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By Ray Hickson

Skyhook has the class while Blitzburg’s had the smoother preparation so co-trainer Sterling Alexiou says it’s hard to split the promising colts in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Drinkwise Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill.

Trainer Sterling Alexiou (Pic: Bradley Photos).

It’ll be the former’s first appearance since finishing midfield in the Golden Slipper while the latter is returning having missed the autumn due to needing a bone chip removed.

Alexiou, who co-trains with Gerald Ryan, said it’s not ideal the two three-year-olds have to meet but they are likely moving in different directions with Skyhook following a Golden Rose path and Blitzburg headed to the San Domenico.

“In a fortnight’s time we’re probably going to have King Of Pop there, Beiwacht, Wodeton, Rivellino, I can keep rolling them off, so this time of year if you have a handy horse it’s hard not to be clashing with other good horses,’’ he said.

“Skyhook will probably go a month to the Run To The Rose then to the Golden Rose if his form warrants it while Blitzburg will run here then the San Domenico and then we’ll make up our mind.”

How Skyhook, $3.90 with TAB on Wednesday, has developed from his two-year-old season is exciting the Ryan and Alexiou stable.

He made his debut in the Pierro Plate and improved with each run, following an unlucky second in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes with a runaway win in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes that earned him a Slipper berth.

“He’s come back a much improved horse, taller and stronger, and just doing things a lot better now,’’ he said.

“He’s executing things a lot better and he’s improved as an overall package.

“I thought he trialled exceptionally well, he’s very push button and when Kerrin (McEvoy) pulled him off heels he did what he normally does and attacked the line very well.”

The one word of warning from Alexiou is that Skyhook, $26 in Golden Rose pre-noms markets, will have to concede weight and some fitness to his rivals.

“He heads into this with only one trial so there’s definitely improvement to come but he’s not far away from where he needs to be to be winning a race like this,’’ he said.

“He has to give away a penalty but hopefully he has the class to overcome that.”

Blitzburg didn’t get the chance to press for a Golden Slipper start, after easily winning the Canonbury Stakes on February 1, due to requiring the surgery to the front fetlock.

Alexiou said what the Snitzel colt has going for him is a greater base of fitness from the chance to have two barrier trials so that will give him his chance.

“He’s had a very good grounding, he’s been in work for a very long time,’’ he said.

“He’s had two pretty solid trials and this is the sort of race he’s been targeted at. He probably has an advantage on the other horse in terms of his preparation.”

Group 2 placed six-year-old Brosnan returns from over a year off in the Precise Air Handicap (1400m) and Alexiou warned it’s very much a starting point.

Skyhook runs second in a Rosehill trial on July 29

The gelding has only had two starts since October 2023 and he said it’s simply a matter of the horse needing to get back to the races.

“He had a setback after his last run and instead of giving him a short break we decided to give him a long spell,’’ he said.

“He probably heads into Saturday a bit ring rusty, and he is better on dry ground which he won’t get. It’s the run he needs to have to get to his next start and see where he sits then.”

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