Horse Racing

Kiss From A Rose is one of the top chances in the Birthday Card Stakes on Saturday

A bumper all black-type programme will light up the Rosehill track in Sydney this Saturday, one of the day’s feature events being the $125,000 Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) for fillies and mares.

Bringing the action of Rosehill Guineas Day 2011 to a close as Race 9 at 5:30pm (AEDST), the 2011 Birthday Card Stakes has drawn a final field of 16 acceptors.

One of the early favourites to win the Birthday Card Stakes this year is the Gai Waterhouse-trained Kiss From A Rose.

First-up this season the improving Encosta De Lago mare won the Listed Triscay Stakes at this track and distance beating the likes of Girl Hussler and her more favoured stablemate More Strawberries.

Twelve months ago Patronyme took out the Triscay Stakes / Birthday Card Stakes double and Kiss From A Rose will be out to do the same this year.

Last start Kiss From A Rose ran third behind Jersey Lily in the Listed Wiggle Quality (1400m) and back to her preferred distance on Saturday could be hard to beat.

Another in-form four-year-old is Mossman mare Ofcourseican who is seeking their third win on the trot.

Most recently the Ron Quinton-trained Ofcourseican won the Listed Wenona Girl Handicap (1200m) at Warwick Farm on March 12, however on Saturday they have a wide barrier 15 draw to overcome.

Wenona Girl runner-up, Gai Waterhouse’s Flying Success is also set to back up in the Birthday Card Stakes but has suffered an even worse draw with the far outside barrier 16.

Topweight of the Birthday Card Stakes field is the Clarry Conners-trained Dorf Command with 58kg.

Due to be ridden by Group 1 winning jockey Glen Boss, Commands mare Dorf Command has drawn wide with barrier 10 for Saturday and is backing up from a last-start third to Atomic Force in the Listed Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at the Rosehill track last Saturday.

Against her own company Dorf Command should be competitive, but the 58kg rules her out for the win.

Peter Snowden has entered a trio horses with Trim (barrier 11) coming off a third to Ofcourseican in the Wenona Girl Handicap, Jerezana (barrier 13) and Shannara (barrier 14).

Also adding interest in the field is the Michael Tubman-trained Chance Bye, one of last year’s most promising two-year-olds.

The daughter of Snitzel has a good barrier two draw for her first-up run this year in the Birthday Card Stakes as she seeks her first win since taking out the 2010 Silver Slipper Stakes 13 months ago, after which she finished a disappointing ninth to Crystal Lily in the Golden Slipper.

Odds on all the Rosehill Guineas Day races including the Birthday Card Stakes are set to open at Luxbet shortly.

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2011 Birthday Card Stakes Field, Barriers & Weights