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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Monday’s public holiday meeting at Rosehill. The track is rated Good 4 and the rail is in the 7m position after being out 4m on Saturday.

Betting around a few of the first-uppers will be interesting but I have to go with the race experience of 3. Dream Child with form around Cristobal and a game second to Madam Rouge at Warwick Farm last start. Blinkers first time and she will go forward to either lead or sit outside the lead and if the shades do the trick she should be harder to get past.

Dangers: 2. Thorn Brook was scratched from the Dubbo meeting last Sunday and I was quite keen on him there on the back of a couple of very nice trials. It’s interesting he’s coming to town instead and he’s well worth keeping safe. 6. The Art Of The Bar went around in Listed company on debut in Brisbane back in December, led and boxed on okay behind Outback Barbie. Two trials since and the second was an improvement on the first. Expect she’ll look to lead from the inside and could take running down. 4. Plenty blew the start and was never a factor in a race dominated by the leader and odds-on favourite at Gosford. He did show ability in trials and wouldn’t surprise to see him improve sharply.

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

Dream Child’s last start second at Warwick Farm on March 14

No real confidence in this race and I’m going with the market and 2. Blazeray on top as he showed improvement from a first-up placing at Newcastle to run second behind Dissolution in a good form race at Warwick Farm on March 14. Expect he’ll be up on the speed somewhere and while he’s far from a good thing he’s entitled to go close.

Dangers: 6. Schoolmates ran well on debut at Randwick then failed badly with no obvious explanation at Canterbury back in February. Given a break and he has trialled quite well since so going on his first effort he has to be a chance. I’d say the market closer to the race will tell us. 5. Red Rover went around at $1.45 at Gosford at his first outing and had absolutely every possible chance in running third. A few gear changes here might help but certainly wouldn’t be taking any short prices. 3. Chouxtorial might want a bit further than 1200m but his first-up effort at Goulburn was sound enough and he’ll likely be hitting the line strongly here with a view to something over more ground later on.

How to play it: Blazeray & Schoolmates Quinella.

Blazeray runs second behind Dissolution at Warwick Farm on March 14

I can’t see why 1. All Too Free is as wide in the market as she is and she appeals as a good each-way chance. Why? On debut she had a tough run, finding herself three wide despite drawing gate two at Kembla and she folded up in the last 150m after looming on the turn. Since then she has had two trials and the latest was a quite impressive on over the 1050m. From the inside gate she should have every chance to be in the finish.

Dangers: 5. Montrachet was an odds-on favourite on debut at Gosford back in December on the back of a nice trial and she couldn’t get near the winner after having a nice run. Given a bit more time and a recent trial so she might be worth another chance and confidence closer to the race will tell you a bit more. 4. Miss Shanti showed promise in her first two starts in the spring and she was only getting warm late in the second one at Wyong. Nice quiet trial leading into this and she’s one to keep on your side. 7. Press Review and 8. Stock Up are resuming and have trialled well enough. Press Review promised a little in her first prep while Stock Up ran second at Warwick Farm on a heavy 9 at her latest.

How to play it: All Too Free E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

All Too Free easily wins her trial at Randwick on March 26

Torn between the two Chris Waller fillies resuming and settled on 10. Velocita who was honest in her six starts in her first prep ending with a third at Randwick behind Savacool, who we will get to shortly, over 1800m. She’s had the one trial over 900m and she burned home to get very close to a smart mare in Lubiton. If that trial is any guide then she’ll go very close to winning this fresh.

Dangers: 4. Savacool could ultimately be the best horse in this race and obviously beat Velocita when they last met. But she’s had two trials back, the latest over 1030m where she worked home nicely, and perhaps she’s not as nippy. But if it comes down to class then she could be too good. 3. Alert By Sea gave a big sight in front here back at the end of the February and she was far from disgraced at Kembla Grange in open company where Osborne Bulls finished just ahead of her. That’s not bad form. Definite chance. 7. Planet’s Princess was going along nicely with back to back provincial wins before a shock failure at a Canterbury night meeting a month ago where she had every chance and dropped right out. Back in trip, though I don’t think that’s what beat her, and freshened up so she could improve.

