By Nick Berney
Codetta (Pic: Bradley Photos)
ROSEHILL GARDENS – BEST BET: Race 5 # 2 – CODETTA
She's returned improved this prep, and produced a career peak figure first-up after having genuine excuses. The filly was uncharacteristically slow away and was blocked for a run at key stages, but once clear, she savaged the line. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day, and her late visual strength was backed up by the clock. She gets in well after the claim, faces the same track and distance, is a consistent type, and all key indicators suggest she can reach a new level.
ROSEHILL GARDENS – VALUE BET: Race 1 # 9 – ARISTOCRAT
Like him and expecting him to peak third-up out to a more suitable trip with the blinkers going on for the first time. His debut run was full of merit after having too much to do over 1000m and still recorded the meeting's fastest final 400/200m splits. He was specked late in the trade last start but had genuine excuses. The colt finally gets on a drier surface, and he has the potential to improve sharply. Over the odds.
ROSEHILL GARDENS – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 7 # 1 – TESTATOR SILENS
This looks like a set play by trainer Joe Pride to get him to peak third-up over a more suitable trip. He needed the run first-up in the Listed Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m) and then wasn't suited last start when back in distance. Additionally, he got too far back in a slowly run race, and Punter's Intelligence recorded that he ran the meeting's quickest final 200m in 12.47. The form out of that race has since been confirmed, and he is returning to Rosehill, where he produces his peak figures/efforts suits.
NEWCASTLE – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 5 # 7 – HOMERIC
Keen on him, and he lived up to his potential last start when breaking through for his maiden win in style. The gelding was solid first-up after racing wide and then went to a new level at Kembla a fortnight ago. He wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape, but he built momentum in the straight and knuckled down late to score and recorded the meeting's third-fastest final 200m split. The Snowden-trained galloper can improve again third-up out to 1400m, and the big Newcastle track suits.