Top trainer Peter Snowden looks set to play a strong hand at both Rosehill Gardens and Eagle Farm on Saturday
Touristic ran only seventh in Sir Lucan's Winter Cup but is dropping back 400m for the Listed $200,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m).
Manaajem was beaten out of a place as an odds-on favourite when resuming at a midweek meeting and the filly is at generous each way odds for the TAB Handicap (1100m).
Snowden is confident Touristic has retained the form that won him the Lord Mayor's Cup over the Rosehill 2000m course two starts back.
' Touristic got a bit too far back the other day,'' Snowden said.
'He was giving them too much start but he still hit the line hard. He certainly hasn't lost his way, he's going well.''
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have Touristic at $6 in latest betting behind French import Elamaz at $3.90.
Manaajem is a well-bred filly by Tassort out of Najoom, the dam of two stakes winners including Group 1 winner Charm Stone. Snowden's three-year-old filly was brilliant on debut at Wyong back in December but has been beaten out of a place in two starts since including her first-up effort at Warwick Farm earlier this month.
'I feel it was the wet track that beat Manaajem the other day,'' Snowden said.
'She's going really well and getting back on a firmer track will suit her. She will run a much better race.''
Snowden will be at Eagle Farm where he has chances in three feature races including the very consistent but luckless Tashi in the Group 1 $700,000 Tatt's Tiara (1400m).
Tashi has been placed in seven stakes races without winning, including three successive seconds in recent starts in the Hawkesbury Crown, Helen Coughlan Stakes and Dane Ripper Stakes by an aggregate margin of about a half length.
'She has been racing so well for so long but unfortunately it doesn't come down to your turn,'' Snowden said.
'This is a very hard race, it's very even, but she will come into a nice barrier around eight after the scratchings. She is going very well and I'm sure there is another good run in her.''
The Snowden-trained Need Some Luck has been racing up to his name after second placings at stakes level in the ATC Trophy and Hinkler Stakes at his last two starts.
'Need Some Luck has been stepping away slowly and that has been against him a bit,'' Snowden said.
'Last start, the track was very leader bias, it was almost impossible to make up ground late so he did a great job to finish as close as he did.
'Then at his previous start, it was also an amazing run to finish second.
'He is going really well and if he steps better and the track is not too leaderish, he will get his chance.''
Snowden is also upbeat about the chances of Queen Of Dragons in the Listed $160,000 Tattersall's Mile (1600m).
Queen Of Dragons comes off a close fourth, beaten a half length in the Pam O'Neill Stakes, and Snowden says the mare gets her chance.
'Her form was franked when the horse that beat her half a head for second (Adelia) won the mares' race (Magic Millions National Classic) next start,'' Snowden said. 'This is the right race for her.''
THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Rosehill Gardens
R1: Crafty Eagle $8-$7, Miss Spacegirl $8-$7
R2: New Pharoah $8-$4, Red Rags To Bulls $15-$9.50
R3: Puntin $4.60-$4.20, Don't Forget Jack $6-$5
R5: Livin' Thing $8-$4.40
R8: Alpha $4-$3.90, Piggyback $6-$4.20, Federer $6-$4.40
R9: 3-Elamaz $4.60-$3.90, Glory Daze $6-$4.60, Townsend $11-$7.50
R10: Snack Bar $8-$3.60, Eye Of The Fire $11-$7
EARLY QUADDIE
R3: 2,3,9,10
R4: 1,5,7,10
R5: 3,5,13
R6: 1,2,3,7
QUADDIE
R7: 2,3,8,10
R8: 9,10,12,15
R9: 2,3,4,6
R10: 9,10,12,13
PRICE CHECK
Elamaz (race 9) is a firming favourite for the McKell Cup, with TAB Fixed Odds punters backing him from $4.60 into $3.90. In the Stayer's Cup (race 7), there has been a couple of significant moves for Mormona $15 to $6.50 and Bacio Del Mist $15 to $7.50. The other big firmer is Livin' Thing (race 5) which was $8 but is into $4.40.
SECTIONAL STARS
Mickey's Medal (race 6) has won successive Rosehill 1500m races including his very impressive effort here last start when he broke 34s for his final 600m (33.93s) with a brilliant closing 200m sectional of 11.23s as he took control of the race for a convincing win.
Green Shadows (race 6) ran a blinder when sixth in the Civic Stakes last week. He drew the 'car park' and had to go back to near last in a big field before he charged through the ruck to be beaten two lengths behind Headley Grange. The true merit of Green Shadows' effort was reflected in the sectional times – he ran his final 600m in 34.90s with a closing 200m of 12.30s which were among the best splits all day.
TRIAL POINTERS
Soldier Of Rome (race 3) usually sprints well fresh and has indicated he is quite forward for his return to racing with two good barrier trial efforts. He ran third to the speedy The Instructor at Randwick then was a close second to Braveheart at the same track. He's ready for a competitive comeback race.
Spywire (race 5) has run well at stakes level earlier in his career but has only had two starts this season, both in summer, without winning. But there has been a lot to like about his two recent barrier trials including his close third at Warwick Farm earlier this month. He has a touch of class and is drawn to advantage for his return to racing.
BEST BET
Weeping Woman (race 4) ran well first-up on an unsuitable heavy track when third to Liberty State at Rosehill then led for a long way in a fast-run race only to be collared near the line by a very impressive Sacred Rocks. It took a good horse to beat Weeping Woman last start but she is primed third-up from a spell. The firmer track is in her favour and she will make her own luck riding the speed.
Hopeful (race 7) hasn't won for three years but his recent form is solid and he gets his chance in the Stayer's Cup. He ran a competitive fifth in the Group 2 Chairman's Handicap in April then last start back into a soft 5 track he ran a close third to Sir Lucan in the Winter Cup. Hopeful will enjoy the drying track here and at $9 he's worth a gamble for his attempt to break a long winning drought.
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