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By Ray Hickson

Barrier one just might be a blessing for 1. Raging Force who has been brilliant winning his two runs this time in at Muswellbrook and Kensington. They’ve been all the way wins but in this race he might face some competition for the lead so that inside gate can be used to either punch through and hold the front or take the spot in behind. He looks smart, he’ll need to be with the 59kg, and he has to be the horse to beat.

Dangers: 9. Marchon has trialled publicly once and he looked pretty good in winning over the 900m at Rosehill. Well bred gelding who is one to keep an eye on. 11. Horseshoe Hill started a very short priced favourite and got the job done at Hawkesbury first-up. The runner-up was beaten at Warwick Farm on Wednesday but she does look to have talent. On debut she ran a handy third behind O’Ole and Memo which is good two-year-old form. 2. Sequista hasn’t had the smoothest preparation and will need some luck here but she hit the line when it was all over at Canterbury a moth ago and has to be included in the chances.

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

3. Zouripper still has a small heavy track query hanging over him but it was hard to miss his first-up win at Kembla Grange, sweeping home down the middle for an easy win. He drops 5kg and while he has a couple of challenges here, namely the wet track and his racing pattern in a race that doesn’t look to have high speed, he might well be good enough to overcome them.

Dangers: 1. Iron Man is the logical danger if he runs in this race. Back to Midway company after being thereabouts in 78 and 88 grade this time in. Draws well and handles all ground so must be hard to beat in this class. 10. Close Encounter is an interesting runner. He’s an up and comer from the Kerry Parker yard who exploded when asked for the effort in winning at Nowra. Third-up, handles the ground and could measure up. Stablemate 7. Equilibrist backs up after a close up fourth behind Rolling Magic last week as a $51 chance but the wet track really brings him into contention. His two Kembla wins in May were on soft and heavy tracks so he has some claims.

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

6. Exit Fee is the starting point for the Highway, if he lines up then he’s the one with the proven credentials and a big first-up effort under his belt. He found himself probably a pair further back than ideal at Randwick and had to work across heels but once he balanced up he was running on strongly. Seems like a 1400m horse and if he handles the heavy then staying at 1200m won’t be an issue. Better than Highway grade and clear top pick.

Dangers: 7. Powder Man is a very good each-way chance, he's second-up after an eye-catching fourth at Randwick a month ago where he had to make his run along the inside and probably found the 1100m a bit sharp. Fitter for that and if he repeats the effort he’s right in this. 1. Bengal was the winner of that race and he’s on the same weight terms after the claim so he’s hard to leave out. Since the Highway win he’s finished midfield in a BM72 where he looked to have his chance. Back in grade so could bounce back. 10. Let’s Go Brandon is quite interesting. He’s impressed with successive all the way wins at Goulburn basically a month apart and this is a local step. Lightly raced and has the upside. 5. Martini Mumma is good enough on her best form and this is her first Highway run since she beat Tanglewood back in April last year. Since then she’s been fourth in a Listed race and contested the Kosciuszko but her first-up run was below par.

How to play it: Exit Fee WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

13. Lunaite should get a considerably kinder passage from an inside draw compared to her game third in this class at Randwick two weeks ago. She drew out and had to work a bit to share the lead off the fence and she stuck on well to hold the minor placing. Her two big wins prior were on heavy tracks at Newcastle so the ground is suitable and she’ll run well.

Dangers: 1. Codetta hasn’t had a lot of luck in two runs back and faces the prospect of again needing the breaks from a tricky draw. She was game behind King’s Secret first-up then covered ground and still found the line behind Winning Proposal three weeks ago. Big threat if it works in her favour. 10. Amusing produced a nice effort when she resumed at Randwick in the same race as Lunaite, hitting the line late into a close fifth. Draws in this time and fitter so she’s a definite chance. 7. Gatekeeper had support when scoring at his only start back in January at Canterbury. Meets some handy three-year-olds here but if the support is there again he’ll likely be competitive.

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

5. Tarpaulin is a proven wet tracker who resumes as a gelding having tackled three stakes races in the late winter/early spring. Before those he was dominant in his two heavy track wins this time last year and you have to like the way he trialled. He should have every chance to win first-up.

Dangers: 1. Storm The Ramparts is the horse he’ll likely have to run down. This sprinter is in outstanding form and was game in defeat to Lulumon at Randwick two weeks back. Has the steadier of 62.5kg but he’s just an genuine performer who will run well again. 11. Rebel Dean is a big watch first-up for Matthew Dale. He’s proven capable in the wet and tends to race well fresh. No public trials, which isn’t unusual and any support might be significant. 4. Shall Be will get the run of the race just off the speed and while his best form is at 1000m or below he does handle the wet and will get the right run to give him his chance to run the trip out.

