Trainer Anthony Warren calls Goulburn home these days and it will be home sweet home if his stable pin up Easy Rosie can salute in Friday’s Country Championships Southern Wildcard race.
In a stacked inaugural edition of the race Easy Rosie ($17 / $5 TAB Fixed Odds) is one of four Goulburn trained horses in the main field.
Her audition for the home track assignment was in the SERA Country Championships qualifier at Moruya where she boxed on well into fourth, both trainer and jockey (Brock Ryan) happy with the effort after almost six months off.
“I was extremely happy with her run first up. It’s always a big ask taking on that sort of trip first up especially in a high-pressure race,” Warren said.
“She was slow away which is unlike her but we put that down to being in the barriers for so long that she got a little complacent. Had she been leading or close to the speed I think she could have given them a real rattle.”
“Brock thought she ran super and now he’s back on her with a bit more knowledge of her running pattern, I think they will both be better again for it.”
The Moruya race looks an affable form reference with winner Kimberly Secrets running top four in the Canberra Guineas on Monday. According to Warren, Easy Rosie is well named taking minimal tuition most of the time for maximum return to date.
“She’s a true professional training wise, though hard to get a gauge on her at times in her gallops because she has such a huge stride but she’s definitely a pleasure to have in the stable.”
“I’ve always had an opinion of her and we had thought from the beginning that her best would come as a 4-year-old, she’s fully furnished now and racing nearly 50kg heavier than when she went for a spell after last campaign.”
“She was plagued with foot issues last time in so it was a very up and down preparation whereas this time in so far she’s been flawless.”
From fifteen career starts the mare has notched four wins and another six minor placings. Some of her best results have been stubborn on speed efforts. Her trainer says a kind draw on her home track gives the mare a chance of producing similar.
“I do agree she is best run on pace however she has won coming from midfield, she can be dynamic.”
” She broke her maiden at Goulburn in only her third start and hasn’t had a chance to race here since, so it’s exciting to be back at her home track with a great marble!”
In her favour, Easy Rosie handles all types of tracks and conditions, a predicted Good 4 surface pleasing Warren as well.
“I think she will appreciate a Good 4, she hasn’t seen a good surface for nearly two years with the wet weather we’ve had.”
Warren says Easy Rosie’s connections are rapt to be in the race and sure to be cheering her on from wherever they are.
“She has a fantastic group of owners including Greg and Barb Ingham who have been big supporters and friends from the start for me as well as some other prominent racing people who have also been long term friends. Most of them live a distance away so I’d say they will be watching eagerly from home or the local.”
Warren will be keen to get the stable up and about earlier in the day with the lightly raced Norris ($19 / $4.40 TAB Fixed Odds) finding a winnable contest in Race 5, the Master Builders Association Showcase Maiden Plate over 1500m. Warren says the gelding has been showing steady improvement this time in and on paper finds a suitable target for Brock Ryan.
“Norris seems to be on the up. He started very late as a 4-year -old so he’s still learning the ropes but I do think the step up in trip will suit him. The penny seems to have dropped to some degree at home so I think he should run an honest race.”
Other Goulburn trained runners in the field for Friday’s Newhaven Park Country Championships Southern Wildcard race include:
Toretto – Matt Dale ($11/ $3.70 TAB Fixed Odds)
To The Nines – Tash Burleigh ($16/ $5)
Jalmari – Danny Williams ($16 / $5)
Goulburn’s Newhaven Park Country Championships Southern Wildcard race day kicks off with Race 1 at 12.45pm. The track is currently rated a Soft 5.
Goulburn Mulwaree Council are proud sponsors of Goulburn & District Racing Club
