By Craig Kerry
Randwick trainer John Thompson expects Emmadella to step up and Bundeena to make a sharp improvement at Rosehill on Saturday as he looks to continue an excellent summer run.
Thompson has had 12 winners from his past 48 runners and is striking at a healthy 18 per cent overall this season.
Nash Rawiller rides Emmadella hands and heels to victory at Randwick on December 28.Credit: Getty Images
He has five chances on Saturday, led by Emmadella ($6 Sportsbet) in the sixth, a 1500m benchmark 78 for fillies and mares.
A four-year-old daughter of All Too Hard, Emmadella breezed to victory second-up in 1400m Midway 72 grade at Randwick on December 28.
She faces a tougher test and carries the top weight of 60 kilograms against a field including Perfumist ($3.40) and Oh Diamond Lil ($3.70), which are both on winning streaks.
From gate seven, Zac Lloyd takes over from the injured Nash Rawiller on Emmadella.
Randwick trainer John Thompson.Credit: Getty Images
“She’s a nice mare that’s going through the grades,” Thompson said.
“She won well the other day, and she has a good chance again.”
Lloyd has also picked up the ride on Bundeena, which was a well-beaten favourite first-up from a wide gate at Randwick two weeks ago.
The Spirit Of Boom five-year-old was a $12 chance to bounce back from a better draw in the benchmark 78 over 1100m.
“It just sat four deep outside the leaders on a fast speed and the winner came from the back and swooped down the outside,” Thompson said of Bundeena’s last run.
“He was first up as well, sitting four deep and using too much petrol, and he got tired.
“I’ve got a better draw and a senior rider back on, so he should improve a lot.”
He also expected Zouripper ($7), a Zoustar four-year-old, to improve second-up over 1200m in the fourth, a Midway benchmark 72, after a fifth on Boxing Day at Randwick. Lloyd rides again.
“I ran him too short first up, at 1000 metres, which is not his go,” Thompson said.
“They were too sharp for him, and he dropped back with a big weight [61kg]. Saturday up to the 1200, it will be more to his liking.”
Thompson also has back-to-back winner Impunity ($6.50) and California Grass ($26) in the fifth, a benchmark 78 over 2400m, where they met exciting imported stayer Gilded Water ($1.90), which has won two from two in Australia for owner King Charles.
“They are both going well and are nice stayers,” he said.
“Impunity was quite impressive the other day at Warwick Farm. If he runs like that again, he’ll be going well, but obviously the favourite will be hard to beat.
“California Grass last start [when seventh] had a wide gate, she got back a long way in a leader-dominated race, but she still ran well and she’s honest. She’s got a better draw on Saturday and she should finish a lot closer.”
Thompson hopes his stable can carry its form into the autumn and will look to Golden Slipper contender Bel Merci to lead the way.
The Gimcrack Stakes winner at her only start, Bel Merci returned with a sharp trial at Randwick on Tuesday.
“She was just having a quiet trial,” he said.
“She trialled very good and come through it well. She’s a nice filly and starts off at Rosehill in the Silver Slipper [February 22].
“She’s the main one obviously, but there’s a lot of nice horses there. We’ve got a nice bunch of two-year-olds, so it wouldn’t surprise to see a few of them come out and run well.”
