Autumn Preview

Today’s renewals of the Silver Slipper and Hobartville Stakes whet the appetite of racing enthusiasts for the Autumn ahead. They offer the first real preview of Golden Slipper aspirants and three-year-old Triple crown hopefuls.

This year’s Hobartville offers double the prizemoney of last year, but would seem, despite the presence of headliner Press Statement, to lack last year’s density. Permit me to quote some of what I wrote twelve months ago:

"The Autumn ahead may well be one to savour based upon Saturday's Hobartville renewal. Hallowed Crown, Sweynesse, Kermadec and Shooting To Win engaged in an epic battle up the Rosehill straight, with riders and horses thrusting purposefully and little between the four at the finishing post. Punters relish the prospect of analysing and playing autumn 3yos, and the coming months are filled with promise."

Hallowed Crown marched onto the Randwick Guineas before the Kiwis plundered the remaining staying classics (Preferment originated in NZ), while Kermadec took the Doncaster. Down the course Preferment found his way to Flemington for the first Tuesday in November, enroute taking out the mile and a quarter group one double of Rosehill Guineas and Turnbull Stakes while Sworn To Silence was sighted out of the money at Beaumont recently in a 2200m Class One for desperates.

I expect the course proper at Rosehill today, with firm footing but a dense grass coverage, to suit middle to wide draws, just off the fence on the straight, and stalkers rather than leaders. The predicted pattern appears in favour of the Favourite in both features.

The Silver Slipper, or the “two thirty”, sees the reappearance of Astern, faultless in three public appearances to date, a barrier trial either side of his debut. He may be forced to race outside the likely leader Rather Sweet, and could be asked the question by the improving Mount Panorama or the talented Defcon in the closing stages. Personally, Astern is too well found for me, and today’s finish promises much revelation.

The Hobartville, at 4.25pm, has the Caulfield Guineas titleholder, Press Statement, reappear for the Autumn. His two trials this time in were a month or so ago, and he promises to be well forward. Press Statement will be required to reel in Spill The Beans, who dominated the lead-up race, the Eskimo Prince Quality, sitting outside the lead, and running right through the line in an impressive display. It may well be a stern test for the much vaunted favourite, one I suspect he is capable of, and a valuable Launchpad for the weeks ahead.

Look out for my review of the meeting on Monday.