CONTROVERSIAL galloper Hoystar is expected to return to the winner's stall in Saturday's Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill.
"We've installed him favourite at $3.80 on the strength of the first-up run when an unlucky second behind Bank Robber," TAB Sportsbet's spokesman Glenn Munsie said on Thursday. "The second favourite, Mentality, was disappointing first-up but should improve on two counts: he'll strip fitter and will appreciate the firmer track."
At Moonee Valley, the opening group 1 race of the season (the Manikato Stakes) has track specialist Kaphero favourite at $4.
"I've made it [Kaphero] the lay of the day," Munsie said. "It was heavily favoured by a bias at Moonee Valley last start and will find it tougher here. The horse to beat is definitely Red Element, but will the first emergency get a run?"
Big ask for Sidereus
Patinack Farm-owned three-year-old Sidereus has been thrown into the deep end in Saturday's Manikato Stakes, but trainer Anthony Cummings expects the colt to perform.
"The gate [16] doesn't help us much but the horse is fit and well, and being a group 1 race we have to go around," Cummings said on Thursday. "It is a winnable race for him. He worked at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning and it was winning work."
Sidereus, to be ridden by Chris Symons, resumed with a fifth at Caulfield when Cummings said he "wasn't fully wound up", and he also came from a wide alley. "He'll be thereabouts on Saturday," he said.
At Rosehill, the Cummings-trained Red Lord is out to complete a hat-trick in the Kingston Town Stakes, with Corey Brown aboard.
"Red Lord is going along fine and he can win again," Cummings said. "I am aiming at The Metropolitan with him so he will probably back-up in the Hill Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday week, all going well."
Cummings said his Rosehill Guineas winner Dealer Principal had returned from a disappointing two-start Melbourne campaign in a bid to resurrect his spring carnival, and the Hill Stakes is also looming for the four-year-old.
"Having not long raced and then having a quick float trip home he was a bit light on returning to Sydney, but he is looking a lot better now," he said. "I'll take him to the barriers [on Friday morning] for a jump-out. I want to get him a bit competitive early in a race again. He settled back in the field in his Melbourne runs and never got into the race."
Take two for Whitefriars
The Caulfield Guineas assault of the Rick Worthington-trained Whitefriars gathers momentum at Rosehill on Saturday when the colt lines up in the rain-delayed Ming Dynasty Quality.
Whitefriars was due to contest the race last week at Randwick but the washed-out meeting meant it was postponed.
"We drew gate four last week which was ideal, but this time we have barrier nine which is a little more difficult," Worthington said.
"But I'm very happy with the horse. He is on track for the Stan Fox after the Ming Dynasty, and then we'll go to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas."
Regular rider Larry Cassidy sticks with Whitefriars in the Ming Dynasty and Worthington said the jockey had been full of praise for his recent trackwork.
"The horse is improving all the time," he said, adding the colt will wear winkers on Saturday.
Back to drawing board
Wyong trainer Stephen Farley faces a dilemma with rejuvenated stayer Brave Lancer, which is down to run in Saturday's Kingston Town Stakes at Rosehill.
The Wyong Cup was on Brave Lancer's agenda en route to next week's Newcastle Cup. The Wyong feature was transferred from last Friday to Monday and was run on a heavy track.
"We missed the Wyong Cup due to the deluge and it is a matter of sitting down and working out a plan," Farley said. "There are a couple of options. I'm going to nominate tomorrow for the Newcastle Cup but it is over 2300m and that is a worry, but I'll have a look at the noms.
"Running Saturday over 2000 might be a better way to go. He will be competitive, I didn't think it was overly strong. Red Lord is obviously flying but the rest are around my horse's ability."
Cordina's turn for better
It was a change of fortune for owner John Cordina when Gallant Tess claimed the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on Tuesday. Cordina won an AJC Australian Derby with Fairway but things had not been going too well until Tuesday.
Gallant Tess beat all but Racing To Win in the Warwick Stakes and stablemate Stripper was gunned down by Duporth in the $1 million Golden Rose a fortnight ago.
"We've got Centennial Park in at Rosehill on Saturday, let's hope the luck continues," Cordina said after Gallant Tess's victory.
Centennial Park, which has a first and second from only two starts, takes on boom three-year-old Dreamscape in the Ming Dynasty Quality. The galloper is prepared by Gallant Tess's trainer David Payne and will be ridden by its jockey Jeff Lloyd, who rode four successive winners at Randwick on Tuesday.
Shinn to ride 'heavy'
Premier jockey Blake Shinn has been granted permission from Racing NSW stewards to ride Theseo 0.5 kilograms over in Saturday's Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained five-year-old caught the eye when rattling home from the tail first-up to finish fifth behind Typhoon Zed in Concorde Stakes at Rosehill on August 30.
"Jockeys are not expected to ride at that weight all year round and it can be difficult when feature races roll round with light weight minimums," Racing NSW senior steward Steve Railton said.
Craig marks 40th year
Celebrated race caller Ian Craig has reason to celebrate this weekend when he racks up 40 years service with 2KY. He has survived in a profession where most are expected to get it right but few can do the job. The Form says thanks.
Owners get Cox draw
Owners with runners in this year's Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 25 will draw their own barrier.
Racing Victoria will draw a horse and the owners can select whatever barrier is available for Australasian racing's championship event. Since 1939 seven has been the most successful with 10 winners.