Melbourne Cup carnival form lines promise to count for just as much at Rosehill as they will at Sandown on Saturday.
As five Melbourne Cup horses go around at Sandown, trainer David Vandyke is using two results from the fourth day of the Flemington carnival to mount a strong case for Sir John Hawkwood at Rosehill.
In the absence of topweight and stablemate Prince Cheri, Sir John Hawkwood is favourite to win the Cellarbrations Erindale Liquor Handicap after making an eye-catching debut for Vandyke.
Finishing fourth to Fresnapol at Randwick, Sir John Hawkwood was involved in a tussle for the minor placings with Rock Sturdy and Casino Dancer.
Rock Sturdy almost pulled off an Emirates Stakes surprise and Casino Dancer showed up in the Matriarch Stakes last Saturday.
“The form out of the Randwick race is great,” Vandyke said.
“Rock Sturdy ran third in a Group One, Casino Dancer ran third in a Group Two.”
The likelihood of a rain-affected track will do no harm to Sir John Hawkwood’s chances with two of the imports four wins in England coming on soft surfaces.
Anthony Cummings will be hoping the hidden merit in Best Case’s Flemington run on Cup day is a pointer to a return to the form that made the now five-year-old a Sandown Guineas contender two years ago.
Rosehill was rated in the soft range on Friday morning ahead of more afternoon rain.
