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Brad Gray's tips for Rosehill Gardens (Saturday)

3 minute read

Racecourse : Rosehill Gardens.
Racecourse : Rosehill Gardens. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Race 1 - 12:40PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

1. Chase My Crown has been up since April but the six-year-old mare continues to hold her form. She has had 10 runs this preparation, with eight of them coming in Highway Handicap company. In those eight runs, she is yet to finish further back than fourth. You know exactly what you'll get from her. Sure, her conviction is that she has won just three of her 31 starts but as we saw at Randwick back in July, when she gets the breaks, and a clear run at her rivals, she's hard to hold out. The daughter of Hallowed Crown raced in benchmark company last start and was rattling home in a leader dominated affair. The 1500m is just about her sweet spot, she is well in after the claim of Jett Stanley and the low gate can see her take up a position forward of midfield.

Dangers11. Atmospheric Rock ran on into third last start, having been forced to get a pair or two further back in the run than Tom Sherry would have liked. Was only beaten half a length and first and second in the run were the first two home. His turn looks imminent in Highway Handicap company. Sticking with the theme of proven Highway performers, 5. Nickelback hit the line behind Melody Again and Take The Kitty two starts ago before running well at Grafton thereafter when an even money favourite. 17. The Coat Hanger sat outside of the leader through the same Highway as Atmospheric Rock and held down second despite being sent around big odds. 23. Offspring rates a mention.

How To Play It: Chase My Crown WIN

Race 2 - 1:15PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

A dry track is key to 7. Felix Majestic, which he'll get come Saturday. The four-year-old looks a touch better than Midway grade. Trainer Gary Nickson thought as much too having raced him exclusively in Listed company in three runs last campaign. The wet tracks derailed his preparation though. The gelding returned with an eye catching fourth over 1100m at Canterbury first up before he always travelled like the winner at Rosehill last start. He wouldn't have wanted the race to be much later with the rain hammering down at that stage. Felix Majestic also loves Rosehill having won twice already at the track. In his other win he beat Garza Blaca in fast time. Maps to get a much better run in transit than his obvious threat Peace Officer.

Dangers: 2. Peace Officer is chasing three straight wins having returned a more complete package this time back. Always had the talent but it took him a couple of preparations to put it all together. Nash Rawiller has been aboard in both wins. He'll be hoping to find a three wide line from the wide draw. 11. Satness bounced back last start to beat Eletricca. Take out the failure prior to that and he is racing as well as ever. A third to Strait Acer also reads well now. On the subject of untapped talent, 15. Territory Express finally knocked off his maiden first up before a slow getaway proved costly against Razors last start. The third horse Buillt has already franked that form line. 12. Crackalacka  never got clear behind Peace Officer last start.

How To Play It: Felix Majestic WIN

Race 3 - 1:50PM ACY SECURITIES HANDICAP (2000 METRES)

It's hard to make sense of this race so looking left field with last start winner 10. Spaltet. It was a midweek BM72 he won, so he skips a few grades on Saturday, but that sees him get in with just 52kg. Expect Rachel King to use that to her advantage and roll forward. That tactical speed looks significant given the make up of this race. There doesn't look to be speed in numbers on paper. The lightly-raced six-year-old has only had three starts for the Bjorn Baker stable and has improved each time out. Would be surprised if he doesn't show more again now fourth up out to 2000m. If Mission Phoenix kicks up to hold the front, Spaltet should be able to settle outside of the leader, which is where he won at Warwick Farm from.

Dangers1. Mission Phoenix doesn't have a change up of gears. He is a one paced 2000m horse and he finally gets out to his best trip now with four runs under his belt. He just couldn't quicken last start to win but was finding the line better than most. 2. Pesto also comes through the Strait Acer race at Randwick and he should have won. There was a length from first to fifth and Pesto, a well exposed eight-year-old, was the hard luck story. It does cast doubts over it as a form race but if Pesto is still as sharp second up, he'll prove the horse to beat. 8. Pierossa's form lines through Howgoodareyou and Marquess read well for this. It's just the early price that's the knock. 4. Gan Teorainn should relish 2000m.

How To Play It: Spaltet EACH WAY

Race 4 - 2:25PM RACING AND SPORTS HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

7. Xtravagant Star was an impressive winner over this track and trip in this same grade six weeks ago. Want to trust that form line through Smashing Eagle. The four-year-old ran sharp time late. The mare lost her way last preparation having shown so much as a two-year-old but she looks to have her confidence back after a recent stable change. A change of scenery has done the trick with Maher and Eustace sparking her back into form. The middle draw looks a touch tricky on paper but if Jason Collett can get a trail across from the likely leader Way To The Stars, Xtravagant Star should land in a perfect spot. Now that she has the winning feeling back, can't see any reason why she would regress.

