Gary Harley
Peter Snowden, fresh from training last Friday’s Group 3 Newcastle Stakes winner Tuileries on the Newcastle track will send four of his team up the M1 for Thursday’s race meeting. All four of Snowden’s team have genuine chances however I am keen on the Yulong owned 3-year-old filly Vision In A Dream in the 1600 metre The Adviser Collective Super Maiden Plate.
Chad Schofield has the mount on the daughter of Lucky Vega which steps out for her third appearance following two unplaced efforts at Wyong and Gosford. Last start at Wyong on February 21 the filly settled worse than midfield and she stormed home late down the short straight to finish fourth 1.78 lengths from the winner.
Vision In A Dream gave the impression she will appreciate the spacious track, a long straight and step up to the 1600 metres on Thursday.
Scone trainer Lyle Chandler will head down the Hunter with his 3-year-old filly Regal Problem. She won successive races at Scone and Warren in the spring and her three recent performances in Rosehill and Randwick Highways indicate the filly can win the 1600 metre The Prince of Merewether Benchmark 68 Handicap.
On January 17 on a soft 7 Rosehill track Regal Problem was slow away and held up in the straight when beaten into third place 1.74 lengths from the winner. Two starts back in a 1500 metre Rosehill Highway she was again slowly away when unplaced as a $2.45 favourite. Stepping up to 1800 metres last start at Randwick on February 14, Regal Problem was wide no cover after a slow start and she had a tough run when beaten 1.92 lengths. Ash Morgan is the filly’s new rider on Thursday.
The speedy She’s Assort an odds-on favourite when last at Gosford on February 26 can atone when she contests the 900 metre New Zealand Bloodstock Benchmark 64 Handicap. A brilliant winner first up at Kembla on February 7, Richard Litt’s filly was backed into $1.70 at Gosford but an outside barrier destroyed her chances. She is very fast and was trapped three wide without cover to near the turn before crossing to lead. She’s Assort weakened in the straight as the tough run took its toll. The 3-year-old has barrier one on Thursday and Dylan Gibbons has the mount.
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trained filly In Limbo is in career best form and is well placed in the 1200 metre New Era Technology Fillies and Mares Benchmark 64 Handicap. In Limbo was an easy Wyong winner on January 25 before being run down late at Hawkesbury on February 19. She has drawn nicely with Tom Sherry on board. The consistent locally trained Piccaderro racing in great form in country grade this preparation is well placed in the 1400 metre Happy 77th Birthday Gary Harley Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap. The Jason Deamer trained gelding has had two wins and a close second from three starts this preparation and he has come up with barrier 1 with Ash Morgan in the saddle.