Race-by-race preview and tips for Rosehill on Saturday

Race 1 – 11:30AM TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

1. Mr Wong ''wins now out to 1400m''. Thats how my blackbook notes read for this three-year-old.
He gets that here and not about to back down from that statement. Trainer Stephen Jones hasnt
been shy about how highly he rates this galloper either. Last preparation Mr Wong ran second to
Frankely Awesome over the Scone mile. He was spelled after that and resumed a gelding over
1000m at Muswellbrook, where he couldnt have been any more impressive. Out to 1100m second
up was the query last start at Randwick in a Highway Handicap and he found it just a touch short. He
only just missed, however, slipping up the inside on the inferior ground. Jones said during the week
that the horse is much more comfortable racing outside of horses, which he should get having drawn
11 in the capacity field. The wet is no issue and the speed looks to suit. Lumps 58.5kg but is destined
for better things than Highways.

Dangers: 5. Onemore Sapphire hasnt had much luck in his last couple of starts, both in Highways,
but continues to be overlooked by the market. He has only has seven starts so theres still upside
there. Hell be somewhere around the mark again. Matthew Dunn is the "Highway King" but because
of that, his horses are always very well found. Thats the case again this week. 3. Mulwala Canal
missed in driving finish at Doomben last start. The third horse there, Travelyan, had previously beaten Zardoro and ran fourth to Appoint Percy and Vigorish at Canberra. Like Mulwala Canal, his
stablemate 9. Rest Of The World has also only had three starts. Looked to have his chance at
Doomben last start and first and second there have been well beaten since. Gets the blinkers on for
the first time.
How to play it: Mr Wong WIN

Race 2 – 12:05PM KENSEI HANDICAP (2000 METRES)

Advertisement

6. White Boots

will give a sight here with just 50kg on his back. He is a tough, no-nonsense style of
horse and should get a relatively soft time in front with only Victorian visitor 5. He Ekscels for
company. He needs to turn the tables on 2. So You Win from last start and although the 3kg swing
doesnt hurt, its the odds and the way this race is likely to be run which sees me in White Boots
corner. Last start he was beaten a length after settling fourth. That was four weeks between runs
too. The four-year-old is deep into a campaign but appears to be thriving. Looking into his form this
preparation he ran second to Supernova (on a Heavy 9 at Rosehill), ran second to Girl Tuesday and
first up ran third to Desert Lord and Kolding. Theres certainly nothing wrong with those references.

Dangers: So You Win is hard to beat but leave me out at $1.55. The Chris Waller-trained gelding was
truckloaded in betting last start at Rosehill and won well. Thats two on the bounce for the four-
year-old so there is no denying he has returned in great order. Possesses a turn of foot so the
prospect of a sit and sprint wont hurt him too much. On paper, 3. Tip Top has an impossible task in
turning the tables on So You Win and White Boots but he drops down sharply in weight and will be
put into the race here. Wide draws in his last two have seen him give away insurmountable starts. It
was inconclusive as to whether he got 1800m last start, so were none the wiser out to 2000m. 4.
Articus also comes out of that same race and is working his way towards another win.
How to play it: White Boots WIN

Race 3 – 12:40PM WINTER RACING HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

We still havent seen the best of 1. Phaistos. The three-year-old returned a gelding ahead of this
preparation and its had the desired result. He was powerful late in winning at Scone first up over
1100m before staying at the 1100m, and on the tighter Warwick Farm track, which played against
him. Back out to 1200m at Kembla Grange and he trounced his rivals, shouldering 60.5kg. It was
provincial level but he beat Rockin Ruga and Exceltic. That Exceltic form ties in well with many of his rivals, including the early race favourite 2. England. Where the upside lies with this horse is now as he gets out in trip. The son of Helmet should relish the 1400m journey, and in time, get over even
further. His siblings are Paximadia and Lycia, with the former winning Group races out to the mile.
Hoping he can settle just off midfield. Hasnt seen anything worse than a Soft 5.

Dangers: 5. Bare Naked Lady hasnt won this preparation but she finds herself in outstanding form.
In three of her five runs back she has been beaten half a length or less. The latest of those was at
Warwick Farm behind Jacks Bar, where she beat Embracer home. Prior to that she was nosed out by
Notation, with that mare subsequently winning again. Three back she wasnt far away in the Scone
Guineas behind Wild Planet and Military Zone. 11. My Demetra has come a long way since her first
preparation! She deserves a crack in town now. Well found in the market, though. 2. England has to
be in the mix again, despite a query over the depth of his form lines. Just missed in a three-way go at
Rosehill last start and is ready for 1400m now. 8. Think Free dashed quickly to win at Newcastle after a seven-week freshen. Talented filly but hasnt looked comfortable in two attempts on heavy
ground.
How to play it: Phaistos WIN

Race 4 – 1:15PM HYLAND EOFY SALE HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

Time to really let rip on 8. Toryjoy! Would love to see the tactics to be catch me if you can. The mare backs up for the third week in a row so shes rock hard fit and the regular racing appears to have knocked the freshness out of her which caused her to throw her head around. She finally found a race last start where she could roll to the front and adopt her customary on speed position. That saw her bounce back to form, when collared by co-leader Commander at Randwick over the mile. The heavy track was no issue for her there. She tackles the same grade but significantly, drops back to her own sex. Shouldnt have too much trouble holding the front again this week. Other than
emergency 17. La Chica Bella, also accepted for a later race, none of her other rivals are likely to
push the button to eyeball her.

