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By Ray Hickson

Selections based on a soft track, better side of soft.

7. Wild Thoughts might be able to get us off on the right foot, he looks a progressive type who has handled all conditions so far and on the evidence of his past couple of wins over 1500m at Kembla the trip should be no worries. Where he’s drawn looks ideal given a lot of the speed will come from outside him and he should be able to slot in somewhere to advantage. If that happens he’ll be very hard to hold out.

Dangers: 4. Monkhana ran right up to her first-up effort when scoring in the 1500m Midway two weeks ago. She’s run well at 1900m last preparation and is a lot earlier in her campaign than that day so every reason to think she’ll be sweet with the trip. 5. Sunset Park led all the way to an easy Hawkesbury win second-up when jumping 500m in trip. Should be even fitter now and if she gets across without too much competition she can give a good sight. 12. Jacob’s Time goes into the mix having been the one chasing Sunset Park home at Hawkesbury. Is 3.5kg better off so it wouldn’t surprise if he’s placed.

How to play it: Wild Thoughts WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

This is a Class 2 Highway and it’s a wide open one. 19. Great Idea has been impressive in his two wins at Tamworth at his past two starts and looks a horse on the way up. His rating has afforded him a nice weight drop of 4.5kg and he was strong at the finish of the 1400m last time so that’s a plus too. Looks likely to get a nice enough run and he could measure up at each-way odds.

Dangers: 4. Warrior For Peace hasn’t raced since he blew the start completely in a Highway back at the end of June. He’s freshened up and trialled and on his previous form he’d be a good chance – if he gets the start right. 3. Solitario has to be respected with blinkers and James McDonald on first time from barrier one. He’s had his chance in two placings since successive wins at Scone to start the prep so he may be a touch unders but it’s a race within his reach. 21. The Main Event is coming straight to Highway level after an easy maiden win but he does look a horse of some promise and this is only a Class 2. Worth throwing in if he gets a run. 7. Ghost Walker will be competitive fresh having been saved from last week’s Highway to find a better surface.

How to play it: Great Idea EACH-WAY ($17 TAB Fixed Odds).

Happy to give 7. Amreekiyah another chance after she lost her unbeaten record but had excuses for it when fourth two weeks ago at this track. Did have three wide cover but lost the plot on the turn before balancing up and hitting the line strongly again late. She’ll appreciate a better gate, a better surface and has the opportunity to get back on top.

Dangers: 8. Sister Daae had a more economical run and was able to finish second in that race without looking like beating the winner. She’s been thereabouts this prep and perhaps the blinkers going on will help her get across the line. 1. Sacred Rocks has levelled out a little bit since she won so impressively in June but she has had the occasional excuse. Even effort when third in the same race as her major rivals and is in the mix. 6. Sunshine Law also comes through that race, she probably didn’t love sitting outside the leader there when weakening into sixth. Had done little wrong prior so could lift again.

How to play it: Amreekiyah WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

4. Captain Furai has the chance to bounce back after he was a beaten favourite here two weeks ago. The race just didn’t happen for him, he found himself well out the back and the leader controlled and broke right away. He finished off the race well to be about a length off second on the line. Finds a race that is certainly no harder and if he can revert to his usual pattern of being somewhat handy he’ll have the chance to atone.

Dangers: 6. Anythink Goes doesn’t win out of turn but he is racing pretty well at the moment and was runner-up in the race in question a fortnight back. Similar scenario for him, he’s drawn one again and only has to hold his form to be a player. 9. Nkosi is the one that’s a little hard to line up and has been kept safe in the markets. Was a maiden winner at Ellerslie in NZ at 2100m then resumed at a mile on a heavy track at Wyong and romped in. Negative is coming back 100m on a drier track, positive is he drops significantly in weight and can take a position. 8. Starman has been thereabouts as usual of late but he’s now closing on 1400 days since his last win so that’s obviously a concern. Finished just ahead of Captain Furai there last start and has to stay in the mix as an each-way hope.

How to play it: Captain Furai WIN ($4 TAB Fixed Odds).

6. Sly Boots is going to appreciate getting away from the heavy tracks so it illustrates how well he’s going to see him run second on a heavy at Wyong in the Cup Prelude two weeks ago where he was just run down by a handy one in Royal Supremacy. Has an excellent set up here to be on the pace and should be very competitive.

Dangers: 1. Travolta has a 2kg turnaround in his favour for a narrow defeat at the hands of 3. Amusing who just got the better of him late in a two horse war down the straight two weeks ago. Both should be hard to beat if they can bring their form away from the heavy tracks. 11. Tazima is the lightly raced import on the way up and he was dominant winning a benchmark 64 third-up when out to 1800m. Skips a couple of grades here and drops a bit in weight. Wouldn’t surprise if he measures up.

How to play it: Sly Boots EACH-WAY ($13 TAB Fixed Odds).

