Faustus Impresses In Rosehill Debut

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John O'Shea unveiled a potential Golden Slipper prospect in Faustus at Rosehill on Saturday.

The strapping colt started at double-figure odds ($11) in the Nova 969 Fitzy & Wippa Handicap (1100m) but O'Shea said that was more a reflection on the quality of the field Faustus overcame to win by a half-neck over the Gai Waterhouse-trained favourite Kuchinskaya ($3.40).

The Peter Snowden-trained Limes ($3.80) was another 1-3/4 lengths away third while Dances On Stars ($4.20) lost ground at the start before running into fourth.

Faustus, by More Than Ready, will head to the paddock with O'Shea eyeing the autumn.

"Doesn't he have a beautiful action?" O'Shea said.

"He's a lovely horse and he'll go out now and then come back in the autumn hopefully with a bit of luck.

"We came here thinking he was a really nice chance but with the boom around so many others we obviously had a bit of trepidation.

"It was a great ride from Jim (Cassidy). He just cuddled him to the line because he definitely got a bit lost when he got out to the centre of the track."

O'Shea has had good success with two-year-olds such as Charge Forward, Solar Charged, Elite Falls and Foxwedge in previous seasons but is yet to win a Golden Slipper.

Charge Forward came closest for the trainer when second to Dance Hero in 2004.

The Randwick conditioner said Faustus would likely head to a Slipper lead-up such as the Skyline Stakes in the autumn.

"I felt he would be a lovely horse that would line up in something like the Skyline and if he had one run going into that it might formulate a nice plan into the Slipper," O'Shea said.

Cassidy positioned Faustus in the box seat behind Kuchinskaya and despite showing greenness in the straight was good enough to get the better of the leader in the run to the post.

"He was still very new and there's unbelievable improvement in him. Beautiful horse," Cassidy said.

Tommy Berry said Kuchinskaya's trackwork was every bit as good as last week's winner Driefontein but said when he let her off the bit in the race she didn't know what to do.

"But when Jimmy's horse came up to her she fought like a tiger," Berry said.

"I think it's just going to take a bit longer for her to learn how to kick and keep hitting the line, but it was a good effort."

Schofield Not Riding At Canterbury

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Please be advised that jockey Glyn Schofield is indisposed and will not be able to fulfil his riding engagements at Canterbury Park tonight.

Glyn SchofieldGlyn SchofieldRider replacements for Glyn is as follows:

Race 1, Horse – 5. DESTINY'S DANCE to be announced
Race 2, Horse – 3. GOGRA GOGRA (NZ) will now be ridden by Hugh Bowman
Race 5, Horse – 5. COUBERTIN will now be ridden by Hugh Bowman
Race 7, Horse – 8. CLASSIC CAMEO will now be ridden by Jay Ford

NOTE: Glyn Schofield has advised Racing NSW Stewards he is hopeful of being fit to fulfil his riding engagements at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow (Saturday 12th November).

As a consequence Glen Schofield will be examined by the race club doctor tomorrow prior to fulfilling any riding commitments.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin

Rejuvenated Veteran Makes Aspros Proud

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Leanne Aspros is proud of the turnaround Theophorus has made on the track since joining her stable.

But she is more proud of his turnaround off it.

When the gelding came to her earlier this year he had not won for almost three years and had almost no self esteem.

"He was just a horse with no confidence," Aspros said.

"It was nothing detrimental to whoever had him before, but I think in his last couple of preparations he raced with so many injuries he got sour.

"We've treated him with kid gloves."

The facilities at Aspros' Warwick Farm base have been put to good use with Theophorus.

He does little work on the track, maintaining his fitness by swimming and working off a lead pony.

And judging by his racetrack results it is working.

At just his third start for Aspros, Theophorus broke his long drought from the winner's circle with victory on his home track in August.

Two runs later, he repeated the dose at Canterbury.

While Aspros is thrilled to get him back and winning, she is even more satisfied to see the change in his demeanour.

"He thinks he's someone special now," she said.

"We call him Mister Ed, the talking horse.

"He lets you know what he wants.

"I'm enjoying training him, it's been a big personal achievement for me.

"To me, I feel like I've given him something back."

Theophorus will line up in the Jacob's Creek Sparkling Moscato Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday after being scratched from last week's Hawkesbury Cup because of the firm track.

Theophorus finished six lengths third to Somepin Anypin last start at Rosehill and Aspros didn't believe he could turn the tables on that galloper on a dry track at Hawkesbury.

As it turned out, Somepin Anypin won the Cup by four lengths.

