By Neil Evans
A provincial-based three-year-old is set to upstage a swarm of older city rivals when she resumes in the final race of Monday’s feature Warwick Farm meeting.
Winning Proposal, a still underrated filly from the Kristen Buchanan stable at Wyong, hasn’t started since taking big strides through winter and early spring last year.
Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan.Credit: Getty
She is one of only two three-year-olds – along with Randwick filly Photographics – likely to start in a competitive Benchmark 72 Hcp over 1000m to close the Australia Day weekend of racing.
A daughter of prolific sprint sire Shalaa, Winning Proposal resumed off a mid-year break last time to be beaten just over a length in the group 2 Furious Stakes over 1200m behind high-class Manaal.
She was right behind the placegetters again in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) in late September before being turned out.
A smart trial winner on the Beaumont track at Newcastle 13 days ago, Winning Proposal has always shown an ability to perform fresh off any break, and she’s continued to work well in the lead-up.
Senior jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride, and she looks useful value around the $6.50 mark in a wide betting market behind early favourite Wallenda at $4.30.
Before that closing race, leading trainer Chris Waller unlocks a two-prong assault at both ends of the weight scale in the feature Listed Australia Day Cup over 2400m.
Topweight Saltcoats under 59kg is chasing a third win in his last four starts after consecutive fast-finishing wins at BM 88 level gave way to a frustrating minor placing in the Listed January Cup nine days ago.
Top jockey James McDonald returns in the saddle nearly a year after he was aboard for a close placing in the group 2 Tulloch Stakes last March.
Down on the bottom weight of 53kg, lightly raced five-year-old stablemate Tajanis, supremely bred by multiple group 1 winner Australia, shoots for consecutive wins after thrashing Saturday BM 78 grade only nine days ago.
McDonald jumps off Tajanis to ride Saltcoats, with Zac Lloyd taking over.
Golden Slipper favourite to miss Canonbury Stakes
Top Sydney trainer Chris Waller will bypass this Saturday’s group 3 Canonbury Stakes with Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton and likely head to the Silver Slipper on February 22. Wodeton became a clear favourite for the March 22, $5 million race for two-year-olds with a slashing win on debut at Randwick on January 18. “He will probably go to the Silver Slipper, which just breaks up his prep a little bit,” Waller said. “But if a horse like United States needs to run in the Silver Slipper, then we can change Wodeton’s plan.” Waller-trained United States, a $1.75 million colt, dived late and just missed on debut behind Open Secret on Saturday at Randwick. Waller said Tropic and Fermoy, a $1.9 million colt for Coolmore, were set to run in the Canonbury at Rosehill.
Craig Kerry
Waller to increase race distances for Joliestar
Joliestar will be set for longer targets in the Sydney autumn carnival after a likely resumption in the group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) on February 15 at Randwick. The four-year-old mare resumed from a 12-week let-up, following fast-finishing sevenths in the $20 million Everest (1200m) and $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m), with a trial win at Rosehill last Thursday. “We might head towards the Expressway first up,” trainer Chris Waller said. “We taught her to sprint a little bit too much last prep, so we’ve just got to get a bit of speed out of her and look towards stepping her up.” Waller said the March 15 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and April 12 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) were her potential group 1 targets this preparation.
Craig Kerry
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
