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By Ray Hickson

3. Zouripper always travelled like the winner in the heavy ground at Warwick Farm a few weeks back and he should be able to build off that. While the track won’t be as heavy this time around he’ll handle whatever is there and is drawn to get a nice run behind them again. If the same horse turns up he should be hard to beat.

Dangers: 6. Modella hasn’t had any luck with the barrier draw but she’s a handy mare who wasn’t disgraced in two runs at Group 3 level in the autumn, finishing just behind the placings. No fault in her recent trials and if they can run on she could be right in the finish. 17. Maz Kanata is an interesting resumer who has trialled up quite sharply on two occasions. She is coming off an 11 month break so she could be vulnerable but drawn soft and right down in the weights so worth keeping her safe. 9. Duck Egg Blue comes off an excellent autumn where she ran fifth in a Listed race and was runner-up in a Midway after winning first-up. Two trials and was only getting warm late in the most recent. In the mix.

How to play it: Zouripper WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

7. Peninsula is an up and comer who has won three of his five including a very impressive win on heavy ground first-up. Stayed at a similar trip and back onto a firmer track when prevailing at Scone almost a month ago where the placegetters have confirmed the form by winning subsequently. Trip suits, sting out ideal and he’s a big chance.

Dangers: 14. Nova Centauri has a very different set up to two weeks ago where she drew one from the outside and settled second last before charging into a close second over this distance. Draws one this time around and improvement in the track would be to her liking as well. Must respect. 9. Solitario was held up for a lot of the straight and had to change course a couple of time when a close third in the same race as Nova Centauri at his Highway debut. Similar sort of race so can’t leave him out. 4. Pony Soprano was back on top after a mishap here two months ago with an easy Port Macquarie win. Has to get the extra 200m now but can give a sight.

How to play it: Peninsula WIN ($10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Only looks four winning chances in this staying event. 2. Cormac T was enormous in defeat over the 2400m three weeks ago. He struck a heavy 10, was five weeks between runs and had to chase a couple of runaways up front. Went down fighting in second. Draws kindly in what will likely be a bit tactical and with that run under the belt he won’t be beaten on the score of fitness. Good chance.

Dangers: 4. Tazima is the lightly raced stayer on the up and while the winner went straight past him here two weeks ago at 2000m he’s facing a different set up and the likelihood of more sting off the track than he encountered two weeks back. Looks the logical threat. 1. Juja Kibo was a brilliant winner on a heavy 10 at Rosehill in early August but didn’t convert it to the Randwick heavy 10 three weeks later. To be fair he found himself way too far back in a strung out field and after a midrace move couldn’t keep it up. Can improve sharply. 3. Leaders Listen has won a couple of Benchmark 64s at Sandown and while this is tougher he’s back down in the weights and could get some on pace favours.

How to play it: Cormac T WIN ($5 TAB Fixed Odds).

11. Seven’s was a smart winner first-up at Canterbury and put the writing on the wall that another win isn’t far off when he stayed around the 1500m trip and produced some very quick sectionals to charge into fourth in a race not really run to suit. A bit more give in the track is a plus for him and now he’s up to this trip he could be ridden a bit further forwards as we saw last prep. A repeat of last time sees him go very close.

Dangers: 6. Glad You Think So stays home in preference to the Tuncurry Cup and he’s shooting for a hat-trick after successive Randwick mile wins a month apart. Hasn’t fired at this track as yet in five starts, but he’s arguably not come here in the sort of form he is now. 12. Nkosi was kept solid in the betting off a big first-up win at Wyong but perhaps he was outsprinted coming back 100m. That said he did sit on the speed and just battled away. Softer ground and up in distance are pluses so he could lift quickly. 1. Strathtay produced a big first-up performance behind Estadio Mestalla in a much higher rating race a couple of weeks ago, hitting the line hard late into fourth. More ground and wetter are both in his favour and he’s not out of it despite rising 6kg.

How to play it: Seven’s WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

It won’t be a heavy 10 again but 5. Kerguelen still has enough sting out of the track to be the horse to beat once again after a big win at Randwick where he sat wide and was just the better wet tracker three weeks ago. Draws to get a perfect run with the speed engaged and even if some of the speed comes out he should still find a good stalking spot. Take holding off.

Dangers: 9. Catch The Glory is flying this preparation and converted two solid heavy track placings into a win on a soft 5, and a dominant one, two weeks back. She’ll do no work in behind them again and is hard to ignore. 6. World Alliance likes to have the last shot at them in his races and that’s the likely scenario for him fresh since chasing home Cigar Flick at Randwick just under two months ago. 7. Flying For Fun ran well against the likes of Autumn Glow and Enriched last time in and was runner-up at Group 3 level before a spell. She’s raced largely on good tracks so that’s a small query but any improvement in the ground helps her out. 2. Fire Star comes right into play if the likes of Boston Rocks and Bonita Queen aren’t there.