Dangers: 3. Semper Fidelis is a hard mare to get a read on. If she can reproduce the run two starts
back when second to So You Win at Rosehill over 1800m, the same assignment she tackles here,
shed be the horse to beat. Since then she knocked up over the Randwick mile on a heavy track
against the boys. The market didnt like her that day so will be worth monitoring for any confidence
this time out. The drop back to the mile certainly didnt suit her but still expected more. Might pay
to be forgiving. 7. Itz Lily appreciated the drop in grade last start to record a tough win over
Statuesquely. Boasts an impressive career record and wont be far away again. 4. Ivys Court was
much better than it reads last start and can improve sharply third up at bolters odds, just as she did
to win last campaign.
How to play it: Toryjoy WIN

Race 5 – 1:50PM STAYER'S CUP (3200 METRES)

We saw Fanciful Toff successfully land a hit and run mission for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
stable a couple of weeks ago and tipping them to do the same with 5. Azuro. The five-year-old was
set a task in the Andrew Ramsden last start when allowed to slide forward well before turning for
home. He was exposed but still found a kick only to tire late. Prior to that he didnt have much luck
in the Warrnambool Cup. At the back end of last campaign he ran third to subsequent Sydney Cup
winner Shraaoh at Flemington over 2800m on a heavy track before running 0.4L second to Yogi over
two miles in the Sandown Cup. That ties the form in neatly to the key Sydney lead-up, the Winter
Cup won by 1. Destinys Kiss. His general style is to get back but hoping he can use the middle draw
so settle just off midfield.

Dangers: 2. High Bridge has won five times beyond 3000m, all when trained in the UK and four of
those over the hurdles. Ever since the blinkers went on he has been building towards another win
and this looks his race. Doesnt look well weighted having carried 53.5kg in the Winter Cup,
however. 9. Terwilliker dodged a Wednesday race in favour of this. The Pierro gelding has never
raced better despite failing to reel in Fanciful Toff at Randwick last start over 2400m. Fitness is
certainly no issue, nor is the wet track. Only has to hold his form to be thereabouts again. 4.
Doukhan drops 5.5kg from last start (meeting Terwilliker a whopping 10kg better off!) and was eight weeks between runs. A wet track and two miles will see him competitive. Just lacks that killer punch to put one of these away.
How to play it: Azuro WIN

Race 6 – 2:25PM TAB REWARDS HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

1. Drachenfels will need the seas to part at the right time but the five-year-old is flying in what is his second campaign for Bjorn Baker. His Hawkesbury trial prior to kicking off his preparation suggested he had come back in great order and his luckless first up effort confirmed as much. Last start he rattled home behind Albumin and despite Jason Collett having to take hold late with a wall of horses in front of him approaching the line, Drachenfels last 600m was 33.45 (Punters Intelligence), three lengths quicker than the next best, which was talented filly Sylvias Mother. His last 200m (11.22) was also clearly superior to the next best. Should be able to use the inside draw to punch up and at least have a few pairs settle behind him. The wet track is okay and the speed looks genuine enough, pending tactics on 13. Isorich, for him to get his chance.

Dangers: 5. Oxford Tycoon is ready to win now third up. As youd expect, he improved from first to
second up, giving Passage Of Time something to chase down, albeit with a 7.5kg weight advantage. If he makes the same improvement third up, hell take pegging back. Yet to prove himself on wet
ground. 9. Traumatised finds himself back in Sydney after holding his form in Queensland over the
carnival. Didnt have the best of luck up there either. Can be tardy away but handles wet ground and
strikes a winnable race here. Can win at odds. 14. River Bird was ridden with cover last start and got
the desired result. Has to reproduce that against more seasoned horses now.
How to play it: Drachenfels WIN and Traumatised WIN

Race 7 – 3:05PM CIVIC STAKES (1350 METRES)

5. Seaway

has been freshened since a couple of failures but he was an explosive winner first up last
time in on a soft 7 at Rosehill over 1500m. This is 1350m but that shouldnt be too much of a hurdle
for him to overcome. That was his first run as a gelding and the win of a horse destined for group
races. The four-year-old backed that up next start, controlling the race from outside of the lead and
never looking like losing. He was disappointing third up with Kerrin McEvoy blaming the heavy

track. Im not so convinced that was the reasonRead More – Source

[contf] [contfnew]

Australian Breaking News Headlines

[contfnewc] [contfnewc]