3 minute read

A look back at some highlights of the racing from Rosehill on Saturday.

Trackwork dud lands city success 

Semana isn't much chop on the training track, but she is a model of consistency on race days, atoning for a narrow last start defeat with her first Saturday-grade win at Rosehill. 

Johann Gerard-Dubord, Sydney foreman for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, said the filly was such a casual trackworker it was hard to imagine she could measure up in the country, let alone in town. 

"If you watch her at trackwork, you wouldn't think she'd win a race anywhere, but she keeps showing up and she is a lovely horse to have," Gerard-Dubord said. 

"She is very consistent, still progressive and hopefully we have a few more wins with her." 

Semana was made to work a touch early but once she got control, she relaxed in the lead and kicked strongly for apprentice Dylan Gibbons. 

He was also aboard when she went down to Resonator at her previous start and said she had raced too fresh that day but conserved her energy much better on Saturday. 

"I just loved when I grabbed her today, she was a nice, relaxed horse, and when I asked her to go through her gears she was full of running for me," Gibbons said. 

Battle of star apprentices' continues 

The scene has been set for a thrilling showdown between good mates and leading junior riders Gibbons and Zac Lloyd as the pair vie to finish the season as Sydney's champion apprentice. 

Gibbons was on 63 wins heading into Saturday's Rosehill meeting, two ahead of Lloyd, the former striking first blood with his victory aboard Semana in the second race. 

Lloyd hit back in the next two events with a double courtesy of Resonator and Soami, but Gibbons wasn't about to let him narrow the gap, again extending his title lead to two with a victory on Fawkner Park for Annabel Neasham. 

Gibbons said the competition was healthy for both of them as they drove each other to greater heights. 

"If we can keep doing that, we should nearly ride a card between us," Gibbons said. 

"Like we've said all along, we're just egging each other on. It's a bit of friendly banter but if it's going to mean we ride an extra ten winners between us then I'm sure we'll happily oblige. 

"It's going to be great fun with him and may the best man win." 

Walk in the park for Neasham import 

Neasham is hoping Fawkner Park might be a stakes horse in waiting after he passed a distance test to remain unbeaten in Australia. 

Stepping up to 2400m for the first time in Saturday's Toyota Forklifts Handicap, the four-year-old rattled home down the outside to outpoint stablemate Naval College by a length. 

The win followed previous victories at Kembla Grange, Doomben and Rosehill and Neasham's stable representative Aaron Lau was optimistic Fawkner Park could eventually measure up to better grade. 

"We think, in time, he will get to stakes grade," Lau said. 

"It's moreso the way he puts the opposition away, his turn of speed is electric and he relaxes so well in his races. 

"We've slowly brought him through his grades. He lumped a big weight (60kg) today and first time over 2400 metres, he's done a terrific job." 

Lau said Neasham would let the dust settle before deciding her next move with Fawkner Park but the gelding was likely to be spelled. 

"He's had a tough preparation, he's had a trip up to Queensland as well and I'd say that will probably tip him off likely now but Annabel will make a decision in the next few days," he said. 

Another Attractable win for Ryan 

Young Central Coast-based trainer Sara Ryan is quickly making her mark in the Sydney arena, producing Attractable for another strong win at Rosehill. 

The four-year-old gave Ryan her third Saturday metropolitan victory in the space of a month after So Good So Cool took out the Midway Handicap at Randwick on June 10 and Attractable a Benchmark 78 race at Rosehill on June 17. 

She is particularly enjoying watching the progress of Attractable, who she believes will be even better suited over further than the 1500m of Saturday's Furphy Handicap. 

"I think he's begging to go out a little in distance, so that will be the plan. 

"We have been looking at a race in two weeks' time over 1800, we're thinking that's where we'll head. 

"He just gets out there, switches off then turns it back on when he needs to." 

Quote of the day: "It was great to see him win like that today. They served it up to him early and he was still good enough to beat them with 60 kilos." - trainer Scott Collings after his Kosciuszko hopeful Mogo Magic took out the Highway Handicap.