The first of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival lead-ups take place at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday including the Expressway Stakes 2016 where Our Boy Malachi is tipped as the sprinter to beat.
First-up specialist Our Boy Malachi is at short odds to win the 2016 Expressway Stakes in his resuming Rosehill run on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Due to jump as Rosehill Race 7 at 4:25pm (AEDT), this seasonâs $200,000 Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) attracted a final field of just eight hopefuls.
Sitting top of the Expressway Stakes odds through Ladbrokes.com.au at $2.30 after drawing midfield in gate four is the returning Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Our Boy Malachi.
The now seven-year-old son of Top Echelon hasnât raced since last May when failing to beat home any other runner in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m).
He has recovered since that set back, before which he ran third to Hot Snitzel in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) also held at Doomben in Brisbane, and boasts a stellar first-up record of six wins and a second from seven previous resuming runs.
The rising eight-year-old is also undefeated at the track with two previous Rosehill victories and is a Group 3 winner at Randwick from last autumn.
Following Our Boy Malachi in the early Expressway Stakes betting markets at $3.50 is the John OâShea-trained Generalife for the Godolphin stable.
Runner-up last start to Famous Seamus in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown back in mid-November, the Lonhro six-year-old boasts a four from seven Rosehill track record and is also a multiple Group 1 placegetter.
During the winter up in Queensland he ran third in both the Doomben 10,000 as well as the stateâs richest race when beaten just two lengths by the winner Srikandi in the Stradbroke Handicap over 1350m.
The third and final single figure Expressway Stakes hope this year is then Solicit at $6, Gerald Ryanâs Street Cry mare jumping from barrier five with Tye Angland aboard in the weight-for-age clash.
She hasnât raced since November when winning the Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1500m) at Sandown by a runaway four and a quarter lengths, but is another strong first-up performer.
Ryan has also accepted for his three-year-old Redouteâs Choice colt Kingâs Troop ($12) who has run second in both his previous Rosehill assignments including last Augustâs Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) behind subsequent Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Japonisme.
Kingâs Troop has had two runs since and is out to atone for his last start eighth behind Husson Eagle in the Gold Coastâs Magic Millions Sprint earlier in the month.
Other notable Expressway Stakes chances this year include the Rodney Northam-trained Scone galloper Big Money ($11) having his first start at the track and Joe Prideâs Group 1 winning eight-year-old Tiger Tees ($13) with the rails run from barrier one.
See below for the full Expressway Stakes 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and latest Fixed Win odds from Ladbrokes.com.au â home of the $500 first time depositorâs match bonus with use of the code BETBONUS!