Theophorus will still face a handy field on Saturday, headed by the up-and-coming Riva De Lago.

The Con Karakatsanis-trained four-year-old is unbeaten in two starts since being gelded and is the $2.60 popular elect in TAB Sportsbet markets with Theophorus at $17.

O'Shea Rates Juvenile Race "Best So Far"

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John O'Shea expects Saturday's juvenile race to feature the best two-year-old talent seen in Sydney so far this season.

O'Shea will unveil autumn prospect Faustus in the Nova 969 Fitzy & Wippa Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill but is wary of the firepower that could be lurking in the unraced brigade from the powerful Gai Waterhouse and Peter Snowden stables.

Waterhouse, chasing her third two-year-old winner in Sydney in as many weeks, will start impressive trial winner Kuchinskaya while Snowden has three runners including Limes who defeated Faustus in a recent Warwick Farm trial.

"I think he (Faustus) is a really nice colt but he's struck a very, very good race on Saturday," O'Shea said.

"Probably the best two-year-olds to come out this season so far will come out of this race.

"Gai's horse trialled very well, Peter (Snowden) seems to have a couple of nice horses, and we've got a good understanding of what constitutes a nice two-year-old in our stable having had horses competitive in Golden Slippers in recent years."

O'Shea labelled Faustus "the equivalent of a horse like Wanted", who the trainer prepared during his two-year-old campaign which included victory in the Kindergarten Stakes on his way to a Golden Slipper appearance.

Faustus is a son of More Than Ready, sire of two Golden Slipper winners, while the colt's grand-dam is 1998 Melbourne Cup winner Jezabeel.

Whatever Faustus does on Saturday, O'Shea believes he'll be better next preparation.

"I think he'll be very competitive in the autumn," O'Shea said, adding the colt would head to the paddock after Saturday.

O'Shea has five competitive chances on the Rosehill program with unbeaten filly Colorado Claire taking aim in the Bacardi Handicap (1400m), Hendricus in the Number 1 Club Stable Handicap (1300m), Lightinthenite in the Jacob's Creek Sparkling Moscato Handicap (1500m) and Legsman in the Flinders Lane Perfect Fit Shirt Handicap (1900m).

O'Shea utilised the good racing surface at Goulburn for Colorado Claire's debut before the filly scored a convincing provincial win at Kembla three weeks ago.

She is the $2.60 favourite ahead of Sindarin ($3) who impressed in a debut win on the Kensington track.

"Colorado Claire has beaten nothing but she has done it convincingly and ran time both times," O'Shea said.

O'Shea put Hendricus' second-up failure down to a taxing first-up win but said he had flourished since then.

Lightinthenite bounced back from a second-up failure to hit the line well for third to Riva De Lago last time out.

He faces the Con Karakatsanis-trained runner again on Saturday, while Legsman will continue on his path to the Christmas and Summer Cups when he runs third-up over the 1900m.

"I think it's a very competitive day all round for this time of year," O'Shea said.

"I think I've got a nice bunch of young horses going to the races and if we're able to come away with a winner or two that would be great."

AAP TURF mt

Snowden Filly Returns Positive Drug Test

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The Peter Snowden-trained Moravany has returned a positive swab to two banned substances following her victory at Hawkesbury in September.

The filly tested positive to phenylbutasone and oxyphenbutasone - non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs used for the short-term treatment of pain or fever in horses.

Racing NSW stewards will hold an inquiry into the matter on Monday.

Streets Away After Travel Expenses

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A pain-free Streets Away came to Sydney as a travel companion but could return home with an extra $42,000 for his connections if he brings his best form to Rosehill on Saturday.

Streets Away has been injury-plagued throughout his career but has come back in fine order this preparation with two wins from as many starts in Brisbane last month.

The five-year-old, who was a one-time Golden Slipper fancy in early 2009, shoots for his third win in a row inSaturday's Flinders Lane Perfect Fit Shirt Handicap (1900m).

Trainer Alan Bailey said the Sydney race came about because of a lack of suitable options for Streets Away in Queensland.

"This was just a suitable race for him and there was nothing at home for him," Bailey said.

"He'll probably go back home after this run. There were no races at home for him and I was bringing the filly Epona Princess down to run last week so I thought I'd send him down with her too."

Epona Princess finished fourth to Ingham Magic last weekend at Randwick and is also entered for Saturday's Bacardi Handicap (1400m).

Streets Away was being aimed at the Golden Slipper in 2009 but was struck down by a bout of colic which put paid to his hopes of competing that autumn.

He has since had various injury issues which Bailey has had to manage.

