A host of talented OTI gallopers will line up in both Victoria and New South Wales this weekend, with representatives at Flemington and Rosehill on Saturday and the sole runner at Sandown on Sunday. Plus, we also have a team of three classy individuals engaged at The Irish Guineas Festival at The Curragh in Ireland.
Saturday
Flemington
Juvenile colt Spirit Of Gaylard steps out on debut for the Mitchell Freedman stable over 1400m (Race 3 – 12:55 pm). The son of Puissance De Lune looks a progressive prospect and can produce a bold showing off the back of a solid jump-out. Talented hoop Jack Martin will take the reins from barrier 2 and has been instructed to settle in the second half of the field.
The Graeme Begg-trained Romancer makes his return to the track in a 1200m straight dash (Race 8 – 4:10 pm) after spending the last seven months on the sidelines. The consistent seven-year-old has drawn well in barrier 1 and is proven at this trip. However, we expect that he will take plenty of improvement from the run and hope to see him hitting the line with intent under rising apprentice Lachlan Neindorf.
Impressive last start Caulfield winner Blue Ocean rounds out the card at Flemington in a strong Benchmark 84 handicap over 1800m. The consistent son of Ocean Park has been up for a while but presents here a month between runs and will appreciate the slight freshen up. Astute hoop Craig Newitt steps into the saddle and is more than capable of offsetting barrier 15.
Rosehill
Group 2 winner Daqiansweet Junior can run a big race at Benchmark 72 level (Race 6 – 2:25 pm) in his first start on Australian soil. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding didn’t fire in his most recent performance in New Zealand over 2100m. However, he didn’t get conditions to suit on the day, and we expect that he will appreciate getting back on top of the ground. Barrier 17 isn’t ideal, but we are confident jockey Rory Hutchins can give him every possible chance.
Old marvel Grey Lion is trending in the right direction ahead of the 2000m Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (Race 7 – 3:05 pm). The Matthew Smith-trained gelding has been most impressive in his two recent starts. He has since trailed up well over 1200 metres at Randwick and is bright and sharp in his work. Rider Kathy O’Hara has plenty of options from barrier 5, and we expect her to give our galloper every possible chance at success.
My Swashbuckler strikes a strong Benchmark 78 over 1800m (Race 9 – 4:25 pm). The Kris Lees-trained talent looks set to appreciate dropping back in trip from 2100m and is more than capable of matching motors with this level of opposition. The son of Pour Moi isn’t likely to get his preferred soft going, but we still expect him to run a big race from barrier 11.
Sunday
Sandown
Milestone presents third up in a 2100m Benchmark 78
(Race 5 – 2:45pm ). The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper hasn’t run-up to his potential this time in, but we expect a bounce-back performance here. Star hoop Craig Williams will take mount from barrier 7 in the field of 15.
The Curragh
We are excited to hold a strong hand at this weekend’s time-honoured Curragh Guineas meeting, including our high-rating mare True Self in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Find out more about True Self and OTIs, two other runners in our comprehensive Curragh preview on Sunday!
