Strong work over the weekend has co-trainer Mick Price feeling good about Annavisto’s sojourn to Sydney for the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
While no stranger to racing in the clockwise direction with her best result north of the Victorian border being a second placing in the Group 1 Sydney’s Queen Of The Turf (1600m) last April, Price was still happy to see the mare deliver on the training track after demolishing her rivals at Flemington at Group 3 level when ridden by Jamie Kah on February 18.
“She worked ‘reverse way’ at Rosehill on Saturday so she is all set to go,” Price said.
“Nash Rawiller will ride her this time and she’ll go very well, I think.”
Firming from $5.50 into $4.50 on Monday morning, Annavisto has maintained favouritism in recent markets prior to the release of nominations for the meeting.
“She’s in beautiful order and has been doing a bit of work in that reverse direction, and I don’t think Rosehill will be a problem for her,” Price added.
“It will just be getting back to racing in that direction.”
With Nash Rawiller riding the mare this weekend, it will be the first time a male jockey will be aboard on race day since Jye McNeil rode her into third placing in the 2021 Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) in October 2021.
In Annavisto’s five starts since, the rides have alternated between Kah and Rachel King.
Rawiller will be shooting for his first Group 1 victory since steering Think It Over to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) last April.