How to play it: Kerguelen WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

6. Without Peer reacted really well to being ridden forward off a good gate at his second start and he went within half a stride of nailing Ninja a month ago on a heavy track. Has a wider gate now but a race that doesn’t look to have a high amount of speed and he’s drawn just outside the likely leader. If he finds a spot he’ll relish the trip and is a good each-way chance.

Dangers: 1. Autumn Boy has some raps on him from his two wins in June where he scored on debut as a $51 chance then backed it up with a Listed win as favourite in Queensland. He could be very smart and he’ll get the chance to show it here. 8. Flying Orchid goes into the unknown category as he brings two soft wins at the provincials on wet tracks into his toughest test. Does look to let down quite well in his races and it comes down to if he’s ready for this company or not. 2. Grand Prairie has to stay in the mix. While he got the better of the interference to win the Up & Coming he was still quite strong to the line and backed up his game effort behind Skyhook on the heavy track.

How to play it: Without Peer EACH-WAY ($12 TAB Fixed Odds).

2. Joliestar was the latest addition to the TAB Everest field this week and she’s found a nice race to kick that campaign off in. The softer than expected track might make her a touch vulnerable but it could work in her favour if they’re coming down the middle. As always she’s trialled up nicely, she doesn’t run bad races and if she can get a reasonable gallop (unlike first-up last prep) she’ll be right there at the finish.

Dangers: 7. Lilac raced consistently without being noticed a whole lot against the likes of Lady Shenandoah back in the autumn and she wound up her prep with an all the way win in the James Carr at 1400m. Probably bounces in front, if not just behind the lead, and while coming off one trial it’s the right set up for her to run well. 8. Gangsta Granny gave Autumn Glow a bit of a fright when they clashed in the Toy Show and can only be fitter for the run on what was testing ground. She probably lands on speed as well and can feature in the finish. 4. Ameena is an interesting runner, she’s only struck a wet track once and ran fairly but that was at 1400m. All her best efforts so far have been at the 1200m or below and she trialled up quite comfortably leading into this. 3. Manaal is worth another chance from a soft draw after being a shade disappointing first-up in Melbourne.

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

Outstanding contest. Can’t wait to see what 9. Tempted produces as a three-year-old. She was a bit stiff in the Golden Slipper and accounted for Savvy Hallie and Within The Law after that in an arrogant Percy Sykes win. Now with Ciaron Maher, she was trucking nicely in her recent trial and while she hasn’t seen a wet track as yet, her debut was on a soft 5, it’s the only real question mark as she looks an elite type in the making.

Dangers: 3. Beiwacht was her former stablemate and he had his first run for Chris Waller with a very brave third after racing wide in the San Domenico. He’s drawn to be getting a much smoother run this time and he looks a big improver out of that race. 6. Skyhook was awesome beating Grand Prairie in the Rosebud a month ago and he’ll drop 3.5kg on that win. He trialled in the same heat as Tempted recently so he’s ticking over and if he turns up in the same mood he can be a major player. 5. Raging Force is hard to fault with four wins on end now and he has to just tick that 1200m box to be hard to beat again. His win in the San Domenico had plenty of merit, while he was on the fence he was kept working to hold his spot. So many other chances too!

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

5. Autumn Glow continues her rise through the grades and things do look to have fallen into place well for her to make it six from six. She reacted well under some pressure to pick up when resuming at 1100m on the heavy ground last month but her class shone through there. With only 12 runners she should find a good spot from the middle gate and if we’re back in the soft range it’ll be even better conditions for her. Has to go on top.

Dangers: 8. General Salute was brilliant winning the Star Kingdom back in April and was similarly eye-catching at only his second run since then when chasing home Lazzura at Randwick three weeks ago. Back home, down in the weights and the sting out is great for him. Go well. 2. Pier enjoyed a fruitful winter in Brisbane, he was huge behind War Machine in the BTC Sprint then an easy winner up to the mile. Hit the line nicely in his latest trial and handles all ground. Sure to run well with improvement to come. 12. Strait Acer has the talent on his day and he did find some form when runner-up in the Scone Cup before a break. Cruised to the line well to win his latest trial and an each-way chance on an improving track.

How to play it: Autumn Glow WIN ($1.55 TAB Fixed Odds).

6. Narbold looked all over a winner when he hit the front at Randwick three weeks back and was just outpointed at the end of the mile by Glad You Think So. Perhaps a bit of cover this time from barrier one might be his edge, the sting out is in his favour and he’s just racing in career best form. No reason he couldn’t go on with it.

Dangers: 5. Captain Furai did look to have his chance when a beaten favourite two weeks ago but the softer ground would probably favour him a bit more. Should be right near the speed and in the finish again. 2. Cristal Clear led all the way to win that race in question and he’s the likely leader again. Edges up 1.5kg in the weights and he’ll likely be prominent for a long way. If there’s an upset it could be worth looking at 13. Justela. Not suited to leading last time but her effort, albeit in a Midway, prior to that was a lot more like it from her. If she can run up to that showing then a place, or better, at odds is not out of the question.

How to play it: Narbold WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

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