3 minute read

Brad Gray's Tips

4. King Of Spades was beaten as a firm favourite two weeks ago in a identical race to this but he shouldn't have lost too much admiration. The four-year-old slid forward to take up the running but after being eyeballed throughout, he was there to be picked of in the straight. Typical of King Of Spades, however, he never shirked his task, boxing away bravely to finish fourth. Would expect him to be ridden with cover this time, instead going back to playing stalker. The barrier should see Hannah Williams park the gelding in a perfect trailing position. King Of Spades has proven to be a Highway Handicap constant recently with a win and three seconds from his four runs prior in this company. Even last start he was beaten less than a length. He's in the finish again.

Dangers: 14. Agirlsbestfriend came from last to swoop on her rivals at Coffs Harbour first up to break her maiden before going right on with it at Muswellbrook, scoring a dominant win. The filly still has unknown upside but this is a good test to find out where she fits in. 7. Olakau'atu has a similar profile. He too has a picket fence next to his name and comes off two dominant wins himself. Can put himself in the first dozen in running. 8. How's It Kev overachieved in the Country Championships Final back in April and comes here a last start winner at Orange. 12. Master Of Rewards is hit and miss at the moment but if he repeats last start he has place claims. 16. Amarantz and 19. Eastern Glow rate mentions.

How To Play It: King Of Spades WIN

1. King's Gambit is the best two-year-old we've seen this season. His Caulfield win back in October was brilliant. It had all the hallmarks of a top class youngster. The son of I Am Invincible camped in behind a genuine speed, idled up to the leaders turning for home and won eased down with gears still up his sleeve. Despite that, the clock backed up the win. That was 16 weeks ago now. King's Gambit has been back to the trials since and he looked equally impressive, winning at Randwick heat over 1050m so effortlessly. Back in third in that trial, and under a niggle, was stablemate Don Corleone, who made a statement of his own last Saturday. The market suggests his number is all but in the frame.

Dangers: 2. Red Resistance got complete control at Rosehill to make a wining debut but he quickened like a smart horse and ran right through the line. The Russian Revolution colt is an imposing individual and won't be easy to get past, particularly with the recent run under his belt. He is still learning too. 3. Chevron hasn't been given much respect by the market. The debutant has won both of his trials, at Gosford and Wyong, in good style and could surprise at odds. 7. The Little Pumper has a race experience edge with two starts to his name and will be prominent throughout from the inside draw.

How To Play It: King's Gambit/Red Resistance QUINELLA

2. Cosmic Minerva was excellent last start to get into second behind Ringmaster given the shape of the race. The lightly-raced four-year-old was forced back from the wide draw in what turned into a sprint home. It was also his first run beyond 1200m and his first in Saturday company. He comes back in grade for this, with the trade off being an extra 4kg. The Deep Field gelding stretches again out to 1500m now third up but given his strength through the line last start, sustaining an 800m sprint, it shouldn't pose a problem. Given he was only second up there and it was just the fifth start of his career, there's every chance that Cosmic Minerva comes on again from last start. He'll be much closer from the gate and looks perfectly set up to go one better than a fortnight ago.

Dangers: 5. Regal Pom should have won first up before chasing a hot speed at Rosehill. Should peak now and has had genuine excuses for his two defeats this time back, despite the narrow margins. 4. Resonator was pressured in front at the Gold Coast last start. Forgive him that. His run at Randwick prior to that reads well for this. 7. Wineglass Bay looked to get his chance at Rosehill three weeks ago but it was his first run in Australia. He took a long time to wind up so the knock is staying at 1500m. That said, this is a winnable race. 9. Daytona has been beaten home by Resonator at his past two starts but not by big margins. Respect 11. Cadetship if he's here.

How To Play It: Cosmic Minerva WIN

1. Worthily was horribly set up last start and despite finishing eight of 10 runners, the run had hidden merit. The six-year-old was forced back to last from the widest gate, was 2000m back to 1800m and making the task mission impossible was the lack of speed that eventuated. It turned into a sprint home and he didn't have the acceleration to overcome that. His run looked plain to the eye with Logan Street Lion and Mahagoni clearing out from the field but Worthily clocked 33.85S for his last 600m, only bettered by Mahagoni and his 11.32s last 200m split was the third quickest across the entire meeting. Saturday's race presents a completely different set up back out to 2000m and from a draw that can see him stalk the speed. Worth one more chance.

