Race-by-race preview and tips for Rosehill on Saturday
By Brad Gray
Race 1 – 11.30AM TAB HIGHWAY PLATE (1800m)
13. Amarantz is already a Highway Handicap winner over 1800m, at the back end of last campaign running right through the line. That was with Tyler Schiller in the saddle and the pair reunited for the first time since that win last start at Hawkesbury for the same result, this time over 2000m in BM64 company. Now she has found winning form again, can’t see her regressing. With 9. Burrandana so short in the market, she is at a very backable each way price. That’s no knock on the talent of Burrandana but the early quote seems extremely short. The five-year-old is knocking on the door though. He was luckless over 1400m in Highway company two starts ago before looming as the winner two weeks ago only for Eaglemont to prove too classy at the finish. 5. Mr Severino is the knockout. He ran second to Amarantz last preparation as an $8 chance.
How to play it: Amarantz to win.
Bonny Ezra (blue silks) looks perfectly placed in Race 9. Credit: Getty
Race 2 – 12.05PM MIDWAY HCP (1100m)
16. Undivided takes on the older horses only having turned three a matter of days ago but respect the placement of the Michael Freedman stable. The son of Rubick trialled well ahead of his debut at Warwick Farm and justified being sent around in the market, slipping up the fence to get home from the fast-finishing Encap. Back in third was Coincide, which bolted in on Wednesday at the midweeks. 7. Ningaloo Star’s previous form suggests that she improves with the run but she has trialled so well ahead of her return, suggesting that she will show up fresh this time back. Maps nicely and Jason Collett sticks after recent Randwick trial. 14. Super Bright has three Midway placings without winning one, adding to that tally four weeks ago when second to Diamond Diesel.
How to play it: Undivided to win.
Race 3 – 12.40PM SCHWEPPES HCP (2400m)
French import 5. Aristonous had his colours lowered at Caulfield last start as a firm favourite. He was forced too far back from the wide gate. The five-year-old kept finding the line to run fourth despite never threatening. He made a big impression in his two runs prior, winning at Newcastle from a seemingly impossible position before backing that up with a similar win at Randwick. He sizzled home late. Those victories flag him as a stayer going places, and quickly. 4. So United has had a rival take him on out in front in his past couple, which has left him vulnerable late. He continues to race well and is sure to give another sight, particularly if he gets control with Adam Hyeronimus riding. 2. United Nations profiles as the big improver.
How to play it: Aristonous to win.
Race 4 – 1.15PM VALE JOHN DUGGAN HCP (1400m)
6. Ramones looks set to give a sight at double-figure odds. He was ridden to lead last start and that saw him produce the best run of his preparation so far. No coincidence. Josh Parr is booked for Saturday and expect similar tactics from the wide draw. The son of Zoustar is untried at 1400m but he strikes this race fifth up so fitness won’t be an issue and the tempo of a 1400m race could play to his strengths, his cruising speed. A good track at Rosehill with the rail in the True won’t hurt either. 3. Kangaroo Court has returned in nice order having won two of his three starts this time back. He beat a subsequent winner in the latest of those victories too, in stablemate Howgoodareyou. Dropping back to 1400m probably isn’t ideal. Leggy mare 8. Pink Baroque finished too powerfully for her rivals at Canterbury first up despite being sent around as the race outsider. Even better placed out over a touch further second up.
How to play it: Ramones E/W.
Race 5 – 1.50PM ELITE SAND & SOIL HCP (1200m)
9. Lovero had no luck behind 3. Petulant first up this preparation before again luck deserted her at Kembla Grange when an odds on favourite. Everything finally fell into place third up and she put a gap on her rivals over the 1100m. Steps into Saturday company for the first time and has to stretch her speed back out to 1200m but she drops 5.5kg from last start, Jason Collett sticks and she maps to find a lovely spot. That Petulant form line ties in neatly with the early short priced favourite 2. Waverider Buoy too. The market tells you that Waverider Buoy is the obvious threat. She had a hard luck story of her own to tell last start. That was after having run well first and second up. Maps to see them all turning for home. The knock is the price.
How to play it: Lovero to win.
Race 6 – 2.25PM JOCKEY CELEBRATION DAY HCP (1350m)
It took 5. Regal Pom a dozen starts to break his maiden but he has really gone on with it since. The five-year-old is yet to win first up but that’s a touch deceptive. He was luckless first up last campaign when a narrow third at Randwick, lumping 62kg. The start prior to that he ran well when third behind Pizarro and Arnold. Like the way the son of Press Statement has trialled, particularly his latest hitout at Randwick out to 1050m. 3. King Of Naples is chasing three straight and gets James McDonald. Well found but hard to beat. 6. Wategos dug in to beat Brudenell at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
How to play it: Regal Pom to win.
Race 7 – 3PM NSWJA JOCKEY REUNION HCP (1200m)
Have lost count how many times I’ve rewatched the recent trial of 8. Foujita San. It was an exceptional trial. Seeing is believing. He returns a gelding. Perhaps that’ll be the making of him. On what he has done to date it’s very hard to get a line on him given he has proven competitive over sprint trips while he also ran in a Victorian Derby. Not sure where he fits in exactly but the placement of the four-year-old from Team Hawkes says plenty. Six of Foujita San’s nine starts have been in group and listed company. 1. Brudenell draws underneath
7. Time To Boogie, which gives him a tactical advantage. Brudenell has won five of his 10 start and comes off two narrow seconds. Only has to hold his form to prove hard to beat again. Was surprised how comfortably Time To Boogie led last start. He zipped home in fast time to put three lengths on his rivals. The presence of Brudenell doesn’t make it as straightforward here.
How to play it: Foujita San towin.
Race 8 – 3.40PM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS MISSILE STAKES (1200m)
If 4. Big Parade repeats what he has produced first up in his past two preparations, he’s the likely winner. In the first of those he smashed the clock to break the track record at Kembla Grange before last campaign he went down narrowly first up in the G1 Galaxy giving away weight to the entire field. The seven-year-old is now trained by Joe Pride and the sprinter looks well adjusted to life at Warwick Farm given his recent 21-length trial win. He has had four trials ahead of his return, steadily bringing him back to full fitness having spent 68 weeks on the sidelines. The tactics on 11. I Am Me will be interesting. Does Tim Clark punch up to lead, holding out Big Parade? That is perhaps her best chance of winning the race. The mare coasted through the grades last campaign from BM78 company against her own sex to the G1 Oakleigh Plate when jumping single-figure odds.
How to play it: Big Parade to win.
Race 9 – 4.15PM PETALUMA PREMIER’S CUP PRELUDE (1800m)
5. Bonny Ezra has caught the eye in both runs back this time in. First up in the Civic Stakes over 1400m where he clocked the fastest closing splits of the entire Randwick meeting. Four weeks later he backed that up with a fast-finishing sixth in the Winter Challenge out to 1500m. He’s perfectly placed out to 1800m now third up with James McDonald booked. Chris Waller has seven runners in the race so that’s a fair lead as to his leading chance. The former Kiwi-trained gelding was a winner third up last campaign too. 13. Mach Schnell is a hard fit front runner plummeting in weights. That should allow him to hold his form, even up slightly in grade. He has tackled 1800m at his past three starts resulting in a win and two narrow seconds. Catch me if you can and Tyler Schiller sticks. 11. Fawkner Park has the makings of being the best horse in the race having won four from four in Australia.
How to play it: Bonny Ezra to win.
Race 10 – 4.50PM TAB HCP (1500m)
3. Ausbred Rising Sun is going to settle down out the back but no horse here will be thundering to the line faster than him. The gamble is whether he runs out of straight. The four-year-old is still untapped. He impressed on debut at Newcastle to knock off his maiden before it was a fast rise through the grades from there going from a class 1 win at Newcastle into a G2 placing behind Pericles at Sandown. That was out to 1800m. His form tapered off thereafter but his two subsequent starts were in the G1 Rosehill Guineas and the G2 Tulloch Stakes. Forgive him that. 8. Powerful Peg is a genuine mare who found winning form last start at Warwick Farm. Expect her to hold that now. 6. Gracilistyla would find trouble in an empty bar. Luck again deserted him at Randwick last start, never seeing daylight. It’s a common theme with him. He continues to race well but continues to tease punters.
How to play it: Ausbred Rising Sun to win.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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