Jockey Christian Reith expects a sharp improvement from stakeswinner Galizani when the mare continues her build-up to The Metropolitan in Saturday’s Listed Premier’s Cup.
The Patinack Farm-owned stayer came in at the tail of the field over 1500m first-up but did enough to please Reith who expects the step up to 1800m at Rosehill to play into the mare’s favour.
Galizani was installed as an $18 chance for the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) on October 1 when TAB Sportsbet released its first market on Thursday.
Reith, who also rides Boys On Tour and Akinoshirabe for Patinack on Saturday, has seen positive signs of improvement since the mare’s first-up run.
“I expect sharp improvement from her,” Reith said.
“She worked on the course proper (at Randwick) on Tuesday morning and she felt fantastic.
“She had a lot of improvement in her first-up and she was doing her best work at the right part of the race at the end.
“Getting over 1800 metres on Saturday I think she’s in it up to her eyeballs.”
Galizani, a five-year-old by Galileo, has won three of her 11 starts including the Listed Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill in March.
Queenslander Brave The Way is favourite at $4.40 just ahead of The Verminator at $4.60 and Hume at $9, while Galizani is at $17.
Fellow five-year-old mare Akinoshirabe contests the Rydges Campbelltown Handicap (2000m) at her third Australian start.
Reith has ridden the imported mare in her two previous starts in Sydney including a close fifth over 1800m at Rosehill two weeks ago when she came in just half a length behind the winner, the talented Foreteller, in a blanket finish.
“She’ll run super,” Reith said.
“She has just improved each time I have ridden her and she hasn’t gone backwards on the track.”
Boys On Tour takes on the might of unbeaten colt Smart Missile, dual Group One winner Helmet and San Domenico winner Foxwedge in the Group Three Run To The Rose but Reith is confident the gelding won’t disgrace himself.
Boys On Tour was doing his best work late when fifth first-up in the San Domenico (1100m) and the jockey expects improvement on Saturday before being better again when he gets out to 1400m.
“He has come through the first-up run really well and his work was very good on the course proper on Tuesday,” Reith said.
AAP TURF
