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By Ray Hickson

Ray Hickson’s tips and insights for Wednesday’s Rosehill Gardens meeting. Yet another handy midweek program with eight winners to be found.

The track will be Good and the rail is out 7m (was out 3m on Saturday).

There’s a little bit of a rap on 2. Demerara and she’s certainly looked the part in two provincial wins from as many starts. She had to do some work outside the leader first-up at Gosford but still powered away. Obviously a bit tougher task here against some handy fillies but she should find a spot either in the lead or on the pace and is hard to go past. Punter’s Intel: Demerara showed a nice turn of foot at Gosford running 11.08 and 11.03 for her last two splits, the latter the best of the race.

Danger: 1. Envy Of All has done absolutely nothing wrong in four starts to date on all track conditions and has been fitted up with a couple of trials. Put under no pressure in the latest at Wyong and is the logical threat. Also respecting 7. Workdrinks and no surprise to see improvement from 5. Yulong Xingsheng who found the line strongly late first-up.

How to play it: Demerara WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Demerara winning at Gosford – September 7

I found this race confusing to say the least, with a lot of trial form to wade through. Came back to 1. Balearic who has been freshened up since running second at Wyong back in early August. He raced wide for most of that event, hit the front and was run down by the horse on his back. Given a nice trial at Rosehill since, hitting the line with recent Newcastle winner Renewal. Blinkers on and a nice gate he should be running well. Punter’s Intel: Balearic covered 4m more ground than the winner at Wyong on August 4.

Dangers: 2. Devil’s Lair is on debut and has had two recent trials. The latest was basically a job around the course, the first was a much better guide as he found the line strongly, under some vigour. 5. French Tune comes through the trial won by Star Of Africa who last week scored at Warwick Farm on debut. He started favourite at his only start back in February and wasn’t disgraced. Also liked the trial of 8. So Bizarre behind Spright recently.

How to play it: Balearic E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Balearic’s second in a Rosehill trial – September 4

Wide open so confidence low in this race and I’ll be playing carefully. 6. Arigold doesn’t win them out of turn but he has been going well without a great deal of luck. Overlooking the Warwick Farm run behind a tearaway leader, last time out he had to work overtime to get up onto the speed and I thought he battled on quite well to run fourth over the same trip. Entitled to another chance. Punter’s Intel: Arigold worked very hard from the 1000m to 800m, running that section almost 0.3 seconds faster than any other in his race at Canterbury.

Danger: 8. Know How is stablemate to Arigold and he had to work too hard in the same Warwick Farm event but stuck on then settled further back and hit the line well to just miss third at the Farm last week. Due for a change of luck too. 1. Wine Bush isn’t exactly a punter’s pal but I thought he ran well first-up then poorly at Canterbury. He’s the type you have to throw in, especially with Bowman riding.

How to play it: Arigold E/W ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds)

Arigold’s tough fourth at Canterbury – September 13

I find it hard to go past 1. Awoke after her luckless second to Mariquita at Rosehill a month ago. She did all the work and was a sitting shot or the winner who had 5.5kg less and a soft run. Kept up to the mark with a quiet trial and this event is no harder despite the higher benchmark and that just means she carries 1kg less than last start. She’s eight benchmark points higher than any other runner and is entitled to go very close.

Danger: 3. Angasi showed improvement on her first-up run for the Newnham stable when scoring an easy win at the Newcastle carnival from an awkward alley. Sure to be close to a peak now and drawn to get every chance. 7. Baysa is an interesting runner. She beat Sayed two starts back before finishing midfield in Egg Tart’s Queensland Oaks. Recent trial was okay and she’s capable of featuring first-up.

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

Awoke’s unlucky second at Rosehill – August 26

I’m convinced this race will be won by a run-on horse, perhaps that’s over thinking it. Along that line I came up with 7. Gibraltar Girl who comes off a forgive run in the Sheraco Stakes. She ran out of her skin first-up behind Super Too in (unofficial) track record time, conceding an impossible start and running the winner to two lengths. She appreciates a reasonable tempo but not break-neck. Likely to get that chance here and is well worth another chance. Punter’s Intel: Gibraltar Girl ran 32.01 for her last 600m at Randwick first-up.

Dangers: 3. Pomelo has me a bit scared as she’s obviously very quick and talented enough to overcome the outside gate. Don’t think she ran the 1400m right out in the Provincial Championship but she was untouchable in three prior runs. 1. Crafty Cop went off the boil a bit at the end of last prep, though was contesting Group races, but he’s looked in good order in two trials. Can’t leave out 8. In Times Of War who is yet to finish worse than second in nine starts.

How to play it: Gibraltar Girl E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds)

Gibraltar Girl running third to Super Too at Randwick – August 19

6. Medaille raced consistently last time in with two wins from four starts and she’s trialled up nicely for a return. Overlooking her first-up run in that prep, on a heavy 8 in Group 3 company, and going on how she’s looked in those two trials. She won the first in easy fashion then had what’s becoming a Godolphin standard to have an easy second trial. Distance suits fresh and I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t run well.

Dangers: 3. Invincibella was stretched out to the Queensland Oaks trip last time in and while I don’t think she’s a middle distance type she performed admirably. Resumed in the same race as Medaille last time in and ran on well before a Group 3 placing second-up. Latest trial was sound and she’s a threat. 1. My True Love has the best form on the board but I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s a drifter as her latest trial wasn’t overly flash in my view. Expect she’ll go forward and if she in in order can feature.

How to play it: Medaille E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Medaille’s latest barrier trial – September 8

Going with the Saturday form and this looks the right race for 11. Mapmaker to break through. He chased home Special Missile twice and that horse then started favourite in the Cameron at Newcastle, then hit the front a bit soon before running third to Quick Defence. Back to the 1500m, a perfect gate and I’d be disappointed if he’s not right in the finish.

Danger: 12. Mariquita ran down Awoke to win at Rosehill two starts back (that form will be tested earlier in this meeting) then beat all bar Positive Problems on September 9. Gets weight relief for taking on the boys and should be hard to hold out. 2. Fortensky doesn’t know how to run a bad race and managed to keep focused to score at Canterbury last time. He’s uncomplicated, he’ll be in the first few in running and is impossible to leave out.

How to play it: Mapmaker WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds); Quinella with Mariquita.

Mapmaker runs third to Quick Defence at Rosehill – September 9

Another Godolphin three-year-old taking on the older horses first-up and 12. Gaulois certainly commands some respect. He was competitive with some smart youngsters last season and beat Hualalai before a spell. Worked home nicely under a decent hold in a short Warwick Farm trial and I’d expect him to be very competitive in a decent, but winnable, closing event.

Dangers: 8. Cellarman hasn’t raced since he was disqualified at Gosford in a race he wasn’t eligible to run in. If you recall he cantered home that day. Quiet trial since and while his form is patchy he showed in that Gosford race he’s in the right frame of mind. 1. Dortmund scored a soft win at Geelong on the synthetic second-up and he’ll likely jump straight on the lead from the inside alley and give a good account on the pace. 4. Passage Of Time may need a bit of luck but has been trialling well and should be included.

How to play it: Gaulois E/W ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Gaulois runs on into third in a Warwick Farm trial - September 8

All the fields, form and replays at Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday