Suncraze set for Everest day following Rosehill win
TRAINER Melanie O’Gorman believes Suncraze is ready to step on in class after recording a hard-fought win in class three company at Rosehill.
The $2.60 favourite at Crownbet.com.au loomed up strongly at the 200m mark after a decent run in transit to sit alongside Don’t Give A Damn ($1.70 at Sportsbet.com.au) in the latter stages.
Next stop the Anniversary Highway on #TheEverest day for Suncraze after winning at @rosehillgardens! pic.twitter.com/GmfNj8XbUy
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) September 9, 2017
The pair duked it out to the line but the high-touted four-year-old got its head down at the right time to win in a photo-finish.
O’Gorman believes Suncraze will now get an entry in the Anniversary Highway on Everest day.
I’m fairly confident he’ll get a run after that,” the trainer said
While the win was a powerful one, the trainer admitted it was not the ideal trip for her elect.
“I’ve always said ‘he’ll run 1400m or a mile’ and that’s what he’s looking for, and I think we really proved that in that last run at Randwick.
“He loved the 1400m, today’s race was just about ticking him over.”
After a string of second placings it seems Suncraze has worked out how to approach competitive racing, winning back-to-back races for the first time ever.
Even though the horse is in the best form of its career, jockey Corey Brown said he is unsure what Suncraze will produce in a race.
“At 1200m you’re riding four different horses,” Brown joked post-race.
He’s just starting to put it together. I’ve only had the three rides on him but I’m slowly but surely starting to work him out.”
Brown believes the son of Sunstyle relies on conditions going its way on track, but the hoop believes Suncraze will be a force one it works out what to do on raceday.
“I think he’s a confidence horse as well. He got there probably a little bit too soon again, although he didn’t win by a big margin he got there and wanted to pull up.
“He’s just a little bit unsure of himself but once the penny drops … he’ll win a decent race one day.”