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By Ray Hickson

1. Alabama State returns to Midway grade as a gelding after four runs in stakes company last season. Didn’t run a bad race fresh behind the likes of Autumn Glow and Enriched last prep but he’s much better placed back in this company. He’s trialled up quietly and drawn ideally to get a nice run just off the speed. Sure to run well.

Dangers: 6. Meridiana has been scratched a couple of times in recent weeks and she’s another coming back in class from a few runs at Listed level in the autumn. Draw is a bit tricky for her and it probably sees her concede a start. Couldn’t leave her out as she’s shown plenty of potential. 5. Vetwelve has had a freshen up since chasing Monkhana home in a Midway at this track and trip on a heavy surface some six weeks ago. Ticked over with a trial against Beadman. Must be respected. 2. Gently Rolled doesn’t often have the breaks go her way, particularly with barriers, but she’s found a soft gate and a winnable race if she can get the gaps at the right time.

How to play it: Alabama State WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Tough Highway. 7. Fan Harder is unbeaten in two starts and jumps in trip after scoring at Tamworth over 1200m a couple of weeks ago. Gained a saloon run through on the inside then looked to half pull up when he hit the front so he still has something to learn. Nice weight drop in his favour and stable is in form. Can measure up.

Dangers: 6. Ready And Lucky was a popular winner at Muswellbrook before a rise in grade at Wyong where she ran on pretty well to snare second. Up in trip here but back to country level, drawn well, she can be competitive. 4. Ghost Walker was never in the race when resuming in a 1400m Highway four weeks ago, he settled back and wasn’t able to run on. Bit of a different set up with a better gate and he should be a fast improver. 2. Warrior For Peace blew the start when well supported in that Highway and faces an outside barrier. Looks to have a Highway win in him though will need luck. Can’t leave out 9. Smart Buy who also has a job from the outside but she’s shaping up well with successive Scone wins as favourite.

How to play it: Fan Harder EACH-WAY ($7 TAB Fixed Odds).

7. Juja Kibo showed a new side to himself when scoring over this track and distance two weeks ago. He sat up on the speed on a firming track and always looked under control. Imagine similar tactics will be employed from near the outside again, he’s down 4kg for a class rise that doesn’t look that steep and he’s the one on the way up. Hard to tip against.

Dangers: 4. Good Banter is probably better known on softer ground than she’ll strike here but she’s racing in great form with her runs spaced of late. Game on a soft 5 two runs back then back to 2000m and was sound on a heavy 10. She can run well. 2. Our Anchorage might have the right set up to improve on his even effort in the Kingston Town last week as he’ll have a prime chance to either lead and control or sit up on the peace. That was how he dashed through the grades last season. Likely improver. 8. Piggyback has been up a while but she rarely runs a bad race and finally got another win on the board when sent north to Doomben three weeks ago. Does no work from gate one and has claims.

How to play it: Juja Kibo WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

9. She’s Unusual bounced back from a poor effort two runs back to give a good sight on speed only to be run down by Travolta back on August 30. She tends to have one run a month and that looks to be working for her. From the inside gate she can lead or trail if something else wants the front and can’t see her doing anything but being there at the finish.

Dangers: 1. Flying Bandit probably wants some kind of speed battle up front as he faces standing them a start but he did hit the line okay when resuming at a mile a few weeks ago. He’s a big fellow who will relish the step up in trip being a Wagga Cup winner last prep and be running on again. 8. Nkosi gained control and was able to sprint away in the straight when scoring easily over 1800m two weeks ago. Same grade for him, he’s up 2kg and sure to be in this for a long way again. 4. Strathtay looks on track to win a race soon after two handy runs back. Made some ground for fourth behind Nkosi last time, not really suited by the sit and sprint, and perhaps once he gets beyond 2000m is when he’ll strike. But, again, if they overdo it he could pounce on them.

How to play it: She’s Unusual WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

3. Lord Of Biscay couldn’t have done much more under the circumstances when he resumed at Rosehill a month ago over 1200m. He drew the outside and had to go back but was warming up well to run into third. The step to 1400m is ideal especially from barrier one and he can be a lot closer in the run this time around. A horse still on the up, headed for the Big Dance and this is a nice race to pick up along the way.

Dangers: 10. Formal Display sat on speed and was too good at his Australian debut at Eagle Farm, have to forgive him on the heavy track up to a mile in the Tuncurry Cup. Back to 1400m and drawn to be prominent he looks the danger. 8. Point And Shoot finally gets away from 1200m and he’s due for something to go right for him. Didn’t handle the heavy 10 when resuming then stood and the start and conceded a big margin when tailing them home three weeks ago. He’s won a trial since then and 1400m on a good track can see improvement. Good old 11. Captain Furai has to go in the mix though the tracks drying up don’t help his cause. He was swallowed up after briefly looking the winner two weeks ago and should be thereabouts.

