ROSEHILL PREVIEW December 12, 2009 CHRISTMAS CUP (2400M) Despite the close proximity (date wise) of Sydney’s summer feature staying races, the Listed Christmas Cup (Rosehill) and the Group 3 Summer Cup (Randwick), both 2400m, only four horses have completed the double. The good mare Ready To Lift did it last year, coming off a terrific fourth in the Listed Canberra Cup (2400m) and Century Boy completed the double in 1996, but he was the first since Sandy’s Hope in 1968. Compass was the first in 1958, 10 years after the first Christmas Cup was run. The Summer Cup (run in two weeks) has a long and rich history, going back to 1890, the year Carbine won the Melbourne Cup. This year’s $100,000 Christmas Cup has attracted a field of only eight starters, which is extremely disappointing, but that’s the nature of most staying races in Sydney these days. The key form line this is one race, a 2400m Benchmark 85 run on the Randwick Kensington track on November 28, impressively won by Bart Cummings’ up-and-comer Star Ripper – a horse who has emerged from obscurity after Cummings and part-owner Dato Tan Chin Nam elected to geld him last season, as a 3YO. Star Ripper has won his last three starts in emphatic style. He raced on the pace when a dominant 5.5-length winner of a Benchmark 60 race at Hawkesbury (2000m) on November 5, and then followed with another easy win in a 2200m No Metro Win race at Warwick Farm on November 17. But it was his last-start win that put
a spring in the step of 82-year-old Cummings. Star Ripper stumbled at the start, but powered over the top of his rivals to convincingly beat Christmas Cup rivals Scouting Wide, Marensky Reef and Bright Mind.“He’s a lightly-raced horse that certainly is going the right way,” the Hall Of Fame trainer said in typical “stating-theobvious” fashion. And as is usual with the media, when Cummings produces a promising stayer, the Melbourne Cup becomes part of the conversation. Cummings made it quite clear that getting the gelding qualified for a Cup run by winning Christmas Cup and/or the Summer Cup was his mission. Star Ripper should be able to get a cosy run behind the pace in the Christmas Cup, following a tempo that will be set by either Marensky Reef or Dothis Dothat – both have a penchant for leading, but it’s doubtful they will dice for the lead in this small field. Tim Martin’s Scouting Wide, a son of Zabeel, was outsprinted by Star Ripper last time, but he did a lot of work before the turn and he is a winner at his only start over this track and distance on November 14, when he was too strong for Marensky Reef. The imported mare Music Review can be expected to be in the finish. The mare will be vastly improved by her last start fourth at Rosehill (1900m) on November 21, her first run since her excellent second behind Bid Spotter on October 17. Expect Marensky Reef to run well. The on-pace runner was a little disappointing when fourth behind Star Ripper, but he will be fitter. The tips: Star Ripper to beat Scouting Wide, Music Review, Marensky Reef and Bright Mind.
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Predicted positions on settling
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Race 5, 3.50pm (Sydney time)
AND ALSO Picture this: you're sitting at home late on Sunday afternoon and you're wondering if there's a good horse to back at decent odds. That, take note, is good horse to back at value; it's definitely not a good bet such as a 'moral' against hacks in the sixth in the bush somewhere. There are plenty of good ones going around in the four Group 1s at Sha Tin in Hong Kong, all to be shown live on TVN and Sky Racing. You know All Silent, Apache Cat and Co, and all are likely to be "unders", because you actually do know them well. Why not have an eachway flutter on a few that should be "overs" because you don't know them well, if at all? And Also asked a follower of the elite races overseas for a leg-up. He suggests: The Sprint (1200m) – The John Moore-trained One World ($41): this Australian-bred should have finished a lot closer in the Sprint Trial on November 22. He's Darren Beadman's one roughie in his Group 1 quartet. The Mile (1600m) – Alexandros ($21): Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin left its other two entries for the meeting at home, but still sent this one. He has Group 1 'mile' form, and he had a Hong Kong "sighter" in April. The Cup (2000m) – Starlish ($26): won a Group 3 in France last start and is one on the up. The Vase (2400m) – Jaguar Mail ($18): his third in this race last year suggests he can run into a place again. At least. Stephen Howell in Hong Kong