NEW trainer Debbie Sanderson is praying for rain so Rosabee can get back on the track at Haydock this weekend.
Sanderson joined the training ranks earlier this year when taking over at Wiseton Stables just outside Bawtry having been racing secretary to previous incumbent Vicky Haigh.
She has so far saddled five winners from just 29 runners and is looking for a big run from Rosabee, who scored three times last year and finished second in the Group Three Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot last July.
An injury, picked up in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket in October, has kept the No Excuse Needed filly off the track since.
The three-year-old has been in training since February and providing the ground is fine Rosabee will make a belated reappearance in the six-furlong Poker At bet365 Handicap on Haydock’s seven-race card.
Sanderson said: “She’ll only go if we get the rain. I didn’t want to throw her straight into the deep end in that Listed race at Sandown.
“I’ve looked at the weather forecast and there could be some thunderstorms over Haydock, so let’s hope we get them. If we don’t she won’t go. In an ideal world what we were thinking about was getting a run into her as she’ll probably need it, then we were thinking of sending her over to Ireland.
“She needs cut in the ground and that’s my biggest issue with her. I pulled her out at Newcastle thinking they wouldn’t get the rain and then they got some. In hindsight we should have run her there.
“I’m enjoying the training, we’ve had a good start, but most of my horses need the rain, then I think we’ll have a few more winners.”
Haydock’s three-day meeting starts tomorrow and Warrington jockey Paul Hanagan is in fine form ahead of one of favourite meetings at his ‘home’ track.
The 28-year-old landed a 121-1 treble at Hamilton yesterday. Victories aboard the Richard Fahey-trained trio Gap Princess (2-1f), Stateside (3-1f) – yesterday’s nap in the Daily Post – and Optical Illusion (11-2) at Hamilton made it nine wins from his last four days in the saddle. He now has 69 winners this year and is third in the jockey’s championship on 46 – 15 behind current champion Ryan Moore.
Hanagan begins Haydock’s three-day card tomorrow with a big chance of victory with Rose Blossom, who is back down in grade after a disappointing run in seventh when well fancied in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He can also keep his excellent form going today at Catterick with Fahey’s debutant Aquarian Spirit and Elusive Sue both having chances. While his mount Green Day Packer rates the nap in the final race of the day (5pm).
TODAY’S NAP: Green Day Packer (5pm Catterick)