3. Grand Prairie is up and running and in good form, while he did get some weight off Skyhook in the Rosebud he acquitted himself well against a classy galloper at his first stakes appearance. From an ideal draw the 1300m shouldn’t be too much of an issue and he has that solid race fitness on his side. Good chance in a race up for grabs.

Dangers: 2. Providence is one of those Chris Waller colts who showed a bit in his first prep and went to Brisbane to run well in the two-year-old features there. He trialled up quite well and if he’s not looking for more ground at this stage he’s a big threat. 1. Aerodrome hit the ground running winning his first two starts and he finished just behind Providence in the JJ Atkins before a break. Puts himself on speed in his races and gives himself every chance. 4. Sixties clearly loved the heavy ground in winning his maiden by seven lengths a couple of weeks ago. Has to step up now and perform on a drier track but also has that race fitness edge.

How to play it: Grand Prairie WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

10. Without Parallel has to step out of Highway company now but it’s hard to not be impressed with what she’s done to date winning all four starts. She has the speed to make use of barrier two in a race that is potentially going to be strongly one, so that will test out her versatility. A drying track is no negative and she’s in nicely with just 54kg. The one to beat and a realistic Kosciuszko prospect if she can win again.

Dangers: 6. Polyglot might have been that half a run short when he was runner-up to Mal Coupe two weeks ago. Looked like he was going to charge past them early in the straight but was left a little flat before dashing again late. Would relish a strong tempo and is a threat if that unfolds. 3. Roselyn’s Star was excellent out of the same race at his first run for 16 months. He tracked wide and did the lead at one point in the straight before the effort told. Nicer gate, fitter, drier track are all pluses and he’s right in the mix. 1. Cosmonova can’t be forgotten especially if they do put the speed on. She’s waited out the wet tracks since running second to Cloudland in early July which isn’t bad form to drop to a benchmark 78 with. Each-way.

How to play it: Without Parallel WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

This is a cracking edition of the San Domenico. 2. Rivellino had an excellent two-year-old season beating the likes of Within The Law and Skyhook before running well in the Slipper and the Sires. He showed he’s ready to go trialling well behind Briasa at Canterbury recently and don’t mind him jumping from gate one. He’ll be midfield or worse on the fence and he has a great turn of foot so if he’s come on into the new season there’s no reason why he can’t be in the finish.

Dangers: 7. Raging Force has the fitness from his last run being in early July where he completed the hat-trick with an easy win at Rosehill over the same trip. He sat off the pace there and sprinted clear. The form behind him isn’t particularly strong when you’re talking about a Group 3 but he’s always shown promise and this is his chance to step up. 4. King Of Pop had no luck in the Slipper after drawing wide but all his other two-year-old form was excellent. He closed off his recent trial as you’d like to see, draw is a little sticky but he’s a definite chance. 5. Wodeton ran well in all the major two-year-old races in the autumn after an easy debut win including his second in the Slipper. He’s been given three barrier trials leading into this so fitness won’t be an issue and he’s drawn to get that soft run. Gets his chance.

How to play it: Rivellino EACH-WAY ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

15. Our Gold Hope is well overdue for a change of luck and in a big field she’ll need her share but there was more than enough merit in her first-up run to say she’s come back well and can improve. Barrier one played against her fresh and only finished two lengths off War Eternal. If she can avoid be buried too far back behind horses looking for more ground and settle midfield or better this is a prime chance for her to show her best.

Dangers: 7. McHale has an excellent first-up record and managed to beat Gringotts fresh last time in, a year ago, before contesting the Epsom. He’s obviously had issues but if all is in order he’s capable of showing up. 13. Half Yours is being set for the Metropolitan so this is short of his best and from the draw he does look under the odds. But can’t dismiss him as a chance because he is still lightly raced and if they do overdo it up front he will be strong late. 9. Grebeni will love an improving track and while he’s better known second-up he can put himself somewhere in the finish fresh. A each-way chance and worth following up on if he does run well.

How to play it: Our Gold Hope EACH-WAY ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

So many with convictions or who look unsuited for one reason or another. 15. Emirate showed some early promise and is coming off two starts in Brisbane during the winter carnival. He’s still an entire and the blinkers are on, he’s a trial winner leading in and perhaps that bit of extra fitness will be to his advantage.

Dangers: 16. Sergeant Major was a stakes winner at 1400m in the autumn and did run well behind Autumn Glow in the Darby Munro before that. Hard to take a lot of out his two trials where he wasn’t asked to compete. Drawn well and a big market watch. 6. Colourful Emperor is another big query having not raced for over a year since leaving Hong Kong where he had a good record. Three trial wins spaced over a bit of time. Who knows! Could make a case for a heap of them – 2. Disneck if he can stay in touch, 3. Lord Of Biscay should be running on, 10. Perfumist might like a drier track to name a few.

How to play it: Emirate EACH-WAY ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

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