Tomorrow is the first official day of Spring, a time which many race fans wait for every year and the first meetings do not disappoint with good racing cards in Sydney and Melbourne.
Both Rosehill and Caulfield play host to some of the main Spring hopes this weekend and we also see the Dynamic trainers take to the track for what is hopefully another successful Saturday.
Chris Waller has dominated the racing scene in the opening month of the season producing a staggering 21 metropolitan and 24.5 winners total to leave him atop of the Sydney, NSW and Australia wide trainers premierships.
This weekend he has a team of eleven engaged to race on his home track at Rosehill with a number of them well in commission.
Among these runners is promising stayer, Stout Hearted who will be looking to make it three wins in a row when he lines up favourite in the LR Premier’s Cup over 1800 metres.
Chris, who has had a long association with Dynamic has started the season brilliantly
Among Chris’s other runners Noctunelle (Race 1) and Thubiaan (Race 5) look prominent and will start very close to favourite based on early markets.
Gerald Ryan has three runners engaged in Sydney on a competitive card including Dynamic’s own Posh Chic in the final event.
It hasn’t been an easy road for this 5 year old mare who suffered severe injuries prior to the commencement of this preparation however for her to be back on the racetrack is a victory in itself.
Posh Chic has always shown some ability in racing and we wish her loyal clients the best of luck tomorrow in her return to racing.
Posh Chic returns to racing tomorrow, a victory in itself
The field on paper looks very strong with Dynamic trainers Jason Coyle and Darren Smith respectively lining up with Emotional Circus and Rushing to Win who are both in the market.
David Payne also has a solid contingent accepted to race at Rosehill whom will be trying to run into the placings for tomorrow’s races.
The Payne stable will also reunite with former South African jockey Jeff Lloyd who has been booked to ride Latin News at Eagle Farm.
Lloyd spent a number of seasons riding for David in Sydney after they both relocated from their native South Africa.
Latin News will start a short price favourite and try to rekindle the relationship between these two fine South African born horsemen.
Matt Dunn has three runners at Eagle Farm tomorrow with 3yo Flying Spur gelding, Congo looking to be in the finish at each way odds.
Heading back further South, Peter Moody, Mick Price, Gerald Ryan and Darren Smith all have runners competing on Memsie Stakes day at Caulfield.
Peter Moody has the biggest team with 7 potential runners entered on a day which sees many horses start their Cup campaigns.
Peter Moody will start his cups campaign with two horses tomorrow
Peter Moody has two such runners with Voila Ici and Sneak a Peak both lining up for their first starts in Australia following purchase from Europe.
He also lines up Golden Archer in the LR The Shark.com.au Stakes who opened up favourite with the bookmakers.
Mick Price has his dual Gr1 winner, Heart of Dreams back at the track for his second start this campaign and will be looking to add to his already impressive resume.
Gerald Ryan has made the decision to send Amorino to Melbourne who will be looking for a black type victory in the McNeil Stakes.
Darren Smith also sends down Testarhythm to contest “The Shark.com.au” Stakes and is hopeful of running into a place.
We wish all of our trainers the best of luck for the first day of the Spring and subsequently the Sydney and Melbourne racing carnivals after that.
It is already shaping up to be a big carnival of racing and we will be watching the action closely over the coming months.
Jay Mathieson