Horse Racing Preview Weekend 14 03

In this weekly horse racing preview the ThoroughbredNEWS team take a fresh look at the form ahead of the weekend’s domestic and international action. We hope to get a good run for our money, the experts certainly are of the opinion that they’ve unearthed some interesting points of view and as such these

Rosehill Race 4 – 2:15pm Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m)

STRADA VARENNA won with authority at her first race start when taking out an 1100m maiden at Canterbury Park on a recent Friday night program in Sydney. Taken straight to the lead, the Bjorn Baker-trained daughter of Street Boss (USA) came under pressure halfway down the short Canterbury straight but then surged away from her rivals for a clear-cut two lengths victory. While Strada Varenna steps straight into stakes company in this final Golden Slipper lead-up, this promising filly is one of only three previous winners in the 14 horse field and should give a good account of herself following a favourable draw.

Rosehill Race 5 – 2:50pm Group 3 Ashai Super Dry Sky High Stakes (2000m)

While the stablemate of LAND LEGEND (FR), Lindermann, should win this after his excellent opening placings against other stablemates in the Group 1 Apollo Stakes and Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes, it is the 2024 winner of The Metropolitan we are following. The five-year-old Galileo gelding resumed with a seventh in the Verry Elleegant Stakes where he was never going to keep up with the pace, particularly the final 600 close in 33.70s. There are other goals for this chestnut including a possible trip to Hong Kong for the Group 1 FWD QEII Cup on April 27th.

Rosehill Race 6 – 3:25pm Chandon Phar Lap Stakes (1500m)

The Chris Waller trained MOVIN OUT (NZ) has her first Australian start after her third in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas last November. The Staphanos filly galloped at Randwick between races recently and she was full of nervous energy about the occasion before showing she can gallop once on the turf. Tim Clark rode the filly in that gallop and is tasked here with a further education role looking towards the opportunity of the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 12th.

Rosehill Race 8 – 4:35pm – Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m)

An interesting renewal of the Coolmore Classic with the very good three-year-old fillies LADY SHENANDOAD and LADY OF CAMELOT having to come from the outside barriers of 13 and 14 respectively. Both were strong in their one-two finish in the Group 1 Surround Stakes and can be expected to be the same again here, except the barriers will not assist in their quest to overcome the experienced mares such as Amelia’s Jewel, Marble Arch (NZ) and Coeur Volante (NZ) from their more favourable barriers. Lady Of Camelot knows this track, she won last year’s Golden Slipper here a year ago, and her free running will assist her cause for another victory, the first since the Slipper triumph.