There’s plenty to look forward to for OTI and our connections this weekend, with six exciting gallopers stepping out across Australia and Ireland. The navy and gold silks will feature at Rosehill, Mornington and Goulburn on Saturday, and Ballarat and The Curragh in Ireland on Sunday.
Saturday.
Rosehill
We have two stayers entered at Rosehill Gardens for Saturday’s feature Golden Slipper meeting.
Group 1 winning gelding Quick Thinker is “spot on” leading into the Group 3 NE Manion Cup over 2400m (Race 2 – 1:10 pm), according to co-trainer Andrew Forsman. The proven stayer has continued to improve in condition since resuming and will relish the heavy surface. From barrier six, he can land in the box seat and score a dream run under leading hoop, Damian Lane.
English import Selino also lines up in the Group 3 event. Trainer Chris Waller believes the son of Champs Elysees will be a big improver here, third-up over a more suitable trip. Now reaching peak fitness, the lightly raced five-year-old can hold a more prominent position, rolling forward from barrier five, under Brenton Avdulla. We expect Selino to find the line strongly in his final tune-up for the Group 1 Sydney Cup.
Hopefully, the meeting will be held. With the current state of Rosehill and the wet forecast for the weekend, there is every likelihood the races will be deferred.
Mornington
Exciting Irish import Marchons Ensemble will debut for OTI and our connections in a Benchmark 78 over 1600m (Race 9 – 5:25 pm). Co-trainer Trent Busuttin confirmed the gelding to be in excellent order ahead of his maiden Australian assignment, stating that a recent 2.5L trial victory has brought him on superbly for the mile contest. We are expecting Michael Dee to take the talented four-year-old forward from barrier four in the hope of running our rivals into the ground.
Goulburn
My Swashbuckler is in fine order ahead of his second-up attempt in the Provincial Championships Qualifier over 1400m (Race 5 – 3.29 pm). The son of Pour Moi will relish the rain-affected surface and should improve on his lacklustre first-up showing. Drawn in barrier four, the Kris Lees-trained six-year-old can find cover and produce a strong run under Alysha Collett.
Sunday.
Ballarat
Lightly raced colt Aquilo will be looking to break his maiden at start number three when he steps out over 2000m (Race 4 – 2.15 pm). The talented but late-maturing son of Frankel has trained on well since his first-up fourth and will appreciate stepping out in trip. We expect Dean Yendall to press forward from barrier two and produce our galloper with a strong and competitive run.
Curragh
We are excited to see talented staying prospect and potential Melbourne spring carnival contender, Mirann resume over a mile in the Irish Lincolnshire (Race 6 – 3.10 am AEDT Monday). The five-year-old son of Motivator was unlucky not to taste more success last preparation, after winning first-up run over 1900m. Trainer Johnny Murtagh has been delighted by our gelding’s progress and is expecting more improvement to come.
Wishing our connections the best of luck!
