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The Rosehill Timeform recap featuring a race by race overview of key performers and ones to watch out of the nine race program on December 1.

Czarson kicked off the meeting with a bang by claiming the 2YO Handicap.

 

 

The Stratum colt in the process booked his ticket north for the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic and indirectly also gave stablemate Unite And Conquer a push as he races through the Magic Millions 2YO series starting with the Wyong 2YO Classic on Wednesday.

Chris Waller’s habit of working a progressive filly through the grades every summer looks set to continue this year courtesy of Zalatte who took out what looked a useful three-year-old contest.

It also appears the leading Rosehill trainer will have one ready to win next start after Asterius produced a solid second up display behind Reflectivity.

The other likely next start winner out of the meeting (assuming he is placed correctly) shapes as being Hemmerle who ran third in the 1400m Highway Handicap taken out by Our Rosemaree.

 

Race 1: Czarson - 2YO Handicap (1200m)

 

Nothing beats race experience. Czarson impressed on debut at Gosford and found a new level on Saturday.

The Stratum colt ran to a Timeform rating of 105+. Post race the stable were measuring him up against stablemate Unite And Conquer. Despite the strength of his win, they suggest the latter has a fair bit on Czarson. Our ratings on disclosed form at this stage have Czarson about on par with Unite And Conquer.

Unite And Conquer and Czarson are currently considered to be in the top half dozen colts of the crop. These two galloped together last Tuesday and Unite And Conquer was clearly the better worker.

 

 

Czarson certainly looks reliable though. You have to like the jump he’s made on Saturday from his debut.

There are a lot of options around for his next start too if they want to run him one more time before the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast.

They could keep him in Sydney or run him in the Group 3 B.J McLachlan Stakes at Doomben on December 29.

 

Race 2: Zalatte - 3YO Handicap (1400m)

 

This could prove to be a decent little 3YO race. The first three across the line all have talent.

Zalatte settled back and got the last crack at her two obvious main rivals in Baller and Reelem In Ruby. In the process she ran to a Timeform rating of 98+.

 

 

The Medaglia D’Oro filly won each of her two starts now. She’s only a Benchmark 71 filly so there are options aplenty for her in the coming weeks.

You get used to seeing trends year in and year out. Every summer we tend to see Chris Waller work a nice filly through the grades in their maiden prep.

Unforgotten was the example last year and she’s gone on to do great things. Zumbelina was the filly he did it with the year prior. She won four on the trot.

This was a strong 3YO race. They ran time inside standard. Baller was good in second as was Reelem In Ruby who finished third.

 

Race 3: Our Rosemaree - Class 3 Highway Handicap (1400m)

 

Our Rosemaree has now won two Highway Handicaps from her past two starts. She landed in behind the speed and got into clear air as soon as they straightened.

Chewbacca in second tried hard but couldn’t reel her in. She’s run to a Timeform rating of 80.

She’s a Class 4 horse now so has officially graduated from Highway Handicaps. She’ll be off to the midweeks you’d think.

Hemmerle in third is the one to follow out of the race. It was a good first up run by a horse who will appreciate more ground. There is a 1600m Highway Handicap at Warwick Farm in two weeks with his name all over it.

 

Race 4: Abdon - Benchmark 88 3YO+ Handicap (2000m)

 

In all honesty this was not a great race. A lot of these horses have been struggling to find the winner’s circle or racing below their best. One of them had to win and it was Abdon.

It had been 854 days since he’d last won a race. It’s doubtful whether he beat much however, sometimes you just need a confidence booster.

He’s going up to Open company for the rest of the summer. Who knows what he can do with the kill under his belt. The real positive is he will go to those Open company races and carry no weight.

Merovee was sound in second. He’s only a Benchmark 74 horse after Saturday so he could race in easier company than what he would strike in a Benchmark 88 event.

 

Race 5: Irithea - Benchmark 88 3YO+ Handicap (1400m)

 

This was a big run. Irithea had to work extremely hard to get across from the wide gate.

I think Jean Van Overmeire knew there were going to be some short strides late so he got some momentum up on her around the turn and managed to hold off Smartedge.

 

 

The Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford on December 28 is next for her.

It shapes as an ideal target as she will be third up and out to the mile. Gosford will suit her go forward racing pattern and she could take some catching around there.

Smartedge looked good in second. He is certainly consistent. A get back racing style means he’s something of a trap horse however. The four-year-old catches the eye late however needs so much to go his way though.

 

Race 6: Sweet Deal - Benchmark 78 4YO+M Handicap (1400m)

 

Sweet Deal is a mare in form. She has kept improving with each run this prep and on Saturday produced a figure of 97.

It sounds like she’ll be kept against her own sex, perhaps even aim up at the Belle Of The Turf Stakes.

Hussterical was brave again in third. The Belle Of The Turf could be an option for her as well.

She’s not producing the figures to be winning a race like that at the moment. That said, she’s an on pacer who’ll be suited around a tight turning Gosford. She won over the mile in the past and should be at her peak fourth up.

 

Race 7: Bon Amis - Benchmark 88 3YO+ Handicap (1100m)

 

Bon Amis got in a great spot on settling. He landed fourth, a couple of lengths off a hot early speed. It was one of the better wins of the day which we’ve given a rating of 105 for.

The Jason Deamer-trained gelding has won both his runs this prep. On Saturday he found an extra length on what he ran to first up.

 

 

Connections are eyeing off the Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on January 17.

The Takeover Target Stakes profiles as an excellent option for him. In the meantime, a race like the Christmas Classic (1200m) at Randwick on December 29 could be a suitable next start option.

Jorda was an eye catcher in second. Copped a lot of interference in the straight but was strong when clear. A Gimcrack Stakes winner when two, Jorda was unable to build on her black type record this spring however has performed well in her last two outings at benchmark level.

 

Race 8: Reflectivity - Benchmark 78 3YO+ Handicap (1500m)

 

Reflectivity landed in behind the early speed which was ideal as they took it pretty easy up front.

He stayed closer to the inside on straightening and poked through late. The four-year-old ran to a Timeform rating of 97.

That figure is well below his best. His master rating came in the Inglis Guineas at Scone when he ran fourth to Moss Trip. We gave that performance a rating of 105 so there is a few lengths between his peak and Saturday’s win.

 

 

Asterius is the horse to follow from the race. He showed good improvement second up and out to 1500m.

The Sebring gelding could be ready to go third up, perhaps over a mile or beyond. There was a big boom on this bloke when he was working through his grades last prep but then he bled.

Early signs this prep suggest he’s back on track.

Race 9: Discussions - Benchmark 78 3YO+ Handicap (1300m)

Discussions was able to lead in the last and didn’t have to overdo it. He kicked strongly and put a good margin on his rivals.

The win yielded a Timeform rating of 94.

The Duporth gelding has now won five of his past 11 starts.

He’s working through the grades well yet hasn’t really attracted the eye of the market.

Sometimes there are horses who for whatever reason sneak under the radar like that.

There is a 1200m Benchmark 88 on his home track in two weeks that would suit.

Realistically, there has to be a question mark on this race from a form perspective. The trifecta paid $3500 and the favourites were nowhere to be seen.

Redouble in fourth was the run of the race. He got a long way back behind just a moderate early speed. As good as he was, the Redoute’s Choice gelding couldn’t defy the laws of physics.

I’d be pretty keen on Redouble third up wherever he went if it weren’t for the get back tactics they’ve been adopting on him. They’ve been going back on him his last two preps which have returned three placings from seven starts.

During his first prep with the stable they generally settled him in behind the speed. The results from that prep read two wins and two placings from seven starts.