"He has a lot of problems but at the moment he's pain-free and pretty spot-on," Bailey said.

Streets Away won over 2000m at his only appearance at Rosehill 11 months ago and the Gold Coast trainer is expecting another competitive showing on Saturday.

However he rates the Lloyd Williams-owned Fawkner, who is the $2.30 favourite, as hard to beat.

"It's probably a higher-class race than what you would usually get with that horse of Lloyd Williams in it," Bailey said.

"It's a fairly good-class field for that sort of benchmark race, but he'll be competitive.

"He's always competitive when he's fit and well, so we've just got to hope everything stays the way it is with him between now and Saturday.

"He hasn't drawn that well (barrier 15) but he usually gets back a bit in his races. If there's a bit of speed on he can run well. Tempo is probably going to be the key."

Didntcostalot Makes It Three From Three

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Promising sprinter Didntcostalot will be put aside for the autumn carnival after maintaining his unbeaten record at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

The aptly-named colt, who was purchased for just $3000 as a yearling, made light work of his first city test as he led all the way to take out the styletread.com.au Handicap (1100m) by 2-1/2-lengths over Safusa.

Not A Dancer came in another 1-1/4-lengths away in third.

Didntcostalot broke the 1100m track record at Wyong on debut last month and he made it three wins from as many starts with his Warwick Farm success.

Trainer Marc Conners is looking forward to the future.

"He's going to the paddock and he'll come back for the autumn," Conners said.

"He's probably an 1100 and 1200 metre horse so we'll sit down and see what's going to be available for him in the autumn. He's an exciting horse."

The colt's winning time of 1:03.89 broke the class record despite the race being run on a slow rated track.

"I always thought he was going to be better on a wet track," Conners said.

"He trialled here this preparation on a very heavy track and ran very fast time. I was just waiting for the day to get him on a wet track and today it came."

Didntcostalot wasn't the only horse to maintain its unbeaten record on Wednesday, with Brisbane-based mare Pretty Composed scoring a first-up win in the Girls Day Out at Rosehill 12/11 Handicap (1000m).

The Brian Wakefield-trained four-year-old also notched her third win from as many attempts after scoring at Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast earlier this year.

"We'll try to pick out a Saturday race for her now," Wakefield said.

"I think there's still some improvement in the mare."

Stratana Chasing Another Rosehill Win

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Lightly-raced sprinter Stratana is building an impressive winning record and trainer Paul Perry is hoping that continues at Rosehill on Saturday.

A son of the Perry-trained 2005 Golden Slipper winner Stratum, Stratana has won four of his seven races including a last-start success at Rosehill two weeks ago.

The four-year-old on-pacer is the $2.90 favourite to improve on that record in Saturday's Sharp Handicap (1200m).

"He's one of them horses that has always shown a bit of ability," Perry said.

"This is the hardest race he's been in by far. We'll know more about him after this.

"But he's drawn well (barrier six) and he's got a good weight so I would expect him to be competitive again."

Stratana returned this preparation with a victory over 1200m on his home track at Newcastle on October 1.

He then ran into emerging talent Riva De Lago at Randwick when finishing third two weeks later, before returning to the winner's stall with an on-pace victory over Embarrassed last time out.

"He's come along fine since his last start," Perry said.

"I couldn't be happier with him."

Perry has called on three-kilogram claiming apprentice Shaun Guymer to partner Stratana, as well as stablemates Guderian and Prince Braeman at the Rosehill meeting.

Guderian has been racing consistently in recent outings with a win and two seconds from his past three starts, all at Rosehill.

He'll line up in the Flinders Lane Perfect Fit Shirt Handicap (1900m) while Prince Braeman runs in the Jacob's Creek Sparkling Moscato Handicap (1500m).

Adams Back With A Winner

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For troubled apprentice Josh Adams, a comeback victory at Warwick Farm on Wednesday was every bit as sweet as riding his first winner.

The 19-year-old was outed for seven months earlier this year after testing positive to a banned substance, but got back to doing the job he loves with victory on Biggietupac at his second meeting back from the suspension.

"It's almost better than riding your first winner," Adams said.

"You ride your first winner and you haven't had troubles. You go through a bit of a rough patch where it's not as easy to cope with and you go from being leading apprentice one day to being at the bottom of the pile and everyone has forgotten about you the next.

"To come back and ride another winner gives you that hunger back. It's great."

Adams won last season's Sydney apprentices' premiership and Wednesday's win on Biggietupac in the Flinders Lane Perfect Fit Shirt Handicap (1300m) was his first of the new season.

