Waterhouse backs Hyeronimus for Run To The Rose success

Gai Waterhouse believes Adam Hyeronimus is one of Sydney’s best jockeys and has given him the chance to show it at Rosehill.

Hyeronimus will ride Raphael’s Cat in the Group Two Run To The Rose (1200m) and his exciting stablemate River Wild in the McGrath Estate Agents Handicap (1400m) on Saturday.

Waterhouse said it was a great opportunity for the underrated hoop.

“Adam rides a lot for me and has been with me quite some time,” Waterhouse said.

“I think he’s a brilliant young rider.

“I think he’s right up there with the best riders in Sydney.”

Waterhouse thought highly enough of Raphael’s Cat to run him in the Group Two Pago Pago Stakes in March. He was spelled after failing to run a place but showed the benefits of a spell to win first-up at Canterbury on August 19 with Blake Shinn aboard.

“He’s a very talented young horse,” Waterhouse said.

“To even consider putting him in a Group Two shows our opinion of him.

“He’s just a lovely precocious son of Redoute’s Choice.”

Raphael’s Cat will have to overcome Chris Waller-trained duo Press Statement and Japonisme along with Godolphin pair Exosphere and Holler.

Press Statement is unbeaten from three starts, the most recent the Group One J J Atkins (1600m) in June but it is Japonisme the punters want.

Japonisme is at $2.40 with Exosphere $4.40, Press Statement $4.80., Holler $7, Raphael’s Cat $8 and Redzel $9.

The only other runner, Mr Optimistic, is the outsider at $51.

River Wild will also step up to stakes racing if he can replicate his blistering six length win on debut at Kembla Grange.

“He’s really an exciting horse,” Waterhouse said.

“I think he’ll get further. I don’t think you’ll see the best of him in the spring. I think he’s very much an autumn horse.”

Bookmakers have rated him the $1.80 favourite to make the step up to Saturday grade.

The colt, raced by Coolmore, is a brother of Group One-winning mare Aqua D’Amore and Group Two winner Petrology, who will run in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Article from justhorseracing.com.au

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