Race 7C (Rosehill) – Group 1 GOLDEN ROSE

2:25 EDT AM – Saturday Morning

$1,000,000 purse – limited to 3yo only – 7 Furlongs

Like in the USA and Canada, the “glamor division” of the sprinters is usually the 6 furlong distance, but really this race is important for three reasons – it is the first Group 1 of the season for three years olds, the purse at $1,000,000 is huge, and it is seen as a stepping stone to the MILE races later on in the Spring, and even possibly a way to start preparations for the $3,000,000, 10 furlong Cox Plate against the older horses in 5 weeks time (3 yo horses this time of year in Aussie get a 20 pound weight break going the Cox Plate distance against older).

#3 HALLOWED CROWN (7/2 ML) overpowered the opposition in the Sydney/Rosehill prep 2 weeks ago, and the only concern is can he win a a drying out/dead track (in Aussie a “dead” track is like what in the USA or Canada we would call a “good track).  He is undefeated but his two big stakes wins came on HEAVY tracks.  He also does not have a lot of tactical speed – he will be coming from well off the pace early.  Even so, if you can get the ML 7/2 on him that would seem to be good value – some Aussie commentators think this horse could be good enough to contend for a Cox Plate slot.

#4 Kumaon (10/ML) is very well bred and well connected, and chased home the top pick on the same heavy track.  It looks like he likes to run second and thirds more than win, and he didn’t look like a winner while finishing well enough two weeks ago.  Probably a good horse to use under in the exacta with Hallowed Crown on top.

#5 Scissor Kick (10/1 ML) has won 3 in a row with good speed figures.  Big chance.

#13 Bring Me The Maid (5/2 ML), while very talented, is only 5th or 6th in the field in the speed figures I use.  Appears to be way over bet as the favorite.