Latest News

ROSEHILL GARDENS - SATURDAY 2ND AUGUST

Selections by NEIL EVANS

The rail is out 4m the entire circuit with the track now rated a Heavy 10. Plenty of rain has fallen since Wednesday with further rain forecast today and a top of 15 degrees for raceday.

BEST BETS
Race 9, No.12 - YOSHINOBU ($2.50 favourite on TAB)
Race 10, No.5 - HANAU ($2.80 fav)

2. BARBRAY ($6.50 on TAB) can return to the winner's stall here back on a very heavy track and deep into the prep. Won two straight up to BM 64 midweek company before running home late in a similar race to this at Randwick. Was not suited in the Group 3-Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast. Senior jockey goes back on and the wetter the better for a gelding who relishes the mud. 5. Amusing ($2.60 favourite) swept home for a second career win here a fortnight back and gets first use of the inside. Wouldn’t be taking too short a price though going up sharply in weight. 4. Narbold ($4.20) is a stablemate of the former who was over-run by her late last start after being specked at an each-way price. Only the one win so far, but drawn well and has a sound record on rain-affected ground. 1. Bella Khadijah ($8.50) is over the odds third-up with blinkers added after closing off strongly here a fortnight ago. 3. Hopper ($7.50) has been disappointing since a Super Maiden win in early May but he made up plenty of late ground behind Amusing.

How to play it: Barbray each-way and box trifecta 1,2,4,5

5. COLD BREW ($3.60 fav) is a talented and still progressing four-year-old trained on the track and shooting for three wins on the bounce heading back into Metropolitan company. Has led comfortably and won up to this trip in his last two and while obviously taking on some better ones here, loves the going and proven to be a reliable weight carrier. From a wider draw the jockey has the option of crossing over or staying off the fence. 2. Forecaster ($4.60) has been in the money in three of his last four around this level and with a 3kg claim, can give a ton of cheek on the speed. 7. Convergent ($5) is lightly raced and a market watch reloading off an eight-week break for just his second start. 11. Pretty Tavi ($6.50) has run home well in two runs back from a spell and is a worthy trifecta and first four players.

How to play it: Cold Brew to win

2. FIRST LANDING ($6.50) is talented and still improving five-year-old building an impressive record, having not finished further back than second in his last four. Dominated in consecutive races from just off speed before ridden quieter and charging home late to finish only a length from high class sprinter Storm The Ramparts at BM 78 level. Again was strong late from midfield missing by a long neck in a Highway here a fortnight ago, and despite drawing wide, he gets a decent map a few lengths back and well off the fence. This is a shade stronger in depth but he represents the best value in the race. 5. Without Parallel ($2.20 fav) is the measuring stick in the race and likely clear favourite unbeaten from three starts. Was tough leading all the way at Eagle Farm when having her first run in 17 weeks, and gets in well at the weights after the jockey’s claim. 3. Martini Mumma ($7) has winkers on third-up off a break and goes in wider exotic plays. 12. King Taurus ($11) comes off a runaway fourth-up Class 1 win on the synthetic in Canberra but this is tougher.

How to play it: First Landing to win and box exacta 2,3,5

1. LADY EXTREME ($3.80) is a strong provincial mare who returns to the course where she won two straight up to this level earlier in the prep before doing her best work late in the Listed-Ramornie at Grafton. Loves the going being by wet track sire Extreme Choice and while she rises sharply to 60.5kg, she finds a very winnable race reduced to a field of only six. Scratched from a later race to be saved for this. 11. Sister Daae ($2.90 fav) hit the line hard second-up behind Amusing who goes around earlier in the program so the form reference may be there. Another improver bred to get through the ground. 2. Pippie Beach ($4) needs to find more fourth-up but heavy ground and a sharp drop back in trip three weeks between runs are plusses.

How to play it: Lady Extreme to win

5. STARDEEL ($3.10 fav) is mixing his form and probably looking for further but is fit and still capable of running over them late. 2. Useapin ($3.90) rediscovered her best here a fortnight ago surging late to claim a fillies and mares BM 78. Sparingly raced but unproven in heavy going and a query she can beat a couple of these. 11. Grand Prairie ($3.40) is lightly raced, drawn inside and did best to win first-up since early autumn at the midweeks. 4. Art’s Alive ($8) loves the going and can run into the money third-up.

How to play it: Stardeel to win

3. HEADLEY GRANGE ($2.80 fav) is a tough five-year-old with a near 40% winning strike rate and can make it three wins from his last four, especially if the main market rival comes out. Powered home to win two straight including the Listed-Civic Stakes before just behind the placegetters under a huge weight on unsuitably firm ground in the South Grafton Cup. Back on the wet, back a shade in trip and should be back in business. 2. Estadio Mestalla ($3.70) is a stablemate of the top selection and scored a big upset Listed win two starts back before a fair effort in the Listed-Winter Challenge here. Up in weight and would need the inside to hold up well if he is to trouble the top selection. 1. Welwal ($4.40) finished only midfield behind the former but four of his five career wins from 25 starts have come on rain-affected going.

How to play it: Headley Grange to win

7. PIGGYBACK ($4.80) is a tough mare and well placed to claim a fifth win at only her 14th start deep into the campaign in what is only a moderate line-up for this level. Has run into the money in three consecutive outings at this level since powering home to win a midweek BM 72 on a Heavy 10. Looking for this longer trip and blinkers going on is a key gear change. 9. Juja Kibo ($1.90 favourite) capped three improving Victorian runs this prep, charging home for a dominant win in a midweek BM 70. Drops sharply in weight for this tougher test but did get the breaks and the right 'lane' last start on what is nearly always an unreliable and biased surface. Drawn to get early cover if the pattern suits. 6. Sly Boots ($6.50) off a third-up midweek win and 10. Captain Maverick ($8.50) who has beaten all bar the winner in his last two at a lesser level should both go into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Piggyback to win

9. LIBERTY STATE ($4.60) is a talented and sparingly raced mare mare who hasn’t had much go her way in the last couple at this level. Prior had shown her wet track ability at big odds surging home from near last to claim a fillies and mares BM 78. Loves this sort of going and from a draw where she can stay out of trouble with some weight relief, watch for her finishing hard in a race with several chances. 12. Just In Time ($4.40) comes to the city three weeks between runs after two impressive provincial wins up to BM 64 grade, both from just off speed. In a shrewd yard and the Justify stock normally get through heavy ground. 1. Fully Lit ($6) is fit enough now with blinkers coming off, but a query under this weight if the ground is very chopped up. 5. Rolling Magic ($5.50) is honest although untried in heavy going, but if he gets through it should emerge over the odds again with winkers replacing blinkers. 7. Captain Furai ($4.20 fav) hasn’t raced since last spring but comes to hand quickly behind two improving trials, and already a two-time heavy track winner.

How to play it: Liberty State to win

12. YOSHINOBU ($2.50 fav) is a progressive four-year-old who can make it two straight this prep with a hefty drop in weight more than off-setting a rise in class. Did it tough from wide gates in three Listed runs back in autumn, but looks to have come back stronger surging home to win here fresh. Has won two from three on soft and heavier ground presents no hurdle. 9. Bunker Hut ($3.40) likes this ground and looms as the immediate threat second-up four weeks between runs. 2. The Novelist ($3.90) is a big market watch, especially if the inside is okay. Reloads via an easy Randwick trial win 35 days after dropping out in a Group 3 at Eagle Farm. Untested on heavy.

How to play it: Yoshinobu to win

5. HANAU ($2.80 fav) is a progressive type and roared home to win a lesser midweek race second-up. Needs a decent tempo to chase but can peel off a dominant closing sectional even in these heavy conditions. 8. Balkans ($7.50) is a big market watch first-up behind two trials, while Victorian raider 10. Herbert Park ($7) is fourth-up and unbeaten from two starts in heavy going.

How to play it: Hanau to win

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