"It's good to get the monkey off my back and it meant a lot to me to get back into the swing of things," Adams said.

Adams said the enforced time out of the sport made him learn from his mistakes and strive to do better as he bids to rebuild his career.

"I spent a couple of months away from racing and did a lot of soul searching and thinking to myself," he said.

"It made me realise what I wanted and what I had to do to achieve that. I made a promise to myself that when I come back, if I come back, that I would give it 110 per cent every day from four o'clock (in the morning) until I go to bed.

"... I made that promise and I want to keep it."

During his suspension, which was reduced to five months, Adams reached out to grand slam-winning jockey Jim Cassidy for advice.

That call led to Adams moving into the Cassidy family home on the outskirts of Sydney for three months, where he worked for Cassidy on his property and trained alongside the champion jockey.

"It really made me grow up a lot," Adams said.

"Jimmy is a great friend and even more so now. He took me into his home and into his family and I was one of them.

"Seeing him go to the races and the way he is, and seeing all the photos and everything he's got at home gives me inspiration to do that and do my best."

Tommy Berry's Juvenile Wins To Continue

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Tommy Berry is confident his winning run on Gai Waterhouse-trained two-year-olds will continue at Rosehill with unraced filly Kuchinskaya.

Berry won on the Waterhouse-trained Pure Hustle two weeks ago at Rosehill and then stablemate Driefontein was even more dominant in her debut at Randwick last Saturday, winning by three lengths.

"The good thing is they keep getting better," Berry said.

"Every Saturday when I get on one they seem to be better than the last one. Hopefully this one is better than the last one."

Kuchinskaya won a Randwick barrier trial with Berry's twin brother Nathan aboard on October 21 in preparation for her debut in Saturday's The Nova 969 Fitzy & Wippa Handicap (1100m).

The daughter of Red Dazzler was on the second line of TAB Sportsbet betting at $3.80 on Thursday, with the Gerald Ryan-trained Dances On Stars favourite at $2.50.

"This one is pretty close to where Driefontein was," Berry said.

"They both worked together the other day and this one I'm riding on Saturday probably had the wood on it just a touch.

"She's a bit more laid-back than Driefontein but she should bounce out, put herself there like she did in her trial and be very hard to beat."

Among Kuchinskaya's rivals will be three youngsters from the powerful Darley operation.

Like Waterhouse, trainer Peter Snowden has also had a good start to the season in the juvenile races with both Meidung and Tatra winners in Sydney in October.

First starters Auguste, Limes and Solemn are Darley's representatives in Saturday's event.

"They are three different sorts of horses," Snowden's Sydney foreman Brad Widdup said.

"Auguste is a real running type. He's probably not strong enough just yet but he's ready to race.

"Limes trialled well but he might have been flattered a bit because it was at his home track. He's still a bit immature but should race well.

"Solemn, he's probably going to be ridden quieter and try to get home over the top of them."

Limes is equal second favourite at $3.80 while Solemn opened at $12 but has firmed to $7.50.

Auguste is at $16.

Sindarin Chasing Two From Two

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Darley's main focus might be on the Sandown Guineas meeting in Melbourne on Saturday but the team also has high hopes for Sindarin who'll line up for just her second start at Rosehill.

The well-bred three-year-old impressed with a Kensington track victory on debut and Darley's head trainer Peter Snowden will get a better guide on Sindarin's autumn carnival credentials in the Bacardi Handicap (1400m).

"She's definitely a nice filly," Snowden's Sydney stable foreman Brad Widdup said.

"I think Peter wants to get her through Saturday and see how she performs. If she performs well she'll probably go out and come back for the autumn.

"It all depends on Saturday and how she races."

Sindarin, to be ridden by Josh Parr, came up with barrier two when the final field of nine was declared on Wednesday.

A daughter of Redoute's Choice, Sindarin is a full-sister to Mearas who won the Group Three Spring Stakes at Newcastle in 2006.

Sindarin was slowly away on debut over 1300m last month but showed she was a filly with plenty of upside as she overcome the poor getaway to defeat Princess Layla.

The John O'Shea-trained Princess Layla then finished fourth in Listed company at Flemington last week in a race won by Combat Kitty.

"She seems to have come through her first race well, and has drawn well again for Saturday so she's in with a good chance, for sure," Widdup said.

Widdup said Saturday's race would be an important step for the filly in gaining more race experience.

"It's more just getting the race into her and hopefully she performs the way we hope she can," he said.

Snowden has the favourite Galah and stablemate Mental in Saturday's Group Two Sandown Guineas.