Racing: Programme change mooted

If there is any doubt why not run the Slipper and Hobartville as the first two races?Nash RawillerSydney jockey Nash Rawiller has implored racing officials to consider moving the Silver Slipper Stakes and Hobartville Stakes to the first two races at Rosehill Gardens today if there is any risk of not getting through the entire programme.

With New South Wales' big wet set to continue for another day at least, the Rosehill surface will be heavy and, because rain is expected during the meeting, track conditions are likely to deteriorate.

Rawiller told the Herald Sun that the Silver Slipper and Hobartville, both group two races worth A$200,000, were vital lead-up races for the Sydney Autumn Carnival and suggested an alteration to today's race scheduling if necessary.

Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy conceded it would be difficult to alter race times after acceptances but added: "These are exceptional circumstances."

Rawiller, who will ride unbeaten Pierro in the Silver Slipper, said the colt needed to run tomorrow as part of his build-up to the Golden Slipper.

"It is no good for any of these horses being aimed at the Golden Slipper to miss out on a start," Rawiller said on Thursday. "They need the opportunity to pick up prizemoney.

"The same goes for the 3-year-olds in the Hobartville [Rawiller is on Wild And Proud], because they are getting ready for the Randwick Guineas.

"If there is any doubt why not run the Slipper and Hobartville as the first two races?"

The Silver Slipper is race 5 at 3.40pm with the Hobartville the next race at 4.20pm. The first two races of the day are benchmark handicaps.

Murrihy said any decision to change race times was "something you would do well in advance of race day".

"The club wants to have as much exposure as possible for betting turnover on their main races but it is a suggestion I think is worth having a look at," Murrihy said.

"However, logistically, it is very difficult to do this because of the complexity of betting, here, interstate and overseas.

"You also have to consider the national and international television coverage."

The race times have been advertised since fields were declared on Wednesday and the NSW TAB started tote betting on exotics such as the BIG6 and Quaddie from yesterday.

Murrihy said decisions to alter race schedules by relying on the accuracy of weather forecasts was fraught with danger.

Peter Snowden has long been a fan of top 3-year-old Manawanui and admits his four Hobartville Stakes runners have their backs to the wall against him in today's group two feature.

Snowden will start Free Wheeling, Ambidexter, Galah and Induna in the 1400m event at Rosehill in which the Ron Leemon-trained Golden Rose winner Manawanui is the even money favourite.

Darley's head trainer has seen plenty of Manawanui in the past 12 months with the gelding winning the A$1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill in the spring before staging an epic dual to be narrowly denied by Snowden's star colt Helmet in the Caulfield Guineas.

"Ronny [Leemon] was a bit disappointed he got beaten but I thought his run was outstanding first-up," Snowden said of Manawanui's narrow Royal Sovereign Stakes loss to Hot Snitzel two weeks ago.

"He's a quality horse and no doubt whatever he contests they are going to know he's there."

With Darley's superstar 3-year-olds Sepoy and Helmet in Melbourne ahead of their respective trips to Dubai later this month, Snowden says Manawanui is the horse he fears most in Sydney races this autumn.

"He's the best 3-year-old up here at the moment," the trainer said.

Free Wheeling, a horse Manawanui got the better of in a race at Canterbury in May last year, was considered by Snowden as his stable's leading Hobartville hope but he has to contend with barrier 12.

Snowden expects his four charges to make their presence felt in group one assignments later in the autumn and will be pleasantly surprised should any of them cause an upset over 1400m in the Hobartville.

"They are four really nice horses but are all looking for that mile, plus," Snowden said on Thursday.

"All those four horses will make their presence felt in the autumn but in their right races.

"Saturday is not their right race. I think three of them - Galah, Free Wheeling and Ambidexter - are looking for the mile and I've targeted the Randwick Guineas with them.

"I feel the Randwick Guineas is the right race for them while Induna is heading towards the Derby."

- AAP