Bestower, an honest mare who has found wins hard to come by, is considered an each-way chance at Kensington on Wednesday. Jockey Tyler Schiller, who partners the Kris Lees-trained five-year-old in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (2400m), insists the will is there if the race pans out for her.
With only three wins from 29 starts, it would be easy to label her a non-winner. However, Schiller, who rode her to her latest victory in December over a similar distance, disagrees, though he admits she doesn't make his job easy.
"She doesn't give herself much chance until late, and even then she needs the right tempo," Schiller said. "You get sucked in every start when she's running through the line, but she just keeps finding that margin to give away. I feel like she's a genuine horse. I don't think she's not winning through lack of trying; I think it's through lack of putting herself in the race."
Bestower heads to the 2400m at her fourth run back from a spell, one run earlier than last preparation when she was successful at Warwick Farm. Schiller has had seven rides on the mare for that win and three placings, noting that her three runs back have been typical of her style of getting back and running on when it's all over.
She resumed with a closing fourth at Kensington over 1550m, then ran fifth over 1700m at Scone, while last start, in a Benchmark 88 on a heavy track over 2000m at Randwick, she closed again late to run sixth.
"When I rode her at Scone, I felt like the tempo wasn't fast enough. In the middle stages, she tacked on, and I knew they weren't going quick," he said. "I knew it was going to be tough for her to make up the ground. Last start, she was okay for Alysha (Collett); she was back on the fence and didn't get a lot of room, but once she did, her last 200m was her best bit."
He added: "It's her perfect set-up. She runs that trip all day, and possibly over that trip she could settle in front of one or two. But it's more the next two furlongs after the first 100m she starts to detach herself, so hopefully over 2400m she can stay in contact and give herself a chance."
Ready Forcocktails Kicks Off Schiller's Rides
A granddaughter of Black Caviar kicks off Schiller's rides on Wednesday, with the filly Ready Forcocktails starting her second racing campaign in the Find Your Aurum Belle @ The Chase Handicap (1100m). She raced twice in the summer at Canterbury for a debut fifth and a close second, and Schiller said she's a filly suited to drawing low.
"I've always thought she went really well," he said. "She's only got a short dash on her, which doesn't help. You've got to nurse her into it and dash home. She put in a good run around Canterbury last time, and if she can put herself in the race from a good barrier, she should be hard to beat."
Frontex failed to handle a testing track when he resumed a couple of weeks ago, so it wouldn't surprise the jockey to see him bounce back in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1400m). The gelding was an all-the-way winner over the same track and distance back in December on good ground.
"He travelled well to the turn but just didn't let down," Schiller said. "He didn't love that track. He likes it wet, but it was only good weather for ducks that day. He appreciates it soft to light heavy, but when it was like that, he didn't get through the ground."
Selections Based on a Soft Track
Race 1 - 12:55PM TAB HANDICAP (1150 METRES)
6. Zourrific has looked the part winning his two trials in May, the first possibly a little more impressive on the grass with the latest on the synthetic. He responded well in that trial, and if he takes the same attitude to the races, should be hard to beat.
Dangers: 5. Short Sea is a stablemate and comes through the same synthetic trial a couple of weeks ago where he ran third. He also trialled nicely on the grass prior to that and bears close watching. 1. Demonstrator worked to the line well in his latest trial at Rosehill behind a runaway winner. Where he finds himself in the run may be tricky, but keeping him in mind. 3. Royal Air Force returns as a gelding, and if he can reproduce the sort of run that saw him finish second to Caffe Florian fresh last time in, he could be a threat.
How to play it: Zourrific.
Race 2 - 1:30PM FIND YOUR AURUM BELLE @ THE CHASE HANDICAP (1150 METRES)
4. Celestial Charm tried very hard from outside the leader on debut when beaten half a length in second place. A slightly better track looks to suit, and she'll have the benefit of that run now. No surprise if she goes one better.
Dangers: 2. Ready Forcocktails has been identified by the market as the only danger, and this granddaughter of Black Caviar appears to be the only threat. Spelled after a game on-pace second at Canterbury in January, trials sound, and drawn to have every chance. 7. Unjust found form at the end of last preparation and returned with a closing second over 900m at Newcastle. Likely gives away a start, but right down in the weights, she could place again. 6. Artistic Lady disappointed on a heavy 10 at Nowra when right in the market; she's another who could fill a placing.