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

1. Hi Dubai looks ready to win now third-up after two excellent efforts at 1000m at Randwick. She probably needed a couple more strides to get past Lulumon and Storm The Ramparts second-up and 1100m on a heavy track in mares company is excellent placement. Everything points to her being tough to beat.

Dangers: 4. West Of Dalby ran a very nice race when resuming in the same race at Hi Dubai running a close fourth, and she didn’t have all the favours there either. Fitter and she’s right in this if she can bounce off that run. 8. Let’s Go Again steps out of Midway grade where she’s found one better at her past two but there’s nothing wrong with the form as she was touched out by Lady Extreme in one of them. Tends to roll forward so can offset the gate and give a good sight again. 10. Savagery Vibe is a bit of a query runner up from Melbourne where she was no match for She's An Artist at Flemington after getting well back. Imagine she's closer to the speed this time and that gives her a chance.

How to play it: Hi Dubai WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

7. Sounds Unusual was never in the race from the moment they jumped at Randwick but he was quite strong through the line at the end of 1600m, his fourth run at that trip for the preparation. Finally gets to 2000m and draws to land in a more forward position. His two efforts in the wet prior were excellent and he gets the right scenario to bounce back.

Dangers: 9. Naval Commission is an accomplished wet tracker and he has a 5.5kg swing in his favour against Sounds Unusual for their clash at Warwick Farm in May. Had his chance last start but that was on a much firmer track and he’s dangerous here. 15. Good Banter hasn’t been to 2000m since the summer where she ran third on a heavy at Randwick before placing at 2400m on good ground. Freshened up since beaten one length in a sprint home over the mile and has to be respected. 14. Gentileschi isn’t far off a win in town and she tried hard behind all the way winner She’s Unusual at 1800m last time. 2. Casual Connection gets the wet track he loves but comes back from 2400m when gallant in the Stayers Cup last week and 17. Assailant stays in the mix.

How to play it: Sounds Unusual EACH-WAY ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

2. Elouyou has been to Sydney once and that was 53 weeks ago where he coasted home on a heavy track at Rosehill. He finds a similar set up to the one he found that day where he should be able to track the speed, hit the front in the straight and take some running down. Ignore his last start failure on a firm track, he was dominant winning his previous two in Melbourne and it’d be a surprise if he’s not right in the finish.

Dangers: 14. Dollar Magic never runs a bad race and a heavy track holds no fears for her third-up. She should also land in a good spot off the speed and have her chance to make a play late. 16. Excelladus is the best roughie in the race if he gains a start. No luck last time in a stronger race behind his stablemate Accredited but he did run well behind Thunderlips prior and is a good wet tracker, drawn well and he could surprise. 8. World Alliance produced a big finish to swamp The Black Cloud at Canterbury in his best performance for a little while. Does have a sneakily good record and is one of the chances.

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

10. Thunderlips has everything made to order for him if he handles the back up from his excellent win last weekend where he ran down a tearaway leader. Drops 4kg and gets back onto a wet track in a race that should be truly run with a few noted on pacers engaged. Drawn to track them and have last call.

Dangers: 2. Welwal will need to stay in touch but he also gets conditions to suit with the wet track. The Headley Grange form has to be good form and he ran him to half a length in the Civic Stakes last time. Last win was on heavy ground and he’s a good chance. 1. Robusto is hard to assess because he comes through the Group 1 Stradbroke first-up where he drew out and was well beaten. Of course he’s much better than that and an improving wet track is no problem for him. Capable of sharp improvement. 13. Green Fly is very hit and miss but he wasn’t disgraced behind Hollywood Hero on a heavy track at Randwick back on May 24. Can run well fresh as we saw when he scored on a soft 7 here back on April 1.

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

12. Sacred Rocks will rely on finding the right back to follow again as she did when running down Weeping Woman three weeks ago. She’s yet to see a heavy but she’s by Sacred Falls so she’d be a rare one if she doesn’t relish it. She was just so strong at the end of her race second-up that 1400m will be ideal.

Dangers: 5. Kerguelen was a beaten favourite second-up behind Accredited so comes right back in class and with the claim is only up 0.5kg on his fresh win on heavy ground. Entitled to another chance. 10. Brave One was runner-up in that race then went one better winning on a soft 5 at Randwick which says he’s going particularly well. So back onto a heavy he has to be respected. 8. Little Cointreau is always around the mark and has the blinkers back on now after three straight thirds. He has five thirds on heavy ground and will be competitive as usual.

How to play it: Sacred Rocks WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

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