Dangers: Godolphin's 12. Stanislaus held his own in the Heritage Stakes last start, a Listed race against some of the sharpest young sprinters in the country with Ozzmosis beating Celestial Legend. Stanislaus drops to 52kg and draws low. He'll be pinching runs through the field and if the breaks fall his way, will take holding out. Speed has always been the asset of 4. Way To The Stars and that was on display at Canterbury first up, building on what was an already impressive fresh record. His second up record (3:0-0-0) doesn't make for such good reading, however. 6. Mabel is dynamite fresh herself so like the set up of five weeks between runs. Her sweet spot is 1000m to 1100m too.

How To Play It: Xtravagant Star WIN

Race 5 - 3:00PM TAB ROMAN CONSUL STAKES (1200 METRES)

3. Ozzmosis was a dominant winner of the Heritage Stakes first up to remain unbeaten. That's now three from three for the Zoustar colt. Rachel King still looked to have something up her sleeve in the run home too. She knew she had her rivals covered a long way out. Ozzmosis can only improve off that given he had just the one 900m trial going into that first up run. Has to stretch his brilliance beyond 1200m for the first time but his late strength in his previous runs suggest that it won't be an issue. The map is the only little niggle. If 8. Balkans kicks up with intent on landing outside of the leader, Ozzmosis risks being posted. However, if he can land in that spot like in the Heritage, expecting the same result.

Dangers1. King's Gambit has the talent to blow this field away. He is impossible to attack with any confidence though given his manners. In his defence, he looked to settle well first up down the straight until spotting a piece of paper on the track. The barrier will see Tommy Berry ride a patient race out the back. Give him last crack. 2. Barber swaps barrier 8 in the Heritage for barrier 1 here. He clocked the fastest last 600m split in the race first up but never got the chance to get into the contest from back in the field. 5. Celestial Legend only had one trial himself ahead of his return. He too will be thundering home at the finish. It's just whether he has the acceleration to match a few others here. 6. Royal Tribute is worth another chance.

How To Play It: Ozzmosis WIN

Race 6 - 3:35PM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS TAPP-CRAIG (1400 METRES)

1. Encap is 16 rating points ahead of the second highest rated runner in the field. He should be too good for these on what he has done in his past two starts. The gelding just keeps stepping up to the mark. He ran fast time when winning over this track and trip two starts ago, breaking his maiden in the G3 Ming Dynasty where Tom Kitten was back in third. The Gary Portelli-trained galloper then went within a stride of winning the Golden Rose. It was only for Militarize jumping out of the ground the last 100m that saw him beaten. Draws well, obviously loves the Rosehill 1400m and is so well placed under the conditions of this race. Given his profile, he looks justifiably an even money favourite.

Dangers: Wary of untapped filly 13. Makarena. She was unlucky behind Nadal on debut, finding herself held up and on the wrong part of the track. That form line ties neatly into the Golden Rose. Makerena then only scrambled home to win her maiden at Canterbury but she made several runs throughout the race. She'll make the grade. 7. Ducasse was scratched from the Caulfield Guineas Prelude with a vets certificate two weeks ago. He has obviously since recovered from whatever issue he had there. One of the more talented maidens in work at the moment and he hasn't been far off Encap recently. 3. Snapback will punch up to be prominent throughout and he too comes through the Golden Rose. 5. The Little Pumper will ride the speed too.

How To Play It: Encap WIN

Race 7 - 4:10PM PETALUMA HILL STAKES (1900 METRES)

7. Hoo Ya Mal looks set up to fire third up out to 1900m. The five-year-old hasn't quite been sharp enough to figure in the finish in two runs over the mile but both runs have had merit. Particularly the latest in the 7 Stakes at WFA behind the likes of Think It Over, Zaaki and Fangirl. He had his momentum halted at a key point in the straight and should have finished closer. The sit-sprint nature of that race didn't help either. They crawled in front. Expect a more positive ride now too that he is getting out to his right trap. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have been bullish about how well this import is going this spring and on Saturday Hoo Yal Mal gets to chance to prove it. Suspect he starts favourite, or at least very close to it.

