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By Ray Hickson

ROSEHILL GARDENS – BEST BET: Race 9 # 11 – TAXATION

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos).

In two starts for Joe Pride this filly has made the leap from a Hawkesbury maiden win to a Benchmark 72 look quite easy. That speaks to how promising she appears and we’ll get more insight into that as she jumps another grade to a Benchmark 78. The last start win earned more merit from the fact it was on a deteriorating track and she was still able to sprint well enough to pick up the opposition and while the margin was narrow on the line it was an authoritative win. A drier track back at Rosehill looks to be in her favour and with the 52kg and the likelihood of a genuine tempo she’ll have last call and could well pick them off again.

ROSEHILL GARDENS – NEXT BEST: Race 2 # 6 – OAKFIELD JUPITER

Her first-up win over 1200m showed she’s come back a better horse given her other two wins have been in 1000m scampers. She had a throw at the stumps in Listed company before a spell but that fresh effort at Randwick had a good deal of strength about it. She had to roll forward from a wide gate and never really looked in any trouble. Another outside barrier is a little more of an issue around Rosehill but with that run under her belt and a promising enough looking map if she does find a nice spot handy to the speed she’ll take some beating again in similar company.

ROSEHILL GARDENS – VALUE BET: Race 5 # 11 – CHRISTA

Two defeats in Highway grade don’t scream a winning chance up to Benchmark 78 but this mare had no luck at all in those placings at Rosehill and Randwick. Two back she blew the start and went down by three-quarters while last time a run just never opened up for her and she found herself the same margin from the winner with plenty to give. In her favour is a massive drop in weight and the inside gate so if she can land behind the speed and the run comes at the right time she’s more than capable of giving some cheek at good each-way odds. (2pm update) Unfortunately she's now a scratching, follow her next time.

HAWKESBURY – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 8 # 9 – PROBABILITY THEORY

Straight out of a maiden win but it couldn’t have been a lot more impressive in the way she went about it. Sat up handy, sidled up to the leader on the turn and extended away over the last 200m for a dominant victory. It was only her second start and she clearly appreciated getting out to the distance of this race. While up in class it is restricted to Midway horses so that cushions it to a degree and with all that upside it would be a surprise if she’s not competitive again.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill