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By Ray Hickson

A slew of early scratchings has raised jockey Adam Hyeronimus’ confidence levels about promising mare Weeping Woman overcoming a wide barrier at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jockey Adam Hyeronimus (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The Joe Pride-trained mare’s initial draw of 18 had become 12 by Friday morning and made his job in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1300m) that little bit easier though Hyeronimus respects that he still has the outside gate.

“It's a big result. It’s fortunate for me,’’ he said.

“But even though she’s into 12 of 12 the 1300m start at Rosehill is not great.

“She’s going to have to do some work to end up in a nice position, she’ll probably lead and if she’s not leading they’ll be going pretty quick and we can get a good run in behind them.”

Weeping Woman, $4.60 with TAB on Friday, was a heavily backed favourite when she resumed at Rosehill two weeks ago on a heavy track and ran third behind Liberty State.

She’s won second-up at 1100m in her past two preparations but this time around Pride kicked her off at 1200m and that may have taken its toll late.

Hyeronimus said he thought the four-year-old was the winner early in the straight but also suggested resuming on what he felt was a testing heavy track in a solidly enough run race contributed to her defeat.

“It was a very good run, she ran great. She put herself in a nice position and travelled well,’’ he said.

“She felt like the winner at the top of the straight, which is always pleasing to feel even if they don’t win the race.

“It shows they are right on track in their preparation and she just felt the pinch the last 50m.

“She’s a nice mare and if she can make that natural improvement with the fitness she’s going to be hard to beat.”

Godolphin colt Crocodile impressed Hyeronimus with his all the way win at Hawkesbury at his second start and will be looking for a repeat, not only result but with his racing manners, in the Chandon Handicap (1400m).

The youngster races in a nose roll and what pleased the jockey with his performance was how well he relaxed in the run stepping up to the distance of Saturday’s race.

“You can see him extend late and really enjoy racing over the seven furlongs,’’ he said.

“He’s a horse that’s still learning his craft and is only going to get better next preparation but there’s no reason he can’t take a step forward.”

It’s not important to Hyeronimus that Crocodile leads again, he may do, but he said if he can get into the same sort of rhythm he was in at Hawkesbury it will take him a long way.

“The biggest thing is to make sure he’s comfortable relative to where he’s racing, if he can find a nice galloping action throughout the run it’s only going to help him extend late,’’ he said.

Weeping Woman runs third at Rosehill on May 31

Adam Hyeronimus on Plenitude (race 2): “He’s going well, it’ll be interesting to see how he runs. He’s drawn one his last two starts and been quite luckless so hopefully barrier five will put him in a position to maybe race off the fence and have some clear galloping room. I think the 1400m will be ideal for him and that’s probably as far as he wants.”

On Sir Lucan (race 8): “It’s a perfect race for him, he won it last year. It’s just a matter of getting a good run in transit. Last year we had everything go our way and we ended up in a beautiful spot, I got the run when I wanted it. There looks to be good speed and if I can roll across and end up in a perfect spot it’s pretty much half, if not three quarters, the battle.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting