Glyn Schofield will be the new jockey for Eigelstein on Saturday and he is hoping a change of luck can see the eight year old return to the winner’s circle in the Listed $100,000 The Paslode Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.
Eigelstein, above, will be ridden by Glyn Schofield in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Eiglestein is one three Chris Waller trained horses in the field and along with Rugged Cross and You’ll Never, feature highly in the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au.
You’ll Never heads the trio at $4.60 just in front of Winter Stakes winner Rugged Cross at $4.80 with Eigelstein coming in for plenty of early support firming from $6 to $5.
Eigelstein has been around the prizemoney at his last two starts with Tye Angland in the saddle on heavy tracks with a fourth over 1500m at Rosehill on June 27 followed by a third over 1600m at Randwick on July 11 and Schofield feels back on a soft track or better will help the eight year old’s chances.
The Rosehill track is currently rated a Soft 7 but could be upgraded before Saturday with no rain on the forecast leading into the weekend.
“If he can get a bit better traction on this soft track then he can easily reverse the result and make up that length or so he needs, but, then again, You’ll Never could go better too,” Schofield told Racing NSW News.
“The heavy tracks this time of the year have been a huge difference and I think there might be a few surprises with the form on Saturday.”
“The slow tracks are helping horses, that may get a bit sore on a firm surface, run well in races without an issue but on these heavy tracks they’re forced to work harder which makes it tough.
“Despite travelling well during races, the ones that don’t handle it are in trouble from the 600 metres on a heavy track when the pressure is on.”
While Eigelstein has won one of seven starts on a heavy track, his best form has been on soft surfaces with four wins, three seconds and a third from fifteen starts.
Rugged Cross is looking for back to back wins after victory in the Listed $100,000 Sydney Markets Limited Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on July 18 on a heavy track.
You’ll Never was successful at his first two runs this campaign on soft tracks with two wins at Rosehill in May in a 1350m BenchMark 95 Handicap and in a 1400m Open Handicap but heads to Rosehill on Saturday on the back of a seventh to Rugged Cross in the Winter Stakes.
