again at Randwick.

Princess Posh and La Chica Bella were the placegetters in the event, a fortnight ago they ran first and third in a similar race.

La Chica Bella maps to land outside the leader Token Of Love and the daughter of Host will be hard to hold out with that fourth up fitness.

The Chris Waller-trained So Splendid is favourite for the race.

While So Splendid is a nice mare, fitness first up over 1500m on a rain affected track has to be a query and may tell late.

La Chica Bella on the other hand should be peaking fourth run from a spell. She also has solid wet track credentials, placing in two of three starts on them.

Race 8 is a Benchmark 89 Handicap (1100m) and profiles as one of the day’s better events.

There are plenty of each way contenders with the strongest of them arguably Best Guess.

The son of Snippetson worked through his grades late last year with wins at Canterbury and Rosehill.

His win at Rosehill was particularly strong where the four-year-old led from barrier 1 and delivered with quite a good margin back to second.

Best Guess has trialled well a couple of times prior to resuming. Kerrin McEvoy has ridden on both occasions and stays on here which is an encouraging sign.

The pair have two wins and a placing from four starts in partnership.

The Chris Waller-trained gelding has placed in both his prior first up runs, is proven at the course, proven on rain affected ground and has an excellent record over 1100m.

He’s looking at the moment like a real bombproof sprinter who can work through his grades this winter.

The kicker for Best Guess tomorrow is the speed map. There is a fair bit of pressure on up front early. Clear The Beach, Tango Rain, Nictock and Royalic can all pump some tempo into the race.

From barrier 8, Kerrin McEvoy can slot Best Guess in behind that speed battle and from there they could be too strong late.

Sydney Specials: Rosehill – June 16

Best Of The Day: R4; #3 La Chica Bella @ $3.60