News

Party time for some as carnival launched

16th Mar 2010

Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Roots - Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd started a diet in Rockhampton as NSW Premier Kristina Keneally encouraged Sydney to party for the next six weeks.

As Keneally launched the autumn carnival at Luna Park yesterday, one of its likely stars, Rodd, was trying to get down to 53.5 kilograms to ride Faint Perfume in the group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on Saturday.

''We should party this autumn,'' Keneally said. ''We work hard and we should play hard, too, and celebrate this city [during the racing carnival].''

Rodd, who has taken a couple of days' break was heeding the Premier's advice. He is excited about Faint Perfume taking on Typhoon Tracy and More Joyous, neither of which are confirmed starters in the Coolmore, but the handicapper will have the final say on whether he can ride the VRC Oaks winner.

''I have already started working hard up here [in Queensland] and I'm hoping she will get a weight that I'll be able to make,'' Rodd said.

''She has to get more than 53.5 [kilograms] for me to ride her but she is a group 1 winner.

''It's hard to know what she will get. I won this race a couple of years ago on Regal Cheer with 52.5 kilograms and she wasn't a group 1 winner.''

Typhoon Tracy is likely to be given the maximum weight of 61kg after winning group 1s at her past three starts - the Myer Classic during the spring and the weight-for-age Orr and Futurity stakes since resuming.

The Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume was outstanding first-up winning the group 2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington two weeks ago and should get about 54kg as a group 1 three-year-old winner.

''We are thinking that would be the mark,'' Rodd said. ''She has come back in great order and although it is a big jump in class to take on Typhoon Tracy, I think she is up to it.''

Rodd linked successfully with Cummings to win the Australian Guineas with Rock Classic last weekend and will ride the master trainer's AJC Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor in Saturday's other group 1, the Ranvet Stakes.

He will also take over for the suspended Stathi Katsidis on Magic Millions winner Military Rose in the Reisling Slipper Trial.

''Sydney is always an exciting time of year and I have a couple of really good rides already,'' Rodd said.

''I'm still looking for a Golden Slipper ride but to be on Military Rose is a real bonus on Saturday.''

The focus of racing will be on the Harbour City for the next six weeks with 18 group 1 races worth more than $18 million split between three weeks at Rosehill and then three weeks at Randwick.

The set dates for the carnival mean for the first time Golden Slipper day will be on Easter Saturday, which has historically been derby day at Randwick.

''We are just guessing about what [crowd] we will get on Slipper day at the moment because it is traditionally a Randwick day,'' Sydney Turf Club chief executive Michael Kenny said. ''We are gearing up for a big crowd as this is a new era for racing in Sydney.''

AJC acting chief executive Darren Pearce said the industry had to embrace the set dates and said Randwick would pitch each of its carnival dates to different markets.

''Derby day will be our glamour day, the Doncaster will be racing's day, while Sydney Cup will be reserved for the future racegoers as a family day,'' Pearce said.

Meanwhile, Centennial Park opened a $5.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet for the group 3 Newmarket Handicap at Newcastle tomorrow. The David Payne four-year-old drew well in gate seven and heads betting in front of Emperor Bonaparte ($6), topweight Strat's Flyer and Drumbeats, both at $7.50.

THE BEST RACES

March 20: Rosehill: Coolmore Classic; Ranvet Stakes.

March 27: Rosehill: Rosehill Guineas.

April 3: Rosehill: Golden Slipper Stakes; The BMW; George Ryder; Queen Of The Turf Stakes; Storm Queen Stakes.

April 10: Randwick: AJC Australian Derby; T.J. Smith Stakes; AJC Sires Produce Stakes.

April 17: Randwick: Doncaster Mile; AJC Australian Oaks; The Galaxy.

April 24: Randwick: Sydney Cup; Queen Elizabeth Stakes; All Aged Stakes; Champagne Stakes