3 minute read

Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Rosehill.

The rail is in the True position and the form has been done for a soft track.

9. Imposing Beau was beaten in a Class 1 at Newcastle last start but there's so much more to the story than that. He was beaten in a bob of the heads by Matterhorn but that duo gapped the rest of the field and although we can only compare the time to the two maidens over 1200m on the same day, it was over seven lengths quicker. The Brazen Beau gelding also ran time when winning on debut over 1100m, stopping the clock a length quicker than the BM64. Times aren't everything but it's a great sign for a young horse. Wedged in between those two starts was a luckless fourth on the Kensington track. Jay Ford will come out neutral and look for a spot in behind what looks to be a genuine speed. Should have the last say with 54.5kg on his back.

Dangers: 5. Key could be the big improver. Like the way she found the line at Rosehill first up over a trip well short of her best before [producing a plain run at Rosehill, but she was 1100m out to 1400m. Maps well in this. 1. Kobe Rocks is in great form coming off a BM72 win at Warwick Farm. Creeping up in the weights but the soft draw somewhat offsets that. 3. Resilient Star has three lengths to make up on Kobe Rocks but meets him 3.5kg better off and won't give away as big of a head start this time. 8. Zorocat is an honest on pacer but she'll have plenty of company up front from the likes of 10. Patino Ruby.

How to play it: Imposing Beau WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

"Times aren't everything but it's a great sign for a young horse."

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6. Monterey Zar showed a bit of ticker to stick on the way he did five weeks ago in Highway company after being trapped deep throughout. Was still only beaten less than a length at the finish. That was on the back of a win over the Wagga carnival when sent around favourite. The six-year-old has only had six starts, resuming this preparation after over two years on the sidelines. He has been carefully managed by Gary Colvin. The son of Zariz steps out to 1400m for the first time but gives the impression he'll relish it. The other obvious things in his favour are the run he's likely to get from a perfect draw and the 53kg he'll carry after the claim of Tyler Schiller. Sets up perfectly.

Dangers: 3. The Drover kept chasing behind Casino Kid last start in Highway company. He also draws to get the right run and the advantage he has over Monterey Zar is the recent run under his belt. Drops back from 1500m so will be strong late. 10. Orbital Express is a last start maiden winner but did it at provincial level. Has a nasty habit of missing the start but will be rattling home if the breaks fall her way. Shapes to relish 1400m too. It's just a matter of how far back she gets. 7. Packer's Bond and 8. Saintly Sunrise are two for the multiples.

How to play it: Monterey Zar WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

1. Sweet Thomas won this race last year with 60kg on a heavy track having run last in his lead up run. This year he comes off a third in the two mile Brisbane Cup behind Knights Order and Carif, who sat first and second in the run and completely controlled the race. Sweet Thomas came from last. This is the nine-year-old's fourth preparation in Australia so we've seen enough of him now to know that he needs every bit of the 3200m. Back in April last year he ran fourth in the Sydney Cup while he also ran well in the Sandown Cup again behind Carif, with Realm Of Flowers in second. This year's race isn't any harder than last year and it's easy to make a case that he's going better into the race this time around. Looks his race to lose.

Dangers: 4. Kaapfever is on trial at the distance but he sets up to get every chance to run it out. The six-year-old attacked the line two back in the Listed Winter Cup behind Knights Order before rattling home to just miss at Warwick Farm last start. That was with 59.5kg. After Tyler Schiller's claim here, he plummets to 50kg. Loves it wet too. Big threat. If 5. Feel The Rush can repeat her run in the G2 Chairman's Quality, that puts her in the finish of this. She was only beaten a length by the subsequent Sydney Cup winner Selino. She also drops significantly in weight, down from 57.5kg to 51kg. The knock is that she was plain last start.

How to play it: Sweet Thomas WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

2. Our Intrigue has her first run for Chris Waller with the former Kiwi well placed to hit the ground running like No Compromise has done recently. The five-year-old was Group Two placed as a filly over 2100m so the quality is there. Her two most recent runs, both in May, were over 1400m where she wasn't sharp enough. That was only five weeks ago. Loved her Rosehill trial with James McDonald hardly moving on her. She had more to offer if she was asked to quicken. Look for any market confidence to really seal the deal but in a very plain looking race happy to gamble that she is better thanGM78 company.

Dangers: 4. Zing has run three placings this preparation, having had her chance in the latest two. She just lacks that killer instinct to put races away. The last time she won was when she controlled the speed in front and held on. Perhaps ride her aggressive again here to land outside of the leader? Forgive her one previous try over 1800m as she was posted wide the trip. There aren't too many other ways to turn. 1. So Wicked looks the leader and is a last start winner, albeit in a race with questionable depth. Tim Clark will give her every chance from in front.

How to play it: Our Intrigue EACH WAY ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

How many more chances do we give 3. Wairere Falls ? Well, as long as Chris Waller keeps finding races as suitable as this for the four-year-old, it's hard to justify jumping off. It's been well documented how unlucky he was second up behind Great House in a three-way finish while last start he was no match for Oscar Zulu after the winner sat outside of the leader. Goes up to 59.5kg but he is down in grade from BM78 level. Had been knocking around in midweek company his last two preparations but has proven himself to be better than that this time back. Love the quick back up for him. There's intent about how this horse has been placed fourth up. Surely.

