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By Ray Hickson

2. Christa has been solid in two runs since a Highway placing second-up and it does appear to set up a lot better for her than last start at Newcastle. She was forced to race three deep on the speed and while a shade outsprinted early in the straight she was strong to the line in a closing second there over the 1500m. Drops 2.5kg, draws well and has to be in the finish.

Dangers: 13. Fan Harder might be a lot better suited to the lower draw than he had two weeks ago where he sat outside the leader and hit the front a long way out. Thought he rallied well when headed but with the smother and the light weight he could be hard to hold out. 5. Poisen Point is hard to fault after sitting wide when winning the Highway in question second-up. Likely to get a kinder run in transit and third-up she’ll be close to peaking. Must be respected. 4. Buenos has won three from four and did a particularly good job when chasing down a tearaway leader at Canberra second-up. Down 5.5kg which has to be a plus and she’s in the mix.

How to play it: Christa WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

5. Modella is very well placed to score what would be a deserved win having been forced to do it the hard way in two runs back. Huge against an on pace pattern first-up in this grade then took on the Group 2 mares and had to go back to last. That doesn’t make it easy when chasing the likes of Manaal and she did a good job to be beaten three lengths. Draws nicely for the first time in a while and if she can take advantage she’s clearly the one.

Dangers: If anything goes wrong 1. Alabama State will be there to capitalise. He hit the front a bit sooner than ideal when resuming at Rosehill two weeks ago and was run down by a handy mare. Fitter for that and he’ll run well again. 2. Vetwelve comes out of the same race and she was working home well into a close third there. Draws well and carries a similar weight so is hard to overlook. 4. Harry’s Bar is more than capable at this level too and she’s back to Midway class for the first time since an all the way win at this track in July. Pole position gives her every chance to perform.

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

2. God’s Window has his first chance to show what he’s got in the locker third-up and out to the 2000m, and more importantly with a draw that he could make some use of. In both runs this ex-UK galloper has found the line pretty well but in races where the winners have been right on speed. Big chance to hit his best form.

Dangers: 5. Unlimited is back from Melbourne where he’s won and been placed in two others from his three runs there. If he can bring that form into this race then he’s sure to be hard to beat in a smaller field. 9. Agita is on the back up after quite a dominant win in Midway company last week at Randwick. He’s put together a few good runs on end in that company and while in this sort of mood he’s not out of the winning hopes. 4. State Of America is the type of horse that generally holds his form when he finds it so after a much improved third here two weeks ago he could run into the money.

How to play it: God’s Window EACH-WAY ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

8. Marhoona beat many of her rivals in this race when she won the Heritage first-up from a spell and with the weight penalty. She drops 3.5kg, is fitter and drawn to be in the right spot again. Won the Golden Slipper over this course and while quite short she’s the one they have to beat.

Dangers: 1. Beadman found himself in front in the Heritage but he didn’t lay down to hold on for third. Like Marhoona he will be fitter but he does meet her 1.5kg worse for almost a length. Tactics will be interesting as to whether he leads again but he’s the threat. 4. Grand Eagle appreciated coming back to a good track when closing off well in fourth in the Heritage. He’ll be giving a bit of start but if they are running on he’ll be closing in. 7. Napoleonic brings different form into the race with wins in easier company at Wyong and Warwick Farm in September. Not suited under the weight scale but shows promise.

How to play it: Marhoona WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds).

Looks a nice race for 2. Farnicle who took on some smart ones in the Heritage over a trip short of his best when resuming. He was only getting warm late when hitting the line just over a length behind Marhoona. Nicer set up for him from a handy draw up to 1400m, where he was placed behind Cool Archie at his only attempt, and should be there in the finish.

Dangers: 6. Ohope is up in class now after two placings at Warwick Farm in benchmark company but behind some handy ones like Cantiamo and Napoleonic. Sure to run well again. 3. Fermoy did a good job in the Up & Coming second-up so you’d have to forgive the failure at Sandown when solid in betting. Back home, drawn one and while still a maiden he has a good case. 5. Duke Of Arrakis comes through the Napoleonic race where he led and boxed on for third there. Lightly raced and fitter and he could give a sight with the blinkers on.

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

2. Flying Orchid will get all the favours from a handy draw backing up after running third in the Dulcify. A couple of major rivals coming out helps his cause and if last week is the right form line he’s right in the mix.