Dangers2. Zeyrek  comes through the 7 Stakes too. He looks well set up himself out to 1900m now third up. He needs a dry track to run to his best and he gets that on Saturday. He was flying last campaign, at Rosehill, and looks to have returned just as well this time back. 6. Protagonist closed off well behind subsequent Metrop winner Just Fine in the Kingston Town Stakes three weeks ago. He swaps barrier 11 for barrier 1, with Dylan Gibbons sticking. 11. Montefilia had the chance to do more in that same race behind Just Fine. Needs to find more but we know she is capable of better. Two things in her favour on Saturday are the return to Rosehill where she is 6:2-2-1 and the booking of Nash Rawiller. Look for 14. Fireburn late.

How To Play It: Hoo Ya Mal WIN

Race 8 - 4:45PM ALAN BROWN STAKES (1400 METRES)

Want to take the punt that 13. Argentia can bounce back with the prospect of being able to find cover. That hasn't been the case in her past two starts. The mare was exceptional first up when a luckless fourth behind I Am Me. She was then chased down by Buenos Noches second up, boxing on to run second despite travelling three deep the trip. That saw her jump a heavily backed favourite in the Theo Marks Stakes. She jumped too well and found herself outside of the leader Cross Talk. From there she never looked to settle in the run, which told the last 200m. She still wasn't beaten far. That was four weeks ago now. She's had a tickover trial since then. Gets in light again, maps perfectly and brings a strong SP profile into this.

Dangers12. Waterford ran well in the Theo Marks Stakes himself before backing that up with another fast finishing third in the Shannon Stakes behind 1. Cepheus. He'll need to turn the tables on that runner but gets a 2.5kg weight swing. Waterford has excelled at Rosehill in the past. Cepheus is climbing up in the weights but he is a hard horse to knock, particularly from the inside gate. Nash Rawiller will jump straight onto the back of the speed without having to spend a penny early. 10. Detonator Jack will need luck at the right time angling off the fence. He raced wide throughout at Flemington last start and hasn't started longer than $7.50 in his 11 start career. Look for 20. Flying Crazy late.

How To Play It: Argentia EACH WAY

Race 9 - 5:25PM THE NIVISON (1200 METRES)

4. Queen Of The Ball looked a touch disappointing last start in the Sheraco Stakes last start but that's a strong form reference against the older mares. Sunshine In Paris smashed the clock over this same track and trip while the runner up Espiona has since franked the form line further. First up Queen Of The Ball went toe to toe with Parisal at Randwick and although she came off second best, it was by the narrowest of margins. That was on a soft track too. She has proven to be more dynamic on top of the ground in the past. You know exactly where Queen Of The Ball will be in the run. Highballing out in front having found the fence from the get-go having drawn low. The same can't be said for her main dangers who look to map awkwardly.

Dangers5. Magic Time was posted three and four deep throughout at Caulfield first up. Forgive her that. It was an on speed dominated race and the speedy Asfoora has since franked the form by running second to Imperatriz in the G1 Moir Stakes. She was an impressive winner of the PJ Bell Stakes at Randwick last campaign where she swept straight past 3. Parisal. Parisal's record speaks for itself (8:4-3-0). She showed plenty of character to win first up despite having travelled wide before being beaten half a length by Benedetta at Caulfield. There's no shame in that. 11. Dalchini's strike rate doesn't inspire confidence but she has knockout claims while love the way 2. Revolutionary Miss trialled.

How To Play It: Queen Of The Ball WIN

Race 10 - 6:05PM CERRONE HANDICAP (1300 METRES)

2. Kayobi comes back from a BM88 first up where he worked to the line behind Kibou and Garza Blanca to tackle a winnable BM78 second up. The trade off there is more weight but that is offset by the 3kg claim of Jett Stanley. Wish this was 1400m as opposed to 1300m but the five-year-old's class can see him overcome that. The son of Maurice has raced in better company than this most recently, being touched off by Cotehele last campaign while he was beaten less than two lengths in The Coast prior to that. Kayobi is versatile in terms of where he can settle in the run but he maps to get a perfect trail from the gate on Saturday. Shouldn't have any excuses.

Dangers4. Diamond Dealer is a fit, honest mare that'll spear out and make her own luck from on top of the speed. Was out of her grade in the Golden Pendant last start behind Espiona but she was far from disgraced in that company. This is more her right grade. 10. Gringotts stuck on okay behind Ausbred Flirt last start when fifth, beaten just over a length. Respect that he was confidently backed. This race isn't any harder. 11. Portray might be looking for this trip now she is older. Wasn't as sharp as expected over 1100m first up but was coming again through the line. 17. Boldinho is holding his form well. Harder here but maps to get every chance.

How To Play It: Kayobi WIN


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