Ghisoni ready for Rosehill return

A brilliant career, that was interrupted by a minor set-back, is set for a highly-anticipated resumption when Ghisoni steps out in Saturday’s G3 Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill.

On a card that also provides the promising colt Sanctioned the chance to prove himself a worthy contender for Stakes honours, Ghisoni (James Cummings/Brenton Avdulla) adds genuine class.

Victories at each of her first three starts, including the G2 Surround Stakes in which she beat subsequent G1 winner Single Gaze, had established Ghisoni as one of Australia’s most talented three-year-old fillies.

Her first season also included a G3 success in Brisbane before injury sidelined her for the next Spring and Autumn.

Ghisoni’s return to racing comes after a painstaking rehabilitation that shows every sign of having been successful.

“She’s been in and out of the stables as part of her recovery from the set-back she suffered,” said trainer James Cummings.

“The team has taken her along slowly and surely and she’s trialled very well and had an excellent preparation."

“I picked out the Sheraco as a beautiful re-introduction to racing without having to put her under too much pressure."

“But it’s looking like a top-tier mare’s race, so this will certainly give us an indication of just how well Ghisoni has returned. I think she’ll have to be at her best to be beating these mares.”

Cummings is also putting Sanctioned (Hugh Bowman) to something of a test in the G2 Stan Fox Stakes following the colt’s first up third at G3-level at Randwick last month.

“He started this preparation as a mid-week, Newcastle winner and he’s now a Group Three placegetter first-up, so he’s on an upward spiral,” Cummings said.

“He looks to have taken another forward step fitness-wise and he’s improving all the time, so he deserves his chance in what is a good quality race,” Cummings said.

“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself as far as spring targets go, but he’s going to be nominated for the majors, so he’ll have to be competitive on Saturday."

Saturday’s Australian feature-race contingent is completed by Banish who runs in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley in Melbourne.

Cummings described the race a “an interesting test” for a filly who had been competitive in every start before breaking through last time out.