The champ’s ready to go

Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) is in tip top condition ahead of what is anticipated to be her final home track appearance and the likely penultimate start of her career.

The 7-year-old enjoyed a gallop at Rosehill on Thursday with Hugh Bowman aboard to round off her preparation for the G1 George Ryder S.

"She feels as good as she looks," he said. "She wasn't out there to do a whole lot and she galloped very well here with Unforgotten on Tuesday morning. She's ready for Saturday.

"I think one of her best performances was in this race two years ago when it was a very heavy track, and with an expected wet track on Saturday that just gives us more confidence than we already have," Bowman said.

"But it's really just about going through the process and making sure it is a trouble-free passage for her and I'm sure she will deliver as she has done for the last four years."

Payne has an ace to play

David Payne believes there’s a sense of timing around his dual Group 1 winner Ace High (High Chaparral {Ire}).

The 4-year-old has done his early groundwork in Melbourne and heads home for Saturday's Group 1 Ranvet S. at Rosehill.

His three runs in Victoria have been encouraging and include a Group 2 placing behind race rival Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and a last-start sixth in the G1 Australian Cup.

Payne said Ace High usually needs racing and distance to bring him to his top, referring to his victory in the G2 Hill S. at Randwick last spring as a case in point.

"About his fourth run, that's when he peaks. He ran in that race last year (Hill Stakes) when he beat Egg Tart and that was about his fourth run. He's super fit.”

Filly fit to run

The G1 Blue Diamond S. runner-up Lankan Star (Nicconi) has been cleared to start in the G1 Golden Slipper S.

The Lindsay Park-trained filly was unplaced in Saturday's G3 Magic Night S. at Rosehill on a heavy track and on Monday Racing New South Wales veterinarians found her to be slightly restricted in her action in front.

Connections of Lankan Star accepted with the filly on Tuesday for the Slipper and on Thursday she was re-examined and passed fit to start.

To be ridden by Damien Oliver, Lankan Star will jump from gate three in the capacity field and was rated a $51 chance on Thursday.

Shoals out of William Reid

The Anthony Freedman-trained Shoals (Fastnet Rock) has been scratched from Friday night’s G1 William Reid S.

The stable said she was suffering from a bruised foot, but remained on target for the G1 TJ Smith S. at Randwick on April 6.

A three-time Group 1 winner, recently resumed with a second in the G1 Canterbury S. earlier this month.

Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt) has also been withdrawn by Bjorn Baker leaving a field of nine with Sunlight (Zoustar) to run favourite.

Trainer in two minds

Trainer Robbie Laing is undecided where next to run his G1 Australian Derby hope Stars Of Carrum (Fiorente {Ire}).

The 3-year-old is one of 12 runners listed to run in Saturday's Listed Mornington Cup or he could wait another week to head to the G2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill.

Laing wants Stars Of Carrum at his peak for the Australian Derby but in the back of his mind is the potential for a wet track at Rosehill on Saturday week.

"It's either the Mornington Cup or the Tulloch Stakes," Laing said. "I don't know his ability on heavy ground, but I'm sure he handles 2400 metres and I'm sure he handles firm ground.

"The Mornington Cup, it's only 20 minutes from home and there looks only two to beat, Trap For Fools and Hang Man.

"The Tulloch Stakes is a week before the Derby and the last two winners have gone on to win the Derby, so that's something in the back of my mind."

No weather worries for Kiwis

Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman isn’t worried by a wet track at Rosehill ahead of Saturday.

Forsman, who trains in partnership with Murray Baker, will have three runners at the premier meeting and he believes each of them will handle the wet conditions well.

Dual Group One winner Madison County (NZ) (Pins), who is unbeaten on slow ground, will tackle the G1 Rosehill Guineas following his fresh-up fourth in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas earlier this month.

“He’s been very well and has probably improved since that run,” Forsman said. “He would have needed that run and it knocked him around for a day or two after, but he has really come on with it and I think he will be a much improved horse for it.”

Forsman will also line-up G1 Sydney Cup aspirants Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) and Zacada (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) in the G3 N E Manion Cup.

“The wet track certainly shouldn’t worry either of them,” Forsman said. “I think relative to what they have done they are reasonably well off at the weights. They should both run very competitive races.”

Brown booked for Sydney Cup

Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow has confirmed that last start G1 Auckland Cup winner Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}) won’t run again before the G1 Sydney Cup and Corey Brown has landed the ride.

“His agent approached us, as did a few other agents over there,” Thurlow said. “He’s a class rider and he knows the track well obviously, and he is a very good two-mile rider, so he was the obvious choice really.

“She’s been up to Auckland and back and she’s a very athletic, fit sort of horse. Another run here and then a flight wouldn’t benefit her I wouldn’t have thought.

“We know her reasonably well and she will have a good hit-out here, make no mistake about that. It’ll just be more under jump-out conditions than race conditions.”