Dual group 1 winner Observer will have his first try on the Sydney leg when he takes his chance in the Rosehill Guineas (G1), one of five group 1s on the March 21 Rosehill Gardens card headlined by the AU$5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (G1).
The Ciaron Maher-trained colt heads into the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) race off a dominant performance in the Australian Guineas (G1) at 1,600 meters (about 1 mile), his second win in elite company, following up his victory in the 2,500-meter (about 1 9/16-mile) VRC Derby (G1) last November. Maher said the 3-year-old has impressed in his work in the Sydney direction ahead of the weekend's group 1.
"I wanted to get him up there early and do a couple of nice little pieces of work and he worked like a horse that has had a lot of experience up there," the trainer said from Caulfield March 17. "He came through his Guineas win very well. He's travelled up, he did a nice piece of work last week that was quite impressive and this morning just cantered around on the bit. He didn't have to do a lot and you would think he's only going to improve by getting back up to 10 furlongs (2,000 meters)."
Chris Waller will step Autumn Boy up to 2,000 meters for the first time in Saturday's race as he looks to assess the colt's potential as a Cox Plate (G1) prospect later this year. The Caulfield Guineas (G1) winner also had been considered for the George Ryder Stakes (G1) on the Golden Slipper program, but Waller said the decision to target the Rosehill Guineas was about testing the colt's staying credentials rather than avoiding unbeaten stablemate Autumn Glow.
"We could have gone to the shorter option for him and run into Autumn Glow in a George Ryder and Doncaster, and we could still go to a Doncaster," Waller said. "But I want to know whether he is a solid, 2,000-meter horse to see whether he's in a Cox Plate when he comes back in the spring."
Autumn Boy has finished third in the Hobartville Stakes (G2) and second in the Randwick Guineas (G1) to Sheza Alibi at his two runs this campaign, and Waller expects the colt to peak third-up at Rosehill.
"He ran into a pretty smart one last week, but he will be ready to peak as well third-up," he said. Waller confirmed blinkers, which were used during the colt's previous preparation, will not be applied Saturday.
Sir Delius Set for Rematch in Ranvet
The Ranvet Stakes (G1) is being billed as a match race between Aeliana and Sir Delius, whose co-trainer Adrian Bott is banking on a three-week break between runs to have him up for the fight.
The Tulloch Lodge gelding was the favorite for the Cox Plate (G1) and Melbourne Cup (G1) last spring before he was controversially ruled out of the Victorian carnival after failing mandatory veterinary tests. His third behind Autumn Glow and Aeliana in the Verry Elleegant Stakes (G1) Feb. 28 was his first appearance in almost five months and Bott reported the horse had taken significant benefit from the hit-out.
"Three weeks, it has been that real sweet spot to get him to where we need him to be stepping out to 2,000," said Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse. "He is out to his right trip now, and he has shown the necessary improvement. I'm ready to see him bounce back."
Charlton Duo Take on Autumn Glow in George Ryder
Trainer Tom Charlton will rely on Linebacker and Yorkshire in the George Ryder Stakes (G1). The duo will clash with Waller's superstar filly Autumn Glow over 1,500 meters (about 7 1/2 furlongs) and Charlton admits his pair are most likely vying for place money.
"I can't be definitive with that, but if she's on her normal game, it probably is," he said. "As we know with horses, that's not always the case, but we're realistic about the challenge at set weights. Perhaps if we meet her in the Doncaster we might have more favorable conditions to give us our best chance of beating her."
Linebacker and Yorkshire drop to 53 kilograms in next month's Doncaster Mile Handicap (G1) in which Autumn Glow has been handicapped at 56.5 kilograms, representing a 6.5 kilograms swing in the weights. All roads lead to the feature for both geldings, and Charlton expects another encouraging performance from Linebacker Saturday after he was beaten just 1 1/2 lengths by Joliestar on resumption in the Canterbury Stakes (G1).
"He didn't jump as well as he can. He ended up a bit further back in what was a dash home," the trainer said. "But all in all, it was a very good run. A run with a lot of merit and if he'd got the first hundred meters a bit more clinical, he would have been right in the finish. We want to see a similar run second-up. Top three would be great."
Grafterburners' Win Streak on the Line in Galaxy
Eagle Farm-based trainer Kelly Schweida admits that Grafterburners hasn't had the ideal preparation heading into Saturday's The Galaxy (G1), but is hoping the colt can run a big race. The cancellation of two sets of recent trials means Grafterburners has missed some work ahead of the group 1 at 1,100 meters (about 5 1/2 furlongs), however Schweida has gotten a couple of gallops into the stakes-winning colt.
"It hasn't been the ideal last couple of weeks I must admit, it's been a bit of a nightmare,'' Schweida told Racing NSW. "He had a trial three weeks ago and he was supposed to trial last Tuesday and they called them off, then on Thursday they called them off again. He's a little bit fortunate that he doesn't need three or four runs to hit his straps. I had to weigh all that up. Unfortunately you don't know until you get there if you've done the right thing or not."
Grafterburners enters on a four-race win streak, including the Dec. 20 Gold Edition Plate and Jan. 10 Magic Millions Sunlight Plate.
"I gave him a good gallop on Tuesday morning instead of trialing him, I thought if I trialed it might have been too much with a float trip down," Schweida said. "Someone asked me what's it like. I said it's a bit like having a tattoo of an ex-partner, there's not much you can do about it you've just got to cop it and wear it for now."
Jimmysstar Aims for William Reid Glory
While Rosehill hosts the majority of the group 1 events March 21, Caulfield Racecourse will also play host to a top-level race that day. With Saturday's William Reid Stakes (G1) having been moved to Caulfield this year, relocating from Moonee Valley due to the latter track's renovation, Maher is more than happy for Jimmysstar to take his place in the 1,200-meter group 1. The 6-year-old gelding has not been seen since landing the C.F. Orr Stakes (G1) in November, and Maher is delighted that the William Reid will be held at Jimmysstar's favorite track this year.
"The William Reid is here at Caulfield, which is his favorite track," Maher's assistant Jack Turnbull said. "He's had a faultless prep and his trials are obviously there to be seen. It would be nice to think he's come back better—he doesn't need to—but he tries, he's very competitive and he's clearly a very good horse. He won the Oakleigh Plate here, but that was as a younger horse and he had no weight. Now as a mature horse, effectively he is a '7-furlong' horse, but he's so brilliant and fresh over 6 (furlongs) he can really rip."
Jimmysstar is one of two entries for Maher, who will also be represented by Benedetta.
"She's been running bold races against some very good horses," Turnbull said of the mare. "She's obviously going back to weight-for-age, but she deserves her place as well."