Dangers: 5. Providence didn’t have a whole lot of luck when beaten into third at Rosehill in a maiden on October 1. Was favourite there. Awkward gate but have to include in the chances. 7. Shangri La Boy is jumping from a maiden straight into the Group 3 but he’ll make his own luck up on the speed after that all the way win. Interestingly he’s a half-brother to Storm Boy but seems the Pierro is coming out in him. 9. San Giovanni is back against his own age after a solid effort in a Benchmark 72 at Rosehill a week and a half ago. Out to this trip he's in the game.

How to play it: Flying Orchid EACH-WAY ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

14. Monte Supreme really has the wind in her sails since joining the Baker stable and while up to stakes company now there’s no doubting she’s earned that chance. She swept home from well off them in scoring over 1100m at this track two weeks ago and if she finds the right back to follow into the race she’ll be right there again.

Dangers: 1. Infancy won the Sapphire at Group 2 level first-up last preparation and then ran well in the Brisbane winter. She’s fitter for two trials, draws well and she’s capable of making her presence felt. 6. Gangsta Granny is the logical favourite having given Autumn Glow a shake first-up then her brave third in the Sheraco when three wide throughout. You’d imagine she won’t get stuck wide this time and should have every chance. 2. Pounce is the big query runner. She’s first-up for Chris Waller and is a dual Group 3 winner, and Group 2 placed, in America. She ran in the Pegasus World Cup in January and while she’s probably more a 1400m to a mile type she has trialled okay and draws to do no work.

How to play it: Monte Supreme EACH-WAY ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Thought the draw just opens this race up a little. 5. Kovalica took a couple of runs last time in before hitting his form and you’d have to rate his second-up run in the 7 Stakes as quite promising with a view to the rise in distance. He was big odds but closed it off well and with the blinkers going on if he can make a little use of the gate he’s a good each-way chance.

Dangers: 2. Lindermann is the obvious horse to beat, he’s racing in super form having held out Sir Delius in the Chelmsford then a narrow defeat at the hands of Fangirl in the 7 Stakes. We know he will go forward from the outside gate and it comes down to when he wrests control and how much work he’s done. 9. Elamaz was well supported first-up in the Kingston Town where he loomed up early in the straight but couldn’t keep it up behind the strong tempo up front. This will likely be different, he can probably find Lindermann’s back or be nearby and if the run hasn’t taken too much out of him he can rebound. 6. Attrition won this race last year off a similar sort of run, if not a little inferior, in the Feehan Stakes. He’s run well there behind Pride Of Jenni and Treasurethe Moment and isn’t out of place in this field.

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

5. Bosustow signalled he could be in for a handy spring preparation with a close second in the Bill Ritchie three weeks ago. He was a drifter in betting there so he’ll naturally be fitter for it, he’s drawn well in the big field and brings that Stradbroke form from the winter where he ran a nice fifth. Good chance in an open race.

Dangers: 3. Waterford found himself in the unusual spot of being on the leader’s back in the Shannon then he swept straight past them and won as he liked. That was his fifth win at Rosehill and if he can make some use again of the draw he’ll be hard to hold out. 12. Miss Roumbini is a handy mare who was huge from the back, after missing the start, when runner-up in the Sir Rupert Clarke at Group 1 level. She seems to handle everything, she’s won in the Sydney direction and can race handy if she’s not slowly out. Must be included. 1. Gringotts has had a stop-start preparation so far and all being well this is his first run since a looming fifth in the Winx Stakes back in August. Just missed in this race last year and wouldn’t be leaving him out.

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

3. Roselyn’s Star is ready to win after three runs back from a long break and things seems to have fallen into place for him. Hit the lead in the straight here third-up only to be ambushed by Monte Supreme but there was a nice gap back to third. Should sit handy here and expect he’ll be harder to get past.

Dangers: 7. Polyglot is due a change of luck with his barriers which didn’t help his cause when running into third in the same race. Wonder if going forward might be worth a shot with him to offset it this time but either way he’ll be somewhere in the finish. 1. Amazing Eagle is a big market watch as he’s resuming since a narrow defeat in Brisbane at the end of November. Won the Brian Crowley last spring and he’s trialled up quite strongly. Drawn well and have to be wary. 2. Mogul Monarch should get a nice run up on the speed somewhere again and he can find himself in the placings without surprising at all.

How to play it: Roselyn's Star WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

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