Topweight Saltcoats under 59kg is chasing a third win in his last four starts after consecutive fast-finishing wins at BM 88 level gave way to a frustrating minor placing in the Listed January Cup nine days ago.
Top jockey James McDonald returns in the saddle nearly a year after he was aboard for a close placing in the group 2 Tulloch Stakes last March.
Down on the bottom weight of 53kg, lightly raced five-year-old stablemate Tajanis, supremely bred by multiple group 1 winner Australia, shoots for consecutive wins after thrashing Saturday BM 78 grade only nine days ago.
McDonald jumps off Tajanis to ride Saltcoats, with Zac Lloyd taking over.
Golden Slipper favourite to miss Canonbury Stakes
Top Sydney trainer Chris Waller will bypass this Saturday’s group 3 Canonbury Stakes with Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton and likely head to the Silver Slipper on February 22. Wodeton became a clear favourite for the March 22, $5 million race for two-year-olds with a slashing win on debut at Randwick on January 18. “He will probably go to the Silver Slipper, which just breaks up his prep a little bit,” Waller said. “But if a horse like United States needs to run in the Silver Slipper, then we can change Wodeton’s plan.” Waller-trained United States, a $1.75 million colt, dived late and just missed on debut behind Open Secret on Saturday at Randwick. Waller said Tropic and Fermoy, a $1.9 million colt for Coolmore, were set to run in the Canonbury at Rosehill.
Craig Kerry
Waller to increase race distances for Joliestar
Joliestar will be set for longer targets in the Sydney autumn carnival after a likely resumption in the group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) on February 15 at Randwick. The four-year-old mare resumed from a 12-week let-up, following fast-finishing sevenths in the $20 million Everest (1200m) and $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m), with a trial win at Rosehill last Thursday. “We might head towards the Expressway first up,” trainer Chris Waller said. “We taught her to sprint a little bit too much last prep, so we’ve just got to get a bit of speed out of her and look towards stepping her up.” Waller said the March 15 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and April 12 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) were her potential group 1 targets this preparation.
Craig Kerry
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
