Lindsay Park co-trainer Tom Dabernig is finding it hard split his two runners, Criterion and Dibayani, in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Criterion is set to run an improved race in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The prospect of a wet Rosehill track will enhance the chances of Criterion while Dibayani is coming off an excellent second to George Ryder favourite Winx in the Group 1 $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on February 27.
Criterion ran last of seven behind Holler at his first Autumn Carnival start over the unsuitable distance of 1300m in the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on March 5 and Dabernig is expecting a better performance stepping up to the 2000m of the Ranvet Stakes.
And he can also see Dibayani carrying on his good form from the Chipping Norton Stakes at his third run into his Autumn Carnival campaign.
“First up it was at 1300m was a bit on the short side (for Criterion),” said Dadernig who trains in partnershp with David Hayes.
“He is out to his preferred distance, 2000m, and there has been rain Sydney and he is really good with the cut out of the ground so I think he can bounce back.”
“His (Dibayani) last start running second to Winx was excellent form. He has had the two runs now, very fit and I think you have to have him in the betting as well.”
The Rosehill track has been rated a soft 5 on Thursday following 21mm of rain over the last seven days and with further showers predicted leading into the weekend the soft conditions should suit both Criterion and Dibayani.
Criterion is a three times winner on rain affected tracks and include wins during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Carnival in the Group 1 $500,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on a soft 7 and in the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.
The chestnut stallion also won last year’s Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on a soft 7 rated track.
Dibayani’s wet track record is two placings on the heavy and one win on the soft but the imported six year is yet to win for the Lindsay Park team from six Australian starts after doing his early racing in Ireland and Hong Kong.
The John O’Shea trained Hauraki heads the betting for the Ranvet Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au at $3.80 just ahead of Dibayani at $3.90 and Criterion at $5.
Ranvet Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.80 Hauraki, $3.90 Dibayani, $5 Criterion, $6 The United States, $8.50 Storm The Stars, $10 Mongolian Khan, $17 Kool Kompany, $31 Bohemian Lily, $41 Weary.