Dangers: 2. Knight will be up front making his own luck and in a race as even as this, that's a big advantage. Was run down by Kobe Rocks last start and looks ready to produce his best now third up out to the mile. 7. Maccomo was heavily backed last start and missed in a tight finish. He'll keep Knight honest. 4. Sarodec is the big unknown offering different form lines up from Melbourne. Has won two of his past three and loves it wet. He is another on speed horse to throw into the mix. 5. Serena would appreciate a fast tempo and looks suited back out to the mile. 6. Cadenabbia is a chance but is too well found early.

How to play it: Wairere Falls WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Want to give 4. Tricky Gal another chance. The five-year-old tarnished her previously perfect fresh record with a humdrum seventh behind New Arrangement and Grand Piano a fortnight ago. Perhaps the one trial and 60.5kg impost were to blame? Or the inside was inferior? It's looking for excuses but she's better than that. What we do know for certain is that the mare has the quality to win at this level. She mixed her form a touch last preparation but her best was very good, running second in Group company on three occasions, beating home Icebath in two of those. She comfortably held off 5. Wandabaa in the Birthday Card Stakes too, and meets her 3kg better off. Should be able to use the gate to settle in the first half.

Dangers: 8. Threeood was sent around at $61 first up at Eagle Farm and just missed in a driving finish. Has trialled brilliantly since, albeit on the synthetic, but she may have returned better than ever. This is clever placement from Joe Pride. Wandabaa jumps from 1100m to 1400m but she is deep into a preparation so it shouldn't be an issue. She's found 1100m a touch too sharp at her last two starts, both resulting in seconds behind Adelong. Likely to be last from the draw. 9. Fender held his own in Group Three company last start, beating home 1. Ranier. Loves the sting out of the ground. 3. Bandersnatch probably prefers it firmer but he's building towards another win.

How to play it: Tricky Gal WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

10. Great House resumed with a narrow win at Rosehill three weeks ago over a trip well short of his best. That sets up the four-year-old for a lucrative winter as Chris Waller picks his way through the grades with the Irish import. We saw a glimpse of what he is capable of last preparation when second up, putting three lengths on Harpo Marx. He relished the hot speed up front. This race doesn't set up to be as frantically run but 8. Toryjoy will at least ensure it's a rolling tempo. Not getting too carried away just yet with where Great House could be in six months' time but most would agree that it's likely to be in better races than this. Brenton Avdulla rides and draws to settle midfield.

Dangers: 1. Opacity produced a peak performance at Randwick last start to beat Order Again but he only carried 51kg. Like the step out to 1800m now fourth up, and he loves this track (9:3-0-1). Tyler Schiller will need to keep his wits about him from barrier 1. 4. Brutality backs up for the third week in a row. Another win looked imminent after his sizzling finish over 1400m three starts back but he has looked very dour since then. 5. Mubariz has been perfectly placed and ridden at his last too, the latest of those a BM94. Has strong claims again with another suitable set up.

How to play it: Great House WIN ($3 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

2. Canasta is one dimensional but can't find a lot of speed in this, which will give him his chance to pinch it from in front. The booking of Tim Clark is a big plus too. The front-running five-year-old gave cheek first up at Randwick when second to Dream Circle before being gunned down by an impressive Cisco Bay last start. Liked the way he rallied again late to hold off 7. Blondeau. The son of Makfi is probably viewed as more of a middle distance horse but his 1400m record reads 5:2-2-0 so can see why Bjorn Baker elects to keep him over the shorter trip for the time being. Tends to pick up a race or two every preparation won the back of his racing style and while he is still in benchmark company, that'll continue.

Dangers: Blondeau was no match for Cisco Bay last start but what was his excuse for not running past Canasta? Maybe the barrier forced him to be exposed too soon. It doesn't get any easier here from the draw, though. Brenton Avdulla might have to ride for luck. 5. Ulysses was fantastic first up in an unsuitably run race given he was out the back. He was a dominant winner second up last preparation and maps to be a lot closer. 15. Bluff 'N' Bluster comes through that same form line and warrants thought at odds out to 1400m on another wet track. 4. Oakfield Missile went better than 6. Mirra Vision first up. She is probably more of a miler these days but expect her to be strong late and the gate gives her the chance to park closer.

How to play it: Canasta WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

5. Dunbrody Power is a mare with an explosive turn of foot. She gives her rivals a head start but at double figure odds, the reward outweighs the risk. The five-year-old is 5:2-1-1 first up and the miss was a luckless seventh at Canterbury where she never got a crack at her rivals. She has tuned up for this with two trials, one where she worked strongly through the line before an inconspicuous last where she wasn't asked for anything. First up last preparation she reeled in 1. Shadow Crush. Her win at Randwick over 1200m later in the campaign was very strong, and as good a performance as she has ever produced. That was before sticking on over the Magic Millions meeting despite travelling deep throughout.

Dangers: Shadow Crush was a strong last start winner and will settle a couple of lengths in front of Dunbrody Power. 6. Hulk will win another one of these shortly but he is becoming costly. He ran Malkovich to 0.8L last start over 1000m. As always, just needs the breaks to fall his way. 13. Destination resumes a gelding. Three of his six wins last preparation would likely win this, particularly his second to Wild Ruler with Forbidden Love in third. The knock is the wet track. He's top pick otherwise. 10. Triple Ace has also been gelded and has won four of his past five, the loss a 0.2L defeat to Malkovich.

How to play it: Dunbrody Power WIN ($12 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS