May 19, 2016
Rosehill Gardens will host the Australian Racing Hall of Fame Race Day this Saturday, 21 May in acknowledgement of the inductees who have contributed to the success of the thoroughbred racing industry.
Patrons will be able to recognise some of the NSW-based doyens of the sport via a display along the Might & Power walkway highlighting Hall of Fame members Choisir, Danehill, Dulcify, Rain Lover, Surround, Tommy Smith, Phar Lap, Arthur ‘Scobie’ Breasley, Bart Cummings, Jim Munro, Dalray, A.B. (Banjo) Paterson, Tom Hales and James Scobie.
Past inductees and representatives will be trackside and take part in a presentation in the Parade Ring following Race 4, including; Joe Janiak, Darren Beadman, Nick Moraitis, Gai Waterhouse, John Hawkes, Arthur Inglis, Anthony Cummings, Monica Cummings and Oliver (Sandy) Tait.
Australian Turf Club Chief Operating Officer Tony Partridge said the race day is a great way to appreciate icons of the thoroughbred racing industry.
“The Australian Racing Hall of Fame is the highest accolade in the industry and it is our honour to celebrate these personalities and their achievements,” said Mr Partridge.
Eight races have been named after 2016 Hall of Fame inductees including the $85,000 Pat Hyland Handicap which has Chris Waller’s Tsaritsa opening as the $3.00 TAB Fixed Odds favourite.
Proven over the distance, the three-year-old filly showed good first up form with a 1.5 length win on 27 April.
Rodney Ollerton-trained Royal Tudor sits on the second line of betting at $5.00 TAB Fixed Odds. The Snippetson gelding will also be looking for back to back wins this start.
Dreamforce ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds) for John Thompson is the other main contender in the 1400m race. The lightly raced chestnut has had one win and one place in his two start career.
Punters cannot split Skip Course ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) and Frill Seeking ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) in the $85,000 Noel McGrowdie Handicap who both sit on the top line of betting in what will be a wide open race.
Both Donna Grisedale-trained Skip Course and Matthew Smith-trained Frill Seeking have won over the 1100m distance however this will be Frill Seeking’s first up start from a nine week spell.
Fastnet Rock gelding I Can Rock ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds) will be looking to improve on his two placings this preparation when he faces the starter. Opening on the third line of betting, the Gary Portelli five-year-old has been competitive over the 1100m, having won on two occasions over the distance.
The $85,000 Neville Begg Handicap has Rockolicious as the short priced $2.40 TAB Fixed Odds favourite. This will be the fifth run this campaign for Chris Waller’s mare.
Similarly, Anthony Cummings’ Spy Decoder ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds) will also have his fifth run this preparation. Neither Rockolicious nor Spy Decoder have secured a win, however both have run two placings in their four starts heading into this race.
Adult general admission tickets are available for $15.00 at ticketek.com.au or at the gate. Children enter the racecourse for free.
Gates open at 10.30am with the first race at 11.25am.
Rosehill Gardens has free high-capacity WiFi across the racecourse precinct.
There is free public parking off James Ruse Drive as well as free parking in the infield from the Unwin Road entrance.