Unbeaten colt Siege Of Quebec and the talented Menari are the early co-favourites for the Listed $150,000 Smithfield RSL Club Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Siege Of Quebec, above, is the co-favourite for The Rosebud at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Siege Of Quebec has firmed slightly on Thursday morning to be marked at $2.90 with Menari joining him at that quote after easing from his opening price of $2.60.
Siege Of Quebec won on debut in a 1250m Beaumont Maiden at Newcastle on June 27 for Brenton Avdulla and then made it two from two with Tommy Berry in the saddle in a 1400m 2yo Handicap at Rosehill on July 15.
Tim Clark takes over the reins on Quebec who has drawn the rails in the eight horse Rosebud field with Berry down to ride the Team Hawkes trained last start Canterbury maiden winner Overshare.
Berry was very impressed with Siege Of Quebec’s last start win even though he said that the Fastnet Rock colt has to be pushed along for most of the way.
“He felt like he was going half-paced the whole way round. I had to keep his mind on the job,” Berry told AAP.
“I hope he switches on more over a mile because I’m not fit enough to do what I did then over 1200,” he said.
“It’s hard to say how good he is because he just does what he has to. He pulled up like he hadn’t gone around. That’s a good sign.”
Menari is resuming following a Sydney Autumn Carnival two year old Group 1 campaign that saw him run fourth to She Will Reign in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill followed by a tenth to Invader in the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick.
The Snitzel colt is the winner of one of his five race starts when he scored on debut in an 1100m two year old Plate at Randwick on January 14.
Trainer Gerald Ryan is happy with Menari’s preparation which includes a third and a second in two recent Rosehill barrier trials but will wait until after the Rosebud before mapping out a Spring Carnival program.
“He has come through his trials well,” Ryan said.
“Josh Parr will ride him and we’ll see how he goes in the Rosebud before we decide exactly where he goes.”
Menari will wear a tongue tie for the first time in The Rosebud and will jump from gate five with Josh Parr in the saddle.
On the third line of betting at $5.50 is the James Cummings trained Trekking who has drawn barrier two with Brenton Avdulla to wear the Godolphin royal blue colours.