Dangers: We got a hint of what 6. Tip Of The Spear might be capable of at his first Australian start, doing his best work through the line at the end of 1500m. Regan Bayliss will take away plenty from that experience, telling stewards post race that the import resented racing inside of other runners. 2. Thalassophile finished sixth last start but she ticked off the 2000m box there. She should have been fighting out the finish. The knock is how well found she is in early betting. 5. First Light could have been stronger through the line last start in the same race as Worthily but there's some chance he gets complete control in front given the lack of another obvious leader. 9. Handsome is untapped coming off a seven length Class 1 win at Taree. Do we forgive 4. Secret Glamour for last start?

How To Play It: Worthily EACH WAY

9. Perfect Proposal started favourite in the Gimcrack Stakes on debut, albeit she was soft in betting late, and although beaten at the finish, she lost little in defeat. She held down second comfortably and has now had the benefit of a preparation under her belt. The form through the Gimcrack has stacked up since. The Russian Revolution filly has trialled twice since then and would be surprised if she doesn't find the front again on Saturday which sets up well tackling the Rosehill 1100m. Tim Clark sticks. 6. Learning To Fly may have got the better of her in their most recent trial but can't justify the price discrepancy given Perfect Proposal has race experience on her side and looks likely to control her own fate in front.

Dangers: 11. Steel City is likely to settle outside of the leader, just as she did when second to Red Resistance on debut. The pair got control in front so were entitled to fight out the finish but there was four lengths back to third and respect that she jumped $2.30. 6. Learning To Fly is obviously the big query runner. She has looked great in her trials, matching motors with Perfect Proposal in the latest two. The knock is the price. The map looks a little tricky for Chad Schofield to overcome too. He'll want to keep the leaders within sight over this track and trip. 1. Cigar Flick was given a glowing endorsement by James McDonald after she won at Canterbury on debut. 7. Lizzies Gem's trial form ties in with Perfect Proposal while it's the same for 3. Divine Glory but with the Gimcrack form.

How To Play It: Perfect Proposal WIN

Taking the punt that 1. Erno is ready to fire now third up having spent three years on the sidelines prior. Three years! The now six-year-old resumed at Gosford and despite running seventh, caught the eye late suggesting that there was still something there for Kim Waugh to work with. He was a promising three-year-old once upon a time. Then second up he got shuffled back in a muddling run race before striking traffic problems late. Erno comes back to BM72 company and should be able to settle in the first dozen at least. From there is just comes down to angling into the clear at the right time. The sting out of the track wouldn't bother him either, he'll handle whatever Rosehill happens to throw up. There's enough in the early price to take the gamble that we're about to see the Erno of old.

Dangers: 3. Kibosh resumed from a year off herself at Rosehill two weeks ago and with just one soft 740m trial under her belt. The market indicated that she'd need the run so there was merit to her fourth over 1200m. Well set up second up over further with that run under her belt. 5. Cheerful Legend has hit the ground running for Nathan Doyle, winning at Newcastle last start coming from well back. He still looks to have some upside even though he's had 17 career starts. What you see is what you get with 2. Byron. He has contested two Midways for a first and a last start second. That's hard to knock. 4. Starboreta hasn't been suited in two slowly run races at her past two starts. Maps to be last in the run here, however.

How To Play It: Erno WIN

Suspect this race will be won or lost in the first couple of hundred metres. Whichever jockey of the three main hopes can secure the best spot in what promises to be a battle of tactics. Over to you Reece Jones on 10. Spacewalk. Nothing went right for Spacewalk at Rosehill first up, where he returned a gelding. He fired up in the middle stages, got shuffled back in the run and then couldn't get clear until it was all too late. Maybe he doesn't win regardless but there is no Mariamia engaged here this time. After the claim of Jones, the three-year-old carries just 51.5kg. He's just too well placed not to give another chance to. Admittedly, he is starting to get costly to punters but inclined to give the son of Exosphere the chance to atone for a couple of recent near misses.

