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By Brad Gray

The rail is out 4m the entire circumference with the course rated a Good 4. A shower or two is forecast in the morning and afternoon with a top of 25 degrees on a cloudy raceday.

3. SATNESS ($10 on TAB) hasn’t done a lot wrong in two runs back. The seven-year-old was narrowly beaten first-up in Midway company despite being sent around $41, over 1300m. The Robert & Luke Price-trained gelding then stuck towards the inside of the Kembla Grange track late in The Gong meeting, which was a disadvantage. Jockey Brock Ryan had little choice having drawn barrier 1. There was merit to that performance despite the beaten margin of four lengths. He comes back slightly in grade again, looks to peak now third-up and maps to get on speed favours.

Dangers: It’s probably fair to question the desire of 12. Trafalgar Square ($7.50) as evidenced by her strike rate, but she sets up well here. Her two most recent runs have been rock solid, the latest a third behind The Blade. Gets out to 1500m now, draws well and can be saved for the last crack. Less time for her to think about it! 7. Callistemon ($4.20 favourite) made late ground when fourth at Kembla Grange first-up in Midway company. Three wins from 23 starts so she’s no world beater but is a deserved favourite. 2. Tameloa ($6) has been freshened six weeks since overachieving in the Spring Champion as a $201 chance. Respect 1. Peace Officer ($10) back in grade.

How To Play It: Satness EACH-WAY

2. NATOYA ($4) kept finding the line in testing conditions at Kembla Grange last start. She didn’t look comfortable but never shirked her task. Bestower franked the form line by winning as favourite on Wednesday at Warwick Farm. The inside draw on Sunday could prove significant as it looks a tactical race on paper. Expect Josh Parr to look to have the four-year-old mare closer in the run, perhaps even stalking the speed. The John Sargent-trained mare fronts up for her sixth run of her first Australian preparation but still looks to be improving and is showing no signs of training off.

Dangers: There wasn’t a lot between Natoya and 5. Horizons ($4.80) in Midway company recently. The biggest asset Horizons looks to possess here is her tactical speed. She maps to get control in front and is most effective when she is dictating. She fought hard to hold off Inspired Legend at Canterbury last start. 4. Full Hao ($3.10 fav) is racing well without winning. The blinkers go on for the first time and will perhaps help her find that extra length or two. Against her is the map. Could settle last. 1. Éclair Encore ($6) comes back to three and four-year-old company and the extra trip is no issue.

How To Play It: Natoya WIN

Good luck here, punters - this is a lottery! Even more so when it comes to Highway Handicaps. Went wide looking for a roughie and found 11. HIGHLY TEMPTED ($34). Of course, his strike rate of one win from 17 starts has to be a concern but the four-year-old ran so well in a much deeper Highway than this behind Lunaite and Madrina, that she garners respect at odds. Since then he was okay at Newcastle behind Viktor. The 1500m looks fine for the son of Sooboog given what he did over a mile last campaign. Anything goes in this.

Dangers: 7. Stormbringer ($12) has hit the ground for trainer Matt Dale this preparation winning two from three, the latest a TAB Federal in Canberra. Looks one-paced but he’ll take up a position and run another honest race. The gelding is now eligible for Highways after three runs. Have found it pays to score up Highway runners with that profile as it suggests it’s a target race. 2. Zucchero ($6.50) is a lightly-raced Dundeel five-year-old who resumes as a winner at Scone. There’ll be improvement to come off that performance and second-up 1500m looks ideal.

How To Play It: Highly Tempted EACH-WAY

2. DARK SIMBA ($4.20) wasn’t suited first-up at Caulfield. The race turned into a sprint home and he was forced to settle a long way back from a wide draw. That was in stronger grade than this. Despite finishing sixth, his last 400m split was the 10th quickest across the CF Orr Stakes meeting where five of the races were Group races. The Hayes stable looked to have found a perfect race for this four-year-old, back in grade. It’s a very winnable assignment on paper too. He handles wet or dry tracks, maps to be closer and ripped through the grades last campaign.

Dangers: 5. Swift Legend ($6.50) beat home 8. Willie Oppa ($9.50) at Canterbury last start and both runs have merit. There looks to be too big of a price discrepancy between the pair, especially given the barriers on Sunday. Willie Oppa was only first-up with Chris Waller scratching the four-year-old from a winnable race at Gosford on Thursday. Swift Legend is talented, chasing three straight but the barrier doesn’t help. 9. Mortal Halo ($4 fav) couldn’t reel in the leader and eventual winner Ivan’s Hero this track and trip second-up, but beat the rest easily. He won his maiden in good style at Scone first-up and is progressing the right way.

How To Play It: Dark Simba WIN

1. PLAINTIFF ($3.10 equal fav) looks up to winning better races than this in time. She perhaps isn’t alone in that regard as this looks a race worth following on paper featuring several promising three-year-olds. This race 12 months ago was, in fact, won by Private Harry. Plaintiff’s win on debut was better than the length margin suggests. She showed a brilliant turn of foot in a sprint home, which was backed up on the clock, landing good late bets in the process. The Zoustar filly broke 33 seconds for her last 600m split. Maps to give away a head starts but is as exciting as any runner here.

Dangers: Tim Clark left nothing to chance aboard 7. Supermassive ($3.10 eq fav) last start and expect the same on Sunday. The niggle is staying at 1200m third-up given the son of Snitzel profiles to get out over further in time, but he’ll be hard to chase down if he finds the front like he did at Canterbury to break his maiden. 4. Nitro ($4) won from a seemingly impossible spot at Warwick Farm on debut before settling too far back at Rosehill last start. His lack of tactical speed will catch up to him in better company. Gets blinkers first time. 6. United States ($18) attacked the line like a coming winner first-up and Swordplay has since won via that race. Looks big odds.

