A busy Saturday ahead of us with runners in six different locations across Australia and New Zealand. One of the highlights is the return of OTI and Qatar Bloodstock’s Sydney Cup winner Selino, as well as Full Of Sincerity in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas, which will hopefully lead him into the New Zealand Derby in two weeks.
Saturday, February 17
Pukekohe Park (NZ)
Current Track Rating: Soft
Full Of Sincerity
Full of Sincerity will take his place here in the hope of keeping his NZ Derby dreams alive. He didn’t have much go his way last start, after finding himself wide in the run in what ended up a messy race. Hopefully, he is afforded a better run on Saturday and given his chance to show his good turn of foot. Andrew Forsman has re-iterated that he still has physical development to come, so he poses as an exciting proposition in Australia during his 4-year-old season and beyond.
Race 5 – 12:43pm | 2100m G2 Avondale Guineas | T: Andrew Forsman | J: Ryan Elliot 57kg | Barrier 10 | Saddlecloth 14
Flemington
Current Track Rating: Good
Timour
Timour heads to Flemington for his third-up assignment, where he will appreciate the rise to 2000m. Saturday poses as another stepping stone in his preparation, which will hopefully culminate in a Sydney Cup. In prepping him up for this goal, Chris continues to focus on getting him to switch off during the run, so it would be great to see him doing things right on Saturday.
Race 4 – 2:20pm | 2000m BM84 | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald 56kg | Barrier 13 | Saddlecloth 8
Eagle Farm
Current Track Rating: Good
Barade
Barade jumps to 2200m second-up but his fitness level isn’t of great concern. He just went through the motions a touch late without the blinkers on last start but has enjoyed a change of routine between runs. Third up with the blinkers back on is when we’d expect him to be ultra-competitive, but he does find a suitable race here and is more than capable of being in the finish.
Race 4 – 2:47pm | 2200m BM90 | T: Jack Bruce | J: James Orman 59kg | Barrier 8 | Saddlecloth 1
Scarlet Tufty
Scarlet Tufty is now getting to the stage of his preparation where we’d like to see him be more competitive. He boxed on quite well late last start and is crying out for this sort of journey. With a light weight and positive ride, it’s felt he can start to really find some form.
Race 4 – 2:47pm | 2200m BM90 | T: Jack Bruce | J: Ben Thompson 52.5kg | Barrier 6 | Saddlecloth 6
Bendigo
Current Track Rating: Good
Darci’s Debut
Darci’s Debut makes her return in what looks a very suitable kick-off point for the mare. She has made good improvement in each of her three trials this time in and now appears to be a lot more tractable in running. In what looks a race with low depth and with a solid fitness base underneath her, we would expect her to be putting in a competitive showing here.
Race 4 – 3:16pm | 1100m 0-58 Handicap | T: Symon Wilde | J: Josh Cartwright 58kg | Barrier 2 |
Saddlecloth 6
Coffs Harbour
Current Track Rating: Soft
Cardiatic
Cardiatic may make his debut from a wide alley on the back of two trials. His last trial outing doesn’t look that flash on face value, but his work has been of a better standard. Naturally, he’ll improve with the run under his belt and a step to 1400m and beyond, so we look forward to getting his career underway.
Race 5 – 3:45pm | 1200m Maiden | T: Matthew Dunn | J: Ben Looker 58.5kg | Barrier 15 | Saddlecloth 3
Rosehill
Current Track Rating: Soft
Selino
Selino will make his long-awaited return having completed a tendon rehabilitation program with Matthew Williams in Warrnambool. He was last seen in the 2021 Melbourne Cup and is a true stayer, with his campaign being based around another Sydney Cup tilt. The 1900m is well short of his best and we know he improves with racing, so Saturday is just about getting him underway and seeing him do the right things in running.
Race 7 – 4:00pm | 1900m Listed Parramatta Cup | T: Chris Waller | J: Jason Collett 59.5kg | Barrier 7 | Saddlecloth 1
Best of luck to all connections!