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By Ray Hickson

Selections based on a heavy track.

10. Monkhana put the writing on the wall with an excellent return in the Midway two weeks ago. It just didn’t work out for her in the early part when she was squeezed up out of the gates and that meant she settled further back than ideal. Ran on nicely into second on the line and will be fitter for the run. Stays down in the weights and has a good chance to go one better.

Dangers: 8. Convergent didn’t have a great experience in the same race at his first run for two moths but he still worked through the line okay late. An extra 100m is a plus, he’s going to appreciate further, and if he jumps with them he should be closer from gate one. That would make him dangerous. 12. Pretty Tavi is another who contested that Midway and she had her chance in running fourth after settling just off the speed. She’s an honest mare and while 1500m is as far as she wants she is an each-way chance once again. 2. King Ratel has drawn a barrier for the first time this campaign and the blinkers go on so it'll be interesting to see if he can not give away so much start this time. An improving track would be in his favour and if he’s in touch around the turn he has the turn of foot to be bearing down on them.

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

10. Christa is lightly raced for a six-year-old but she was strong winning on a testing track first-up at Taree after a year off the scene. She can only be better for it and she can take advantage of the barrier and put herself near the pace. The horse she beat at Taree has some handy Highway form so while this is her first try at this level she ties in okay. Go well.

Dangers: 13. Fetes Des Meres has been quite a find for Garry Lunn with three wins and a second from four runs for his stable. Was back to 1100m at Bathurst last month but still proved too strong at the finish. Where she gets to from the barrier is a concern but there’s every chance she can measure up to this company. 3. Kranich was game in defeat in Hihgway grade two starts ago when runner-up to Pensativa, subsequent winner In Summer ran third, then went back home to Dubbo and went under as a $1.65 favourite. He did have to do some early work in that race and went down fighting. Will put himself up there and has to be respected. 6. Adolphus has won two from three when first-up and has a couple of Highway placings to his name from last preparation. Goulburn trial winner a month ago and any support would be a good pointer.

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

4. Ninja is definitely the horse that holds the key here as he comes off an 11 length maiden win at Kembla Grange at his second race start. In both runs so far he’s been a touch slow away, not so bad last time, but up in distance second-up he managed to roll to the front and was simply too good for his three rivals on heavy ground. How does that form line up for a BM72? We’re about to find out.

Dangers: 2. Without Peer looks a promising type in his own right and wasn’t expected to win on debut when proving too good over 1200m a month ago. Bred to handle much further than this and is sure to have taken plenty of benefit from the win at this sort of level. 5. Crown The King has some race fitness and heavy track experience on his side coming out of an easy maiden win at Newcastle last week. He’s a little more exposed but heading the right way and could continue to improve. 1. Space Rider looked good on debut at Eagle Farm in December but was defeated at $1.14 there a couple of weeks later. In his defence he did have some excuses there. Latest trial was okay and no wet track exposure soi will be guided by the market.

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

Tempo and tactics will be vital here but banking on 8. Tuileries overcoming whatever unfolds. Found herself back last in a very slowly run race when resuming last month and she did an amazing job to finish as close as three-quarters of a length from the winner. She ran the meeting’s fastest last 200m and second fastest last 600m so there was nothing wrong with her effort. There’s a chance the speed could be patchy but she is quite promising.

Dangers: 2. Sacred Rocks has had wide gates to deal with in all three runs in Sydney and overcame it once when scoring in June. Wasn’t disgraced at Randwick last time and she should have the chance to be that bit more prominent. If that’s the case she’s hard to beat. 9. Amreekiyah is hard to fault with three wins from as many starts and she did a great job to reel in the leader first-up at Canterbury. She’s shown tactical ability in the past so it’ll be interesting to see if they elect to go forward or not but either way she has to be a big chance. The 5kg drop for the class rise is handy too. 7. Sunshine Law probably puts herself on or near the speed as she did when winning two weeks ago on the heavy track. Rises in weight but is super consistent and no reason why she won’t be competitive.

How to play it: Tuileries WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Bit of a D-Day for 5. Pallaton in some respects. He was brilliant winning on debut back in December but disappointed when he reappeared in the Pierro Plate. Failed again in the Todman and the prep was halted. If there were issues on the evidence of his two trials they’ve been rectified as he’s looked quite good winning both comfortably. Barrier one in the small field can be dicey sometimes but if the same horse that won on debut turns up he’ll take beating.

Dangers: 1. Skyhook was a revelation in his first campaign which took him all the way to the Golden Slipper where he started a $7.50 chance. Possibly at the end of his prep having backed up after winning the Pago Pago on a hot day a week earlier. Trialling well and is a logical threat. 2. Blitzburg has had two trials for his return since winning the Canonbury back on February 1. Pushed out a little to win the latest. Has had a bone chip removed since his last race. Must be included in the chances. 4. Nashville Jack has race fitness on those colts from his handy win at Randwick three weeks ago. Potentially a different set up for him from one from the outside but hard to fault.