Dangers: 4. Dehorned Unicorn was wide and working throughout last start, where little separated him and Spacewalk. Little separated the pair in betting too so don't be too quick to dismiss the Joe Pride-trained sprinter. He looks well set up back out to 1200m now. Just has to overcome a potentially tricky draw again given that he seems to have lost some of his early brilliance. 2. Kalino is tearing through the grades. This is harder again but he appears to be relishing racing over the sprint trips this time back. We could potentially see him settle closer from barrier 1 on Saturday too. 8. Destination hasn't had much luck behind Kalino recently and gets a 5.5kg weight swing. 11. Dynamic Impact gets a 5kg weight swing on Kalino too. 7. Noble Soldier split two handy ones last start.

How To Play It: Spacewalk WIN

Three year olds have a terrific recent record in this race winning three of the past five runnings and that wouldn't be lost on trainer James Cummings who launches 9. Golden Mile's autumn preparation here. Godolphin ran Anamoe in this race 12 months ago but a combination of factors saw him beaten, namely his pre-race antics and the track bias that meeting. Golden Mile made big leaps forward last campaign and although he won the Caulfield Guineas and Callander-Presnell out to the mile, there's an easy argument to be made that he was at his most explosive over 1400m. He touched up his rivals in the Ming Dynasty before hanging on bravely in the Golden Rose despite a torrid run. Long story short, he should be sharp enough to cope with 1200m first up with just one 740m trial, where he caught the eye.

Dangers: 4. Forbidden Love trialled like a rocket at Warwick Farm recently, winning by near seven lengths. It's as well as she has ever trialled. It's just a leap of faith to take short odds about her based purely on one trial. That's the query. Going off the form she was in last campaign and she is more a $5 chance. For whatever reason she just didn't come up. 5. Mariamia was a late nomination with Joe Pride originally planning on giving his mare more time off after a gutsy first up win giving the field weight. Don't love that this is an afterthought but it's an opportunistic piece of placement. 3. Pizarro is racing out of his grade but he was excellent first up in an unsuitably run race. Has a turn of foot few of these can match.

How To Play It: Golden Mile WIN

Going to give 4. Bold Mac another chance in what looks a very winnable race, as his early price suggests. The former Kiwi was excellent first up over Rosehill chasing home Vreneli in a race that produced the subsequent Carrington Stakes quinella. The five-year-old was posted wide and working throughout last Saturday when fourth behind Beaufort Park. Forgive him that. The return to Rosehill can only be a positive given his two previous runs at the track and the drop back slightly to 1500m looks a positive too given the little query that remains over him running a strong mile. Bold Mac presents here on the seven day turnaround, third up, James McDonald in the saddle and maps to get the run of the race in what looks, on paper, to be on speed dominated. No excuses.

Dangers: 2. Major Artie was in front until the final couple of strides over this same track and trip two weeks ago only for Banju to run him down on the line. He presents hard fit now third up and won't be left with any excuses himself. 3. Niffler is undefeated second up and sets up to potential explode with the run under her belt. The knock is where she finds herself in the run from the wide gate. 5. Caesars Palace has caught the eye in his two trials this time back and can park himself outside of Major Artie in the run. Could be the knockout. 8. Bazooka raced a touch flat last start but he won at Rosehill the start prior so could bounce back.

How To Play It: Bold Mac WIN

There was a touch of arrogance about the way 11. Think About It won first up at Warwick Farm. The four-year-old, now with three wins from his four starts, was always in control once Sam Clipperton navigated a path off the fence. He was soft on the line. This is another step again, racing in Saturday company for the first time but from what we have seen from the son of So You Think to date and the scope he still has, you'd be surprised if he didn't keep surging through the grades. With all due respect to his rivals in this field, this is about their level but as we so often see with Joe Pride-trained gallopers, we've only just scraped the surface of what Think About It might be capable of. Was impressed with his tractability first up too, a big asset given the lack of pressure here.

Dangers: 6. For Valour looks to get a cosy lead on paper which gives him the chance to get into the finish again. Has form through the right races. 3. Soami is versatile enough to take advantage of a low gate and put himself considerably closer than last start. Like the way he found the line there. He continues to race well this preparation without reward. 7. Gracilistyla was brave first up under the big weight, finding the line. That was on the back of just one trial. In his past two second up runs he has beaten Diamil and ran 2.6L fourth to Waterford. Just don't know where he lands from the gate. 2. Contributingfactor will need to improve second up but he could. 1. Super Pursuit struggled to tack on back to 1100m last start. His NZ form says this trip is no issue.

How To Play It: Think About It WIN