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By Ray Hickson

ROSEHILL GARDENS – BEST BET: Race 5 # 9 – SHANGRI LA SPRING

Two big provincial wins have set this colt up for his city debut and he’s found a race where he should be able to dictate from the front. He’s led throughout in both wins and in the latest at Hawkesbury it was hard not to be impressed by how he powered away over the concluding stages. He’s a $325,000 yearling who wasn’t quite ready for his two-year-old season being by Castelvecchio but he’s quickly making up for lost time. He does have another up and comer for competition but if he can continue to improve he’s staring at a hat-trick.

ROSEHILL GARDENS – BEST VALUE: Race 4 # 8 – GENTILESCHI

Was one of the hidden runs of the Kembla Grange feature meeting two weeks ago and made even better by the pattern of the day that unfolded. She contested the opener, a Highway over 1400m, and settled last in a big field. When she tried to get going no gaps opened up and she lost plenty of momentum until the last 200m or so where she darted through to be beaten three lengths, considering few horses made a heap of ground on the day it was a big effort. Steps to 1800m and draws softly in a race that looks up for grabs.

Bullets High (Bradley Photos)

ROSEHILL GARDENS – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 6 # 1 – BULLETS HIGH

He might have been a little costly with defeats as a well supported favourite at his past couple but there was so much sectional merit in his effort when running a close fifth last weekend. He was shuffled right back to near the tail coming to the turn and there were a few occasions where he had to change course, as he wound up back closer to the inside. It might not have been obvious to the eye but Punter's Intelligence recorded final 600m in 35.80 which was 0.01 outside the race’s best and a 12.13 last 200m (just 0.02 outside the quickest). Big chance to atone.

NEWCASTLE – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 1 # 3 – CHARKA

Mollie Fitzgerald has been given the reins on this Godolphin two-year-old for her debut and it could be a masterstroke as she’ll carry just the 53kg. It’s a big moment for the apprentice who notched her 100th career winner on Thursday as this filly has been quite impressive at the trials and will step out with a bit of expectation. She was narrowly beaten in her first public trial before looking to be in cruise mode in winning her second, back on November 26. She has the outside in the seven horse field to negotiate but should take plenty of beating on what we’ve seen.

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