How to play it: Pallaton WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

2. Travolta has shown in his three runs back this time in that he’s very comfortable on rain affected ground and he strikes suitable conditions again on the back of an easy win at 1800m three weeks ago. Won first-up on a heavy 9 and while beaten in between it was in an on pace dominated race on a soft 5. Conditions suit him, down slightly in weight after the claim and should be a major player.

Dangers: 14. Amusing enjoyed a nice run and dashed away on the heavy 10 two weeks ago beating a subsequent midweek winner. She’s found her groove now with back-to-back wins and if she can run out the extra distance she will be somewhere in the finish. 20. So You Are is worth including if he gains a run despite coming out of Highway grade. He was runner-up over 1800m at Randwick second-up in what was an excellent performance from near the tail. Lightly raced and an each-way hope. 7. Nana’s Wish is racing consistently and is adept in rain affected ground. Boxed on okay when placed at Randwick on the back of two midweek wins. Drawn well and is in the mix. 17. Kapakiri is another with some claims at value on the back of a handy first-up run over an unsuitable trip.

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

7. War Eternal looks ideally placed to strike third-up on another wet track after he was a touch unlucky in a small field two weeks ago. Looked to be travelling well to the turn then may have struck a bad patch as he suddenly came under pressure. Picked himself up and after some ducking and weaving was closing fast at the end of 1300m. A wet track but not as deep suits him, the trip suits him and he’s on the limit. Huge chance for him.

Dangers: 6. Our Gold Hope had a mixed preparation last time in but did place in the Neville Sellwood on a heavy behind Ceolwulf on April 1. Plenty to like about the way she’s trialling, the trip suits her fresh and it’d be no surprise if she regained some winning form with a clear shot. 4. Birdman is an interesting runner who looks to be trialling strongly for his first-up run since the Sydney Cup. On the face the 1400m should be short of his best so wary about getting carried away with his trial as he hasn’t won in Australia nor below 2414m. Expect him to be closing strongly and if he gets over the top of these then he’s in for a big prep. 3. Palmetto is often underestimated and is more than capable of showing up fresh. He’s trialling well winning both heats and he has been known to steal a race when nobody’s looking. Keep in mind.

How to play it: War Eternal WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

There might be some each-way value in 4. Fully Lit particularly if he’s able to find the front from an inside gate with really only Puntin likely to provide some opposition for that spot. He just wasn’t comfortable in the ground two weeks ago on a heavy 10 with rain falling during the race so happy to forgive. He’s not going badly and his chances enhanced if the track continues to improve. Granted he needs to show something but has the chance to.

Dangers: 10. Captain Furai loomed up to win that race when resuming but was outpointed by Elson Boy who is a genuine heavy 10 horse and loves it. He’ll be fitter and should be right in the finish. 5. Puntin didn’t have the best of luck two runs back then not sure whether it was the 1800m or not being in the right part of the track, or both, that saw him weaken into fourth at Randwick three weeks back. Did win over this track and trip second-up and is entitled to another chance. 1. Yoshinobu is a real head scratcher. You have to conclude he hated the heavy in the race won by The Novelist beaten 14 lengths as a $1.70 favourite. Won well on a soft 5 first-up so the better the track the better his hopes.

How to play it: Fully Lit EACH-WAY ($16 TAB Fixed Odds).

7. Polyglot will need a few things to fall his way from a tricky gate but there’s every chance they could given the amount of speed, on paper at least, engaged in this race. He was a winner first-up last time in at this track and distance on a soft 7 and looked good doing it. First run for new stable and trialled up nicely under Jmac a couple of weeks ago. Hard to beat if he gets the breaks.

Dangers: 11. Useapin sprinted nicely to win two starts back against the mares then again ran on okay but not as happy in the heavy 10 behind Stardeel last time. She’ll be aided by some good speed and while back 100m she can be hard to hold out. 8. Regimental Colours was strong at the finish winning at this trip at Randwick last time to make it three wins from four starts this prep. Sure to be around the mark again. 1. Bonita Queen will be hard to beat if she can find the front and scratchings could be key to that happening.

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

15. Gatsby’s won the Rosebud at this meeting last year and hasn’t won since. But he’s now a gelding and there’s plenty in his favour to suggest he can recapture something like his best right down at the bottom of the weights. He likes the sting out of the track and he has trialled really well on two occasions. This is the right scenario for him to have his chance.

Dangers: 12. Perfumist came a long way last preparation starting off with defeat in a Bathurst BM58 and ending it with a string of city wins and a trip to NZ for a game fifth in their rich $3m The Kiwi. She was let run in her latest trial hence the big margin. The 1200m would be at the bottom of her powers but hard to ignore her. 10. Bunker Hut hasn’t raced since he was brave off a wide run when resuming about six weeks ago running fourth behind Cloudland. He’s been scratched a couple of times and had a tickover trial last week. Drawn well and if the inside is holding up he’s right in it. 1. Romeo’s Choice is hard to leave out of the chances given he beat open company in the July Sprint second-up. Handles all conditions and while back up in weight he’s a winning chance again.

How to play it: Gatsby’s WIN ($7 TAB Fixed Odds).

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