How to play it: Lord Of Biscay WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Golden Slipper winner 4. Marhoona returns in a race that looks both very suitable and a good enough challenge with the weight to see how she’s taken the step to a three-year-old. Fair to say the form around her has held up nicely and in her two trials she’s been mixing it with Everest types like Headwall, who sadly had to be spelled, and last time chasing home Briasa. She’s drawn to get every chance to come back a winner.

Dangers: 11. Akaysha has the run on the board from her resumption at Flemington two weeks ago where she just missed down the straight 1100m. Yet to do anything wrong, she’s drawn well and is down in the weights. 2. Beadman is a hard one to line up. Akaysha beat him on debut then he’s scored two easy wins on wet tracks including his eight length demolition at the Gold Coast. Ridden up to win his latest trial and faces having to work to get into a spot. If he can overcome all that on a good track he could be very smart. 8. Grand Eagle was a touch disappointing first-up on a heavy track where he loomed but couldn’t get past Huon. Fitter and back on top of the ground probably suits. Each-way chance.

How to play it: Marhoona WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

2. Firestorm has a lethal first-up record and 1400m fresh looks ideal for her fresh off two good runs in the Queensland winter. She won the Millie Fox first-up back in February at this track beating a few familiar rivals. There doesn’t look to be high speed here which could be a negative but she can dash and splitting Lady Shenandoah and Lady Of Camelot in the Coolmore four runs back reads very well.

Dangers: 8. Snow In May did an excellent job fresh in the Mona Lisa at Wyong where she drew out and went right back before storming down the middle into third. With that run and a much better draw she could easily stalk the speed and put herself in the finish. 1. Manaal was very well ridden to take out the Sheraco two weeks ago and showed she’s back in form. Meets a number of the same horses here and 1400m holds no fears for her especially from a handy draw. Hard to leave out. 4. Dark Glitter is another that’s always around the mark and she chased Manaal home in that race before backing up six days later and not having a lot of luck in the Tibbie. She always gets back and runs on and if things open up for her she’s capable of featuring.

How to play it: Firestorm WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hard to go away from 9. Tempted after she smashed the boys in the Run To The Rose two weeks ago when first-up for a spell. Granted she found a nice spot around midfield and appreciated the speed up front before claiming them with a sharp dash in the straight. It’s a different set up for her from a trickier gate so we’re banking on her being the best horse in the race and having some even luck. Certainly 1400m looks no issue.

Dangers: 3. Skyhook did a good job to close in as he did behind the filly there off a month’s gap after he was held up around the 300m mark. You’d say he should definitely have run second. He’s ready to peak third-up and if the filly doesn’t get the breaks he could be there to strike. 7. Autumn Boy has the different form line coming through the Ming Dynasty at 1400m two weeks ago. He spotted the winner about five lengths on the turn and ran him to half a length. It’s just staying at the trip in potentially a slowly run race that’s a worry. He does have the blinkers on. As does 4. Wodeton who really faces his moment of truth having promised so much. He did as well as he could in the lead up race behind Tempted as he had to sit back and wide and he ran on into fourth. Gate one and the shades gives him every chance.

How to play it: Tempted WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

12. Shohisha is a lightly raced mare who has had four starts away from stakes grade for four wins and she showed in scoring at Randwick second-up when up to the mile that she can take up a tactical position and get the job done. From the inside gate you’d imagine she can settle in the first four or so in a race that doesn’t look to have a lot of speed and be there to give herself every hope.

Dangers: 1. Gringotts is clearly the best horse in the race and he’s coming off a setback (temperature) that forced him to miss the 7 Stakes last weekend. Weight in this company isn’t a concern for him and he does tend to roll forward in his race. Bringing Via Sistina form into this event has to be good form and if all is well with him he’s the stumbling block. 4. Rise At Dawn is the likely leader from his outside gate and when he does get a good time of it up on pace he usually runs well. He did that in the Doncaster last autumn. Fitter for one run back and can take running down. 8. Waterford is back to his favourite track after a fair run in the Tramway when resuming three weeks ago. He did make some ground there but it was dominated on speed. Can never leave him out on his home deck.

How to play it: Shohisha EACH-WAY ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

14. Chidiac should have gone very close to winning last time out at Randwick, she was badly held up at a vital stage and the way she found the line when she did get out suggests the case can be made that she was unlucky. Trialled since, draws one and is right down in the weights in what looks a fast race. Will need to get the breaks at the right time but it looks a good chance for her to atone.

Dangers: 7. Polyglot is going to need a different type of luck given he’s drawn near the outside for his first run in blinkers this prep. He’s been honest as always in his two runs this time in and with even luck he can be hard to hold out. 8. Roselyn’s Star was enormous first-up off a long break where he raced wide and stuck on gamely to just miss a place. Perhaps a bit flat second-up two weeks later so can forgive. He’s been given a bit more time and a nice tickover trial and he’s a definite chance. 11. Monte Supreme was the beneficiary of Chidiac being a bit unlucky as she made it two from two for the Baker yard. She’d love a strong pace again and must give her due respect.

How to play it: Chidiac WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

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