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• By Tony Megahey

A steaming hot Canberra trial is the strongest possible lead into a compelling Rosehill Gardens TAB Highway double on Saturday.

Prolific series winner Matthew Dale produced flying mare Penthouse ($1.90 favourite on TAB) to win by near seven lengths over 900m in fast time recently beating Goulburn training neighbour Scott Collings with Extravagent Lad.

They contest separate Class 3, $120,000, 1100m episodes as topweights.

Penthouse (Hannah Williams) wins with ease at Hawkesbury. Image by Bradley Photographers

Penthouse, whose Listed form stands out like a giraffe in a phone box for a Highway, looks one of the safest bets of the day.

The striking four-year-old chestnut mare led when fourth in the Listed-Denise’s Joy at Scone after winning Highways at Randwick and Hawkesbury last prep and competitive at Caulfield.

She has her 61kg reduced by the 3kg claim for rising apprentice Hannah Williams.

The Goulburn-based Williams, formerly from Victoria, has a strong association with Penthouse winning at Hawkesbury on the mare first-up last prep off a Goulburn trial and again rode her in the Canberra trial.

It could hardly tie in any stronger for Saturday as she carried 58kg to win at Hawkesbury when resuming.

“A lovely trial, she’s well placed with the claim off the big weight, won twice first-up, she’s where we want her on Saturday,” offered Dale.

The trainer has won 20+ Highway races and was en route to the Magic Millions Sales on the Gold Coast.

“We expected the weight so we’ve claimed with a soft draw, Hannah understands her, natural speed mare so we won’t be changing anything - we like to think she’s progressing to better races.”

As Penthouse led until the late stages of the Denise’s Joy won by brilliant Red Card, and also in her three wins that should be the scenario again on Saturday.

As Penthouse won easily with 58kg at Hawkesbury to beat Dollar Magic who has progressed to far better grade.

An interesting runner in the earlier Highway is the Luke Pepper-trained Tabata Set ($10 into $9).

Formerly trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Tabata Set was moved on after just one race failure at Sandown in September.

Tabata Set is well placed as a speedy recent Scone BM 58 winner for Luke a Highway winning original.

At present 'The Gardens is a Good 4 with the rail in the true position and just the odd shower forecast before a hot raceday topping 32 degrees.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here