Group 1 winning mare Secret Agenda and smart three year old Pariah have been scratched from the Group 1 $700,000 The PFD Food Services Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
In Her Time, above, is the favourite for the 2018 Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Both dual acceptors will instead run in the Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Friday night.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden’s intention were to dodge the wet track that has been forecast for Rosehill and send Pariah to Melbourne to start in the weight for age Sprint.
“Racing here (Sydney) is our preferred option but if we get the rain they are forecasting mid-week, it might force our hand to come down,” Snowden told racing.com.
Caulfield trainer Mick Price is happy for Secret Agenda to stay in Melbourne and said that the William Reid Stakes had always been his preferred option after the mare won first up in the Listed $120,000 ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on March 3.
“I’ve done my work (with Secret Agenda) for Moonee Valley … that’s the race I pointed into,” Price said.
“The Galaxy was always a maybe but I’d have to take a punt this afternoon on the weather.”
Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au after the early scratchings Secret Agenda and Pariah has the Ben Smith trained In Her Time listed as the $4 favourite just ahead of the noted wet tracker Jungle Edge at $4.20.
The Rosehill track has been rated a soft 7 on Thursday afternoon with showers forecast for the remainder of the week which will suit Jungle Edge who has won all of his thirteen races on rain affected tracks while In Her Time has one win from five attempts on a soft track.
In Her Time now moves into barrier twelve in the thirteen horse field and Hong Kong based jockey Zac Purton rides the mare who is having her first start back after being beaten a short head when runner up to Hey Doc in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Regular rider Kevin Forrester takes the reins on Jungle Edge who moves into barrier six and the seven year old mudlark will be fitter for a first up second to Redzel in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 10.
Sharing the third line of betting at $5.50 is the well backed Snitty Kitty, in from $11, and the James Cummings trained Viridine.
Snitty Kitty is coming off a second to Russian Revolution in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 24 and moves into barrier five with Tin Clark booked to ride.
Cummings is keen to test the promising Viridine against the Group 1 sprinters after he performed creditably when fourth to Redzel in the Challenge Stakes.
Brenton Avdulla takes the mount again on Viridine who will jump from barrier ten if there are no more scratchings.
The Mick Kent trained Supido ($13) and Lindsay Park’s Thronum ($18) are also included in the final field for the William Reid Stakes.
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