Punters will get a first look at The Everest-bound Enticing Star at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday when the WA expat lines-up for new trainer Chris Waller in the Golden Pendant 2019.
Waller has two chances to win the richest turf race in the world on October 19 at Randwick when two former Perth-trained mares Arcadia Queen and Enticing Star face off in the $14 million The Everest (1200m).
Arcadia Queen runs for The Star and the Kingston Town Classic champ got her Sydney spring prep off to the perfect start with a big win as the odds-on favourite in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) on September 14.
This weekend it is Enticing Star’s turn, the ultra-consistent six-year-old running for her trainer and slot-holder Waller in The Everest 2019.
The Testa Rossa mare is only lightly-raced for her age having won eight of her 10 career starts to date.
She hasn’t run since last December when running a brave second to Voodoo Lad in Ascot’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
Ahead of her first-up run in the Group 2 $400,000 Golden Pendant (1400m) on Golden Rose Stakes Day, Enticing Star has had two good trials for two winning Sydney hit-outs.
It is a small Golden Pendant field of only seven female gallopers this weekend and Enticing Star jumps the favourite from barrier six with James McDonald to ride.
The latest Golden Pendant odds at Ladbrokes.com.au list Enticing Star, who is undefeated first-up (3:3-0-0), at $2.60 and she is currently a $17 chance in The Everest betting.
It is a wide-open Golden Pendant betting market outside the favourite with a further four single-figure chances including the early mover Champagne Cuddles ($4.20).
Bjorn Baker trains the Not A Single Doubt five-year-old whose first-up run produced a close third, under a half-length beaten, behind Mizzy in Rosehill’s Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m).
The Breeders Classic winner is a five-time placegetter from seven previous runs over the 1400m distance and shapes-up as a genuine top three hope again in the Golden Pendant.
Invincibella and the Sheraco Stakes winner Mizzy follow in betting at an equal $6, before the rails-drawn Dyslexic ($7) rounds out the hopes under $10.
Waller’s other chance in the race, I Am Invincible six-year-old Invincibella has a top record at the track and distance (13:5-4-1) and is the most experienced of the mares in the mix.
She was in outstanding form over the winter in Brisbane winning the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m), with the Golden Pendant her first-up run of the spring.
Anthony Cummings’ Zoustar four-year-old Mizzy chases her third straight win this time in with her Sheraco Stakes success coming second-up on the back of a Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) victory at Randwick.
Dyslexic meanwhile is a five-year-old daughter of Foxwedge trained by Team Hawkes who has run fourth behind Mizzy in both her lead-up races.
Click here for the latest Golden Pendant 2019 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Rosehill Race 5 at 2:50pm (AEST) on Saturday.