Gosford will host the final two stakes races of the year in Australia on Wednesday, the Group III Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) and Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m).
The favourite for the Belle Of The Turf is the Chris Waller-trained Brookspire, who will be out to cap a memorable year for Ozzie Kheir and Brae Sokolski.
Brookspire romped home in a benchmark 78 at Randwick last start defeating Blesk and Holyfield, who finished third and first, respectively, at Randwick on Boxing Day.
A 4yo daughter of Hinchinbrook, Brookspire has been a model of consistency in her 10-start career to date.
She has made two previous attempts at stakes level. In March, she finished a troubled sixth, beaten less than two lengths in the Group III Kembla Grange Classic before scoring an easy win over 1600m at Caulfield.
It encouraged connections to have a throw at the stumps in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville, finishing midfield, just two lengths from the winner Media Award.
Purchased by Chris Waller Racing/Brae Sokolski for $300,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Brookspire is a half-sister to Group 1 WATC Railway Stakes winner Inspirational Girl (Reliable Man) and Listed VRC All Victorian Sprint Final winner Ruettiger (Duporth).
They are out of the Zabeel mare Be Inspired, a sister to Group III winner Rainbow Styling and a half to Group III winner Zingaling (Redoute’s Choice) from Macquarie Stud’s excellent matron Be Inspired (Centaine).
The Gosford Guineas is a much wider betting race and gives some Crème de la Crème yearlings the chance to put some black-type on the board.
The lone stakes-winner in the field is the $300,000 Snitzel colt Bend The Knee.
Hoping to join him are the $700,000 I Am Invincible gelding King Of Sparta, $650,000 I Am Invincible filly Authentic Jewel, and $460,000 Lonhro colt Broken Hill.
Rubick has been enjoying a run of success of late. The Swettenham Stud stallion has two worthy contenders in the Belle Of The Turf in Amica and Bright Rubick, while Tricolours Racing’s, lightly raced, $125,000 purchase Party for One will be out to spoil the rich kid’s party in the Gosford Guineas.
