Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain and Victoria Derby victor Tarzino are the top two in the final field for the 2016 Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain, above blue with yellow sleeves, is one of the main chances in the Rosehill Guineas. Photo by Steve Hart.
Thirteen colts and geldings plus one filly make up the fourteen horse field with Tarzino drawing barrier two and Le Romain drawing midfield at seven.
The Kris Lees trained Le Romain scored an upset win last start when he downed the odds on favourite Press Statement in the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 5.
Christian Reith rode a great tactical race on Le Romain in the Randwick Guineas and he is hoping he repeat that performance on Saturday.
Victorian colt Tarzino slowed that he is not far away from the winner’s circle with a late finishing second to Palentino in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 5 and the step up to 2000m is definitely in his favour.
Top Melbourne jockey Craig Newitt was aboard the Mick Price trained Tarzino when he won the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival and when second in the Australian Guineas and will be aboard again in the Rosehill Guineas.
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller will have two Rosehill Guineas runners, Spring Champion Stakes winner Vanburgh, and restricted class galloper Hursley.
Hugh Bowman will ride Vanburgh who has drawn out wide at barrier twelve while Hursley has drawn one worse at thirteen with Craig Williams in the saddle.
Trainer John O’Shea will also saddle up two runners with James McDonald to ride Etymology from gate nine and Shards with Sam Clipperton to jump from barrier six.
Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher will saddle up the only filly in the Rosehill Guineas, Jameka, who has drawn the outside gate with Damien Oliver taking the ride.
Oliver has been aboard Jameka for her last four starts and the pair combined to win the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Jameka has had two runs back from a spell with Oliver in the saddle for a first up fourth to Don’t Doubt Mamma in the Group 3 $150,000 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 20 followed by a fifth to Palentino in the Australian Guineas.
Rosehill Guineas final field: 1 Tarzino (2), 2 Le Romain (7), 3 Vanburgh (12), 4 Etymology (9), 5 Shards (6), 6 Gold Ambition (10), 7 River Wild (8), 8 Montaigne (3), 9 I’m Belucci (11), 10 Crosley Hotshot (5), 11 Hursley (13), 12 Spanish Stride (1), 13 Oh So Splendido (4), 14 Jameka (14).
