An outstanding day’s racing is set to take place on Civic Stakes Day at Rosehill Gardens this weekend, highlighted by two black type feature races.
Gold Symphony will step out in the Listed Civic Stakes at Rosehill this weekend. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell
Quality fields have been drawn to all nine races on 2017 Civic Stakes Day, however we have analysed every runner in each, in order to help you find a winner.
The action on 2017 Civic Stakes Day will get underway at 11:25am, however the first black type race will not be contested until 1:45pm.
Race 1 (11:25am) Pro Rate ATC Membership On Sale Handicap (1400m)
Nine two-year-olds remain in contention for Race 1 at Rosehill on Saturday, including Hualalai (barrier 5). Returned to the paddock after beating only one runner home in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) on January 28th, the Street Cry colt resumed for a smart win at Kembla Grange in May before placing second to Gaulois at Rosehill a fortnight ago. Heliosphere (barrier 9) carries winning form into the race following a smart performance at Warwick Farm, while Victory In Paris (barrier 4) faces a step up in class, but also found winning form last time out. Uncle Rodriguez (barrier 10) is yet to finish outside the first three through four career starts.
Tip: No. 2 Hualalai ($2.50)
Race 2 (12:00pm) TAB.com.au Handicap (1500m)
A small but classy field of six three-year-olds will step out for Race 2 at Rosehill, including Faraway Town (barrier 3). The Not A Single Doubt filly also accepted into the field for the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas on Saturday, but will remain in Sydney after drawing awkwardly north of the border. Having run fourth in each of her first two starts this time, the filly is ready to peak and should be right in the finish of this race. High Mist (barrier 7) has steadily built to the task this time and is a live chance of returning to winning form, while Just Dreaming (barrier 5) appears as though he will start the race favourite, following two smart wins in his two most-recent starts. There is a case to be made for every runner in this field.
Tip: No. 4 Faraway Town ($6)
Race 3 (12:35pm) McGrath Estate Agents Handicap (1900m)
A number of consistent gallopers will take to the barriers in the McGrath Estate Agents Handicap. Pepperberry (barrier 10) returned to winning form with an excellent performance amongst smart company at Gosford a fortnight ago and should only improve into this race, while Domed (barrier 8) is seeking a third-consecutive win in this race and is a live chance of doing so from his draw. Rustic Melody (barrier 1) and La Courbette (barrier 6) are both more than capable amongst the class of this race. Vandancer (barrier 4) has steadily built to the task this time in, but he will require plenty of luck and favours after being charged with lugging a race-high 63kgs.
Tip: No. 7 Pepperberry – Each Way ($16/$4.70)
Race 4 (1:10pm) TAB Highway Handicap (1800m)
A capacity field has been confirmed for Race 4; another competition Highway Handicap rich with some of provincial and country racing’s best. Barbass (barrier 1) won a similar race to this one last time out and has the notable advantage of Hugh Bowman in the saddle on Saturday. Rush Of Blood has posted a number of strong results this time in, but has the potential to get lost from the somewhat awkward barrier 12. It’s A Lottery (barrier 14) was a smart winner at Bathurst on June 6th, but will need plenty of luck from an awkward draw. Chadana (barrier 11) is yet to find her best through three starts this time, but should find a good position behind the early speed from her central draw.
Tip: No. 2 Barbass ($6)
Race 5 (1:45pm) Listed ATC Winter Cup (2400m)
The first of two black type races at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday will take place when ten stayers step out for the Listed Winter Cup. Black Tomahawk (barrier 2) returned to winning form last time and is drawn and weighted for a similar performance this weekend. stable mates Gallic Chieftain (barrier 1) and Tick Tick Bloom (barrier 5) are both more than capable at the class and distance and the former should prove extremely tough to beat, having overcome a tough and luckless run in transit to win at Moonee Valley last time out. Godolphin entrant Alegria (barrier 3) failed to fire last start, but has beaten smarter fields than this previously, while cases can be made for Destiny’s Kiss (barrier 10), Araldo Junior (barrier 8) and Soviet Courage (barrier 4).
Tip: No. 3 Gallic Chieftan ($2.45)
Race 6 (2:25pm) TAB Handicap (1200m)
Eleven horses remain in contention for Race 6 following scratchings and it is one of the most open fields of the day at Rosehill Gardens, from a betting perspective. Memes (barrier 2) is saddled by the in-form Jason Coyle stables and is seeking a third-consecutive race win this weekend. Pioneering (barrier 10) returned to the races for a credible fourth in the Schweppes BM85 (1100m) a fortnight ago and will take plenty of improvement into this race, while the Kris Lee-trained Upscale (barrier 7) is ready to peak third-up in this race and will be partnered by Hugh Bowman. Fickle Folly (barrier 5) is yet to find her best this time, but is undoubtedly faced with her best prospect to date with this race.
Tip: No. 2 Upscale ($4.80)
Race 7 (3:05pm) Listed Civic Stakes (1350m)
The Listed Civic Stakes has drawn one of its strongest fields in recent memory and a case can be made for close to all thirteen runners. Gold Symphony (barrier 10) ran a credible sixth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) after a luckless run in the final straight and could be the horse to beat here. Shiraz (barrier 4) loves Rosehill Gardens and has drawn ideally, while The Monstar (barrier 5) has been charged with carrying topweight, but also carries winning form into the race. Centre Pivot (barrier 8) and Sir Bacchus (barrier 7) both have the class to win this race, but are reasonably inconsistent. Zin Zan Eddie (barrier 9) faces a big task amongst this classy field, but is over the odds at his current quote.
Tip: No. 2 Gold Symphony ($7)
Race 8 (3:45pm) Schweppes Handicap (1100m)
Twelve sprinters have been confirmed in the Schweppes Handicap field, including Sir Plush (barrier 6). The Pins gelding returned to the races for a dominant win in the Schweppes BM85 (1100m) a fortnight ago and will only improve into this race. Calanda (barrier 6) has slowly built to the task this time and is probably ready to peak on Saturday, while Oxford Poet (barrier 16) is a proven fresh performer and is over the odds at his currently quote. Savoureux (barrier 8) worked home well to finish fourth at Eagle Farm on May 27th and was unlucky to be balloted out of the field for last weekend’s Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara. Wouldnt It Be Nice (barrier 7) is in a good patch of form and should make his presence felt with Deanne Panya, an excellent judge of pace on board.
Tip: No. 10 Sir Plush ($2.60)
Race 9 (4:25pm) #TheRaces Handicap (1500m)
Seventeen horses remain in the field for the final race on Civic Stakes and it is an open event from a betting perspective. Our Boy Nicholas (barrier 18) failed to fire first-up, but should improve into this race, while Reneged (barrier 11) toughed it out to the line to win a Canterbury race over 1550m last time out and should be rock-hard fit leading into this race. King Viv (barrier 3) undoubtedly faces a step up in class, but is yet to taste anything but success this time and is drawn well, with in-form hoop Brenton Avdulla confirmed to ride.
Tip: No. 2 Obsidian – Each Way ($13/$4.10)
