The Key Factors - Winter Challenge

Published: 31 Jul 2014

The main event of the day at Rosehill brings together a few of the better performed off-season gallopers. The handicapper has a good grasp of them and the form-lines tie up quite closely, so what are the key factors that will determine the result?

Class

Scream Machine has performed at a high level right through the Winter months, including a solid performance in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000. He has the ability to power home late and 1500m appears to be his ideal distance.

Scream Machine has a touch of class (photo: Rosehill, 28th June)

Stamina

Gai Waterhouse stated that it was hard to find races for her talented mare, hence the step back in distance from 2350m. If the race has genuine tempo, pure stamina will make her very difficult to get past.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Queenstown has real strength to her frame (photo: 28th May)

Scope

Perhaps the pick of the Waller runners, He's Your Man is an impressive type that shone in the yard first-up. Now in his second campaign in Australia, he looks destined to progress to a better class of race and can use this event as a stepping stone.

He's Your Man looked like a horse with talent in the yard first-up (photo: 5th July)

Strength

The Cummings trained Romantic Moon is a genuine filly that has shown real strength and toughness in her runs this campaign. She is the type of galloper that will not shirk her task and that quality will take her far.

Romantic Moon has a strong constitution and fights hard in her races (photo: 28th June)

Acceleration

Coup Ay Tee hasn't been performing at his best this campaign, but there have been glimpses of his key strength, the ability to accelerate quickly into a race. His powerful frame drives a top speed that is better than most and from the good barrier he can turn things around.

Coup Ay Tee has the power in his frame of a sprinter (photo: 5th July)

The Verdict

The tempo of the race will play a big part, but assuming an even pace the class of Scream Machine and talent of He's Your Man are hard to go past. Romantic Moon to keep them both very honest.