1 week ago
4
By Neil Evans
September 30, 2025 — 5.00pm
Breeding buffs as much as punters will be enthralled with the opening three-year-old race at Wednesday’s Rosehill meeting.
Fittingly, with global bloodlines in abundance three days before the triple Group 1 Epsom meeting at Randwick, spring “stepping stones” are being laid left, right and centre.
James McDonald will ride emerging colt Sarapo for Chris Waller in the opening race at Rosehill.Credit: Getty Images
Heading that pedigree list in a Maiden Plate over 1400m is emerging colt Sarapo, a narrow early favourite around $4.20 in what promises to be a wide and keen betting affair.
In fact, there wouldn’t be a better-bred galloper going around anywhere in the country for a midweek meeting.
Sarapo is by unbeaten UK superstar Frankel, and out of Irish mare Edith Piaf, a daughter of outstanding 2009 Group 1 French Derby winner Le Havre.
Trained by Chris Waller, and naturally to be ridden by James McDonald, Sarapo jumps from the inside barrier and steps up 150m in trip from that unplaced first-up effort at Canterbury a fortnight ago.
Condone, a smart colt by US Triple Crown winner Justify in the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bolt yard, returns three weeks after a strong debut run behind Sanctified at Canterbury.
Coming out of that same race is Nordic Viking, a striking son of dual Cox Plate winner So You Think, and out of the Charge Forward mare Nordic Charm.
Certainly trainer John Sargent has big things in store for Nordic Viking, which progressed quickly as a two-year-old early in the year, just missing a place in the Group 3 Black Opal at Canberra before being well beaten in Vinrock’s Group 1 Sires’ Produce success over the autumn Championships.
Throw in well-fancied Columbus ($4.60), a gelding by Dundeel trained by Les Bridge, and Waller-trained Providence ($7.50), a colt by ill-fated star Wootton Bassett, and it’s a battle with pedigree dripping all over it.
Meanwhile, the meeting also looms as a vital progression point for two other Waller-McDonald runners later on the program.
United Kingdom, an improving staying type by French star Almanzor, is primed to peak third-up in a Benchmark 72 Hcp over 1800m.
And in the closing BM 72 over 1200m, exciting colt Burma Star will be out to go back-to-back after a dominant second-up maiden win at Warwick Farm six weeks ago.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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