How To Play It: Plaintiff WIN

6. HAWKER HALL ($2.70 fav) was brave first-up at Kembla Grange on a deteriorating track, as rain fell throughout the meeting. Throw into the mix that he was eye-balled throughout by Cassiel. He kicked like the winner only for Spywire to chase him down late. The winner had to run sharp closing splits to chase him down and they beat the rest by three lengths. The Kris Lees-trained speedster may have been flattered by the ability to handle wet ground but he’s equally effective on dry tracks. Looks the leader again - catch me if you can!

Dangers: 7. Crepe Myrtle ($2.90) has put two together in easier grade and first-up she ran second to the flying Lyles. The Godolphin mare gets her chance to measure up in Saturday company now but she’s hardly put a foot wrong since being transferred to Joe Pride. There may be more talented mares in training than 4. Dollar Magic ($11) but there’d be fewer that are more genuine. She’s had five runs over the Rosehill 1100m for five minor placings and she goes into everything. 5. Hanau ($11) has a pattern of improving second-up but expect a forward showing fresh having won a recent trial.

How To Play It: Hawker Hall WIN

3. FLYING THINKER ($14) was beaten near seven lengths at Kembla Grange first-up but she had excuses. The five-year-old fired up in behind the speed when unable to dictate and as a result, blew out badly late. One of her most impressive performances came at Rosehill, beating the boys. You have to take her on trust but she is better than what she showed two weeks ago. The 'comeback kid' Sam Clipperton combines with her second-up. Expect his instructions to be positive from the outset. If she can find the front, and a rhythm, a sharp form reversal isn’t beyond her.

Dangers: 8. Super Bright ($26) can be a dangerous mare on her day. She didn’t get a lot of luck first-up at Canterbury but that appears to be the best way to ride her. Cuddle her up and hope the breaks appear at the right time. Blowout chance at odds. 13. Bella Corazon ($5 eq fav) kept closing when third to Weeping Woman at Kembla Grange first-up, which was an on-speed dominated race. The half sister to Winx, 7. Wings Of Desire ($5 eq fav) has found a new home with Grahame Begg and returned a winner in Melbourne despite covering ground.

How To Play It: Flying Thinker EACH-WAY

2. WHINCHAT ($8) is a high-cruising style of horse that likes to get his rivals chasing. First things first, and that is he needs to jump on terms. He misses the kick from time to time which puts him out of play. Has a great Rosehill record and looks set to hit the ground running fresh.

Dangers: 9. Mickey’s Medal ($7.50) got a long way back at Canberra first-up, loomed to win but peaked on his run when second to the race-fit Kintyre. He can settle closer, strips fitter and he too loves Rosehill. If the leaders overdo it in front look for 1. West Of Africa ($13) to be rattling home at double-figure odds. He's an honest type whose natural style is to get back in the field during the run, but can unleash great splits when things pan out his way. 5. Mare of Mt Buller ($10) made up ground first-up at Newcastle, will be improved, and has a good second-up record.

How To Play It: Winchat EACH-WAY

We must forgive 4. HURSTVILLE ZAGREB ($3.70 fav) for failing at Kembla Grange last start. He didn’t look at all comfortable in the shifty ground. The four-year-old had excuses the start prior too, settling outside of the speed in a race set up for the closers. He’ll appreciate getting back on top of the ground on Saturday. If he can carve across from the draw and do his own thing in front, they’ll be doing well to chase him down. We saw that three starts back at Warwick Farm and early pressure is key to his chance. Respect his starting price profile. Worth another chance.

Dangers: 10. United Kingdom ($7) has the right form lines to be competitive here, beating home Hurstville Zagreb two weeks ago. He draws inside so needs the breaks to fall his way given his pattern. 2. Belle Detelle ($4.60) gets a pass mark for her effort last Saturday. She’s now out to 2000m and on the quick back-up. Looks to be building towards another win but it’s time for her to deliver now. 5. King Pedro ($4.80) was sent around $1.24 at Gosford last start and it turned out to be over the odds with an effortless win. Gains confidence from that.

How To Play It: Hurstville Zagreb WIN

3. STEP ASIDE’s ($7.50) form tapered off last campaign but the Chris Waller-trained gelding has always been a good fresh performer, winning three from six first-up. First-up last time in he held off King Of Roseau. The six-year-old also races well at his home track, Rosehill. Love the soft gate for Step Aside too. It gives apprentice Siena Grima, who is now on loan to Waller, the chance to do no work early. When ridden to come through the field, he can produce a brilliant turn of foot at this level.

Dangers: 10. Bartolf ($5.50) ran on well at Rosehill last start from well back, with the drop back from 1300m to 1200m counting against him there. A dry track appears imperative to him producing his best, hence, he was scratched from Kembla Grange. 17. Theblade ($6.50) got control this track and trip last start, so may have been flattered, but he won with authority. How much work he is forced to do early from the wide draw will decide his fate. 2. Tuned ($5 fav) doesn’t draw well either but the gelding operation has done the trick this time back.

How To Play It: Step Aside WIN

BEST BETS
RACE 4 - 2. DARK SIMBA ($4.20 on TAB)
RACE 5 - 1. PLAINTIFF ($3.10 favourite)

BEST VALUE
RACE 10 - 3. STEP ASIDE ($7.50)

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here