By Ray Hickson
ROSEHILL GARDENS – BEST BET: Race 10 # 4 – BUNKER HUT
Worked overtime on the speed in his first-up assignment a couple of weeks ago and fought on better than those inside him in the run to just miss third place. That’s not his preferred style of racing so to box on as well as he did says he’s come back in good order. Draw is in his favour this time to settle just off them with plenty of cover and be exposed late, which is what happened when he won his last race earlier this year at Rosehill. Has to be a big chance with the perfect set up.
Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Bradley Photos).
ROSEHILL GARDENS – NEXT BEST: Race 9 # 1 – ROBUSTO
Nobody missed his run in the Winter Stakes a couple of weeks ago where he was badly held up for runs when he needed to get going and he was enormous in running second after losing so much momentum. Stays on the 60kg but meets the winner with a significant weight advantage and he’s the type that improves the deeper he goes into a preparation. Plenty of ticks for this Bjorn Baker-trained gelding with an extra 100m and similar rivals and he’s entitled to take beating.
ROYAL RANDWICK – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 6 # 9 – USEAPIN
This Chris Waller trained filly’s run was a little hidden when she resumed behind Hi Dubai at Rosehill two weeks ago. She was out the back and as she was making her runs she struck traffic and had to stop a couple of times and change course. With that in mind to run 34.02 for her last 600m, which Punter's Intelligence shows was 0.04 outside the meeting’s fastest for that sectional, it was an effort that’s better than it looks on paper. She faces a smart rival but no surprise to see her give that rival a run for her money.
GOSFORD – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 5 # 12 – YOU’RE THE CHOICE
Only had the two starts so far for Brad Widdup and showed plenty of promise with a narrow defeat on debut over the 900m scamper at Newcastle. Had a shot at the Group 2 Sweet Embrace before a spell and wasn’t quite up to that level. Her two trials in the lead up to this have been more than acceptable as she’s made ground under no pressure into the placings. Blinkers off, drawn ideally and in on the limit with the claim down to 54kg. While taking on older horses she’s well placed in a provincial maiden and should be competitive.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting