A busy weekend awaits OTI owners in the Northern states with five runners across New South Wales and Queensland, headlined by Longvillers in the Listed Winter Challenge.
Saturday, July 22
Rosehill
Current Track Rating: Soft
Eaglemont
Eaglemont has raced well this campaign without winning, just going down a nose last start in Saturday company. He’s more than deserving of his shot at a Highway and on paper, looks a leading chance. Likely to be positioned somewhere midfield, he will need his share of luck from the 600m mark but he’s trained on well, handled his travel down nicely and and is expected to be very competitive.
Race 3 – 12:25pm | 1500m Highway Class 3 | T: Matthew Dunn | J: Zac Lloyd 57.5kgs | Barrier 1
| Saddlecloth 1
Principessa
Principessa notched up a very well-deserved city win for connections last start and is out to replicate that in Saturday grade. Over just 1200m on a track expected to be slightly firmer than ideal, it will be a big effort for the mare to win again. The low draw is however advantageous, and she’ll be ridden to save ground and show her late burst of speed. It’s felt she’s capable of winning in this company, she just may well want softer ground to be doing so.
Race 6 – 2:10pm | 1200m F&M BM78 | T: Joseph Pride | J: Dylan Gibbons 54kgs | Barrier 3 | Saddlecloth 12
Longvillers
Longvillers is racing better than the form guide suggests, running a nice race second-up without luck at a crucial stage at Randwick. Slightly rising in trip will assist here, and an uninterrupted passage in running should see him hitting the line well. He’ll be better off out to 1600m-1800m with juice in the ground, but it won’t shock us to see him right in the finish.
Race 8 – 3:25pm | 1500m Listed Winter Challenge | T: Chris Waller | J: Brett Prebble 55kgs | Barrier 8
| Saddlecloth 5
Doomben
Current Track Rating: Soft
Stuck With You
Stuck With You gets back to his preferred track and trip, which is a real key for him. He’s been up a long time but is racing in a good vein of form, and finds a suitable event (albeit in tougher company) to continue that. Kyle Wilson-Taylor knows this horse well having won on him on multiple occasions, so we hope to see them reunite with success here!
Race 3 – 1:08pm | 2020m BM90 | T: Matthew Dunn | J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 56kgs | Barrier 8 | Saddlecloth 4
Gosford
Current Track Rating: Soft
Apollo
A shade more was expected from Apollo at his first Australian start, but he can only improve for that run. The rise in trip will certainly assist, and we’re expecting to see a more competitive effort. He looks to have trained on well at Warwick Farm and he’s a horse who has always been held in high regard, so naturally we’re hopeful of a better showing in Class 1 company.
Race 8 – 4:25pm | 1600m Class 1 | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Jett Stanley 58kgs | Barrier 3 | Saddlecloth 1
Sunday, July 23
Sale
Current Track Rating: Soft
Indented Head
Indented Head looks back to her best based on her work at home and recent trial efforts, so we’re looking forward to the back half of the winter with her. Wet ground is the key to this mare and she looks to get those conditions on Sunday. She’ll be better with a run under her belt out to 1400m, but she can run a cheeky race here.
Race 7 – 3:45pm | 1205m BM64 | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Brian Higgins 57.5kgs | Barrier 4 | Saddlecloth 13
Curragh (IRE)
Current Track Rating: Soft
Feathertop
Feathertop may have her second career start providing conditions suit and the Harrington stable are happy with her. It won’t be easy up against more seasoned horses, but she’s a promising staying filly who should give a good account of herself out to 2400m. Previous raceday rider Nathan Crosse rode the filly in a piece of work this week and was most pleased.
Race 7 – TBA | 2400m 3yo+ Maiden | T: Jessica Harrington | J: TBA 9st 3lb | Barrier TBA | Saddlecloth TBA
Best of luck to all connections involved!