How to play it: Celestial Charm WIN.
Race 3 - 2:05PM DRINKWISE PLATE (1400 METRES)
6. Konsa looks ready to win after placings at his two runs back. While runner-up as favourite at Newcastle last time out, it was a heavy track, and there was a handy gap to third. Draws one, yet to run a poor one, and has a good chance.
Dangers: 5. Incremental is an up-and-comer who looks good each-way odds on the back of a solid second at Canterbury two weeks ago. Rises a little in trip, and a soft track will be in his favour. Can run well. 4. Farset has collected five seconds from six starts, and they've been in succession with the latest at Hawkesbury on a heavy track. Will be leading or right there and can give a sight. 1. Agraffe Rocket was well supported first-up at Scone over their carnival and was right in the finish when third in a 1300m maiden. Expect he'll have some upside and stays under notice.
How to play it: Konsa WIN.
Race 4 - 2:40PM CACTUS IMAGING HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
9. Jarrito beat a handy one when resuming last time in at Gosford but had to be spelled when last behind Nesrine at Hawkesbury. Bled there and had cardiac arrhythmia, so happy to forgive. Looked ready winning her trial and sure to be a major player.
Dangers: 3. Charlina looked the part herself winning a Rosehill trial last week on the back of a freshen up following an all-the-way win at Gosford on Anzac Day. Consistent and has to be considered a chance. 6. Hinzel hasn't been helped by the draw on paper but did come from back to round up five rivals on debut at Kembla back in November. Likely he'll improve on whatever he does in this, but expect he'll be running on. 4. Silencio Forfavor was placed in a similar race over 1100m two starts back; can forgive a failure up in class on a heavy track at Warwick Farm a few weeks back. Each-way.
How to play it: Jarrito WIN.
Race 5 - 3:15PM CATANACH'S JEWELLERS HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
6. Concordia Wind was bailed up at a vital stage when resuming at Canterbury, and when out, she found the line nicely to snatch second. She was favourite there, but this is no harder. Fitter and going to the 1400m is a plus. Has to be competitive.
Dangers: 4. Deep Pleasure had support last time at Warwick Farm and was a shade disappointing in a bunch behind the winner. Form is a little mixed, but with the claim and gate one, there'll be no excuses. 2. Surf's Up was six weeks between runs when a sound third in testing ground at Randwick last month, where she had to go back from a wide gate. Less depth and smaller field suit; just the one win to date is the only concern. 1. Thames was impressive scoring over 1250m at this track first-up before failing on a heavy at Rosehill when up in class. That's more than enough reason to forgive; she could rebound at odds.
How to play it: Concordia Wind WIN.
Race 6 - 3:50PM ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (2400 METRES)
6. Bestower doesn't help herself by giving away big starts, but there has been merit in all three runs this time in, and she gets to 2400m and back to midweek grade. Scored easily over this trip in December and ran well in two subsequent attempts. Always an each-way chance.
Dangers: 7. Black Babylon is knocking on the door for a win after seconds at Warwick Farm at his past two starts. Sneaks down in the weights for a modest class rise and is a good hope again. 3. Pinhole comes through the same race as Bestower when fourth at Randwick in a BM88, finishing off his race well in the wet. Big chance to put himself in the finish now. 8. So Suave beat Black Babylon on a heavy track last time out as favourite, and while there's a swing against him at the weights, it's an open race and he's one of the chances.
How to play it: Bestower EACH-WAY.
Race 7 - 4:25PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
1. Supermassive had to do plenty of work wide up on the speed at Warwick Farm last time out and was game in holding down second. Just might get some control rolling over from the wide gate, and that's where he's been seen at his best. Big chance.
Dangers: 2. Frontex didn't handle the heavy ground when resuming at Randwick, so that can be forgiven. Won over this track and trip last time in, and expect he will go a lot better this time around. 5. Rimbaud comes through the same race as Supermassive running a handy third. Has an extra kilo in his favour, and he's sure to be around the mark again. 4. Existential Bob will excel over a bit more ground, but he can run a cheeky race fresh over this distance.
How to play it: Supermassive WIN.
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