In-form trainer Guy Walter is prepared to forgive his Group 1 winning mare Appearance for her first up flop at Rosehill and expects her to bounce back to her best form in the Group 3 $250,000 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Guy Walter is looking forward to Appearance returning to winning form in the Golden Pendant at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Appearance was the standout mare in the Sydney Autumn Carnival with Group 1 wins over Red Tracer in the $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and the $400,000 Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) both at Rosehill.
Walter is willing to overlook Appearance’s first up ninth to Driefontein in the Group 3 $125,000 Sharp Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on September 14 and expects a better showing over a more suitable distance.
“It was only fair but she did get back in a race where they ran home a quick last 600 and it was hard to make ground,” Walter told AAP.
“I’m prepared to forgive her.
“I’m confident that when she gets to her right distance she will be competitive.”
Walter is having a fruitful Spring Carnival to date with feature race wins by Toydini in the Group 3 $150,000 Summer Bright Lager Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle on September 18 and Streama last Saturday taking out the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Toydini and Streama will both line up in the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday week with great chances and he is hoping that Appearance can add to the stable’s success with a win this weekend.
Toydini currently shares Epsom Handicap favouritism with the Chris Waller trained Boban at $5 with Streama on the next line of betting at $8.
Kerrin McEvoy had to share Appearance’s Group 1 wins in the Autumn with Blake Shinn but will be on board the Commands mare on Saturday.
The Golden Pendant is shaping up as a high quality fillies and mares race with Autumn rival Red Tracer having her first run back after a successful Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign.
Red Tracer was undefeated at her two Eagle Farm starts with wins in the Group 2 $200,000 Patinack Farm Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m).
Gai Waterhouse welcomed the return to winning form of Driefontein in the Sheraco Stakes and the Fastnet Rock mare has been posted the $4 favourite to make it back to back wins in the Golden Pendant just in front Red Tracer at $4.20 and the Grahame Begg trained Bennetta at $4.40.
Appearance is next in the betting at $7 with Anthony Cummings’ mare Arctic Flight the only other runner under double figures at $9.50.
