3 minute read
A bog track faces punters on Saturday with over 70mm already hitting Rosehill with further rain predicted on the day.
Always tricky when that is the case, though I think you just have to pick your marks.
Can't say I'm big on betting in Highways, for the most part I usually let them through to the keeper, but more than happy to be betting up on Saturday.
The Chris Heywood trained Blitzar creates all the interest following his dominant display at Dubbo last start.
He toyed with three subsequent winners (Witness Collector (3rd), Glorious Dream (4th) and Free Rider (6th) and has since been kept fresh (48 days).
Failing to gain a start in the Highway two weeks ago, he instead trialled at home, coasting to the line to score comfortably in the very heavy conditions.
By Deep Field (20% S/R on Heavy Tracks) he should have no concerns with the conditions and clearly displayed sharp improvement last start with the blinkers going on for the first time.
A winner of three of his nine starts, he has always displayed good ability and now looks to be putting it all together.
Drawn ideally, he should lob somewhere midfield and with clear air, he should prove very hard to hold out.
The Golden Eagle may lack the star power of the inaugural year (Arcadia Queen, Kolding, Classique Legend, Brutal, Sunlight and Behemoth) but it still presents a great betting race.
The Chris Waller trained Funstar has only won once since the Flight Stakes last year (1/7), but that notably came at Rosehill over 1500m on a Heavy 9 track beating Probabeel.
If you've followed her religiously since the Flight, you are no doubt behind, however I urge you to stick with her, this looks her race.
Following a very similar path to her stablemate Kolding last year, she comes into this with four weeks between runs, since her second placing in the Epsom.
Her most recent trial was very good under Tommy Berry and she looks to relish the conditions on Saturday.
Rated 117 by Timeform, she looks very well placed and confident she brings the best form.
Drawn off the track, but that keeps her out of trouble and she should be able to slide across with Just Thinkin' and Alligator Blood.
She rates top on recent form and if able to replicate that level on Saturday, she should take plenty of beating.
Simon Dinopoulos' Three Tips:
Race 1 #8 Blitzar @ $4.40
Race 7 #4 Imaging @ $16 & #7 Star Of The Seas @ $20
Race 8 #12 Funstar @ $5.50