How to play it: Velocita WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Velocita hits the line strongly in her trial at Rosehill on March 20

8. Roman Son was hard to miss first-up at Warwick Farm over the 1400m where he settled back and charged into second, running the fastest last 200m of the race 11.68 (Punters Intel). He was scratched from a mile race there last Wednesday for this event over the 1800m which looks to suit him right down to the ground. Hopefully barrier one is no disadvantage to him but banking on Kerrin McEvoy to make the right moves. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 5. Lovani ran a nice race first-up behind Osborne Bulls at Randwick then raced handy and dropped off in the race won by Peacock here on March 17. Happy to forgive that, she has won twice at a mile so the extra distance might be what she needs. 10. Raqeeq finished strongly late to run down the leader at his second Australian start, the race from which Roman Son was scratched, at the Farm last Wednesday. Penalised for that win and interesting to see what he produces if he backs up. 1. Eagle Bay was heavily backed at his local debut behind Peacock here a couple of weeks ago and didn’t give a yelp though only beaten three lengths. Fitter and where there’s smoke there’s usually fire so don’t be surprised if he improves up in distance.

How to play it: Roman Son E/W ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Roman Son charges into second place first-up at Warwick Farm on March 14

I’m certain 9. Seaway is the best horse, long term, in this race and I’m happy to suggest he should be a bit too good. After an eye-catching debut he did a big job to win his second start despite a small field then he was too strong for Savacool, who I also think is smart. Loved his recent trial where he closed off to be beaten less than a length without any duress. Take holding out.

Dangers: 11. Sexy Eyes has been excellent in all three runs this time in and if race fitness comes into it then she’s a big threat. Never in doubt when breaking through third-up at the Farm and drops 6kg. Logical threat. 2. Dissolute might have some on pace favours here and he’s run well enough in starts back this time in to consider a chance if the tempo comes into it. Trialled a bit over a week ago, which is becoming a staple of the stable mid-prep of late, and he’s in the mix. 7. No Interest is coming back a notch in class after a close second to Suncraze at Randwick then a closing fifth to Osborne Bulls. Kept fresh and she’ll be hitting the line strongly as usual here. 8. Mariquita was back to her best last time and is another with each-way claims.

How to play it: Seaway E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Seaway’s only trial this prep at Randwick on March 15

This might be a nice race for 9. Sugar Dance to graduate to midweek company after two runs back at trips a bit short of her best. Made a long run and was just outgunned after hitting the front at Orange first-up then went to Scone on Country Championships Day and finished over the top for a strong win. The extra 100m is right up her alley and there’s potential for a bit of tempo here to allow her to settle and finish off. Solid each-way chance at least in a winnable trace.

Dangers: 2. Bravissimo can be a bit hit and miss but he’s fitter for a solid first-up second at the Farm after leading early and the extra 200m is no issue for him. Should be up on the pace somewhere and if he puts in he’s right in the finish. 6. Grand Finalist is another on pacer and he stuck on quite well when resuming at 1200m. Best performance to date was over 1400m, albeit in a Hawkesbury C1, and he’ll give another good sight. 5. Groundbreak has got me a couple of times and he had his chance first-up in the same race as Bravissimo. But he is fitter and has a slight gear change so he could be an improver. Just not a horse I can rush into as an early favourite for this race.

How to play it: Sugar Dance E/W ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Sugar Dance proves a bit too strong winning second-up at Scone on March 18

Wide open race. 4. Chalk hasn’t raced since December and he has run some very nice races without being noticed. Ran well fresh last time in and if he has any luck from a tricky gate he can be right in the finish. He generally puts himself up in the first few so has the speed to offset it.

Dangers: 7. Marble always trials well and his race record doesn’t stack up to that even though he has won two from four. Prepared to forgive his first-up failure on a heavy track, he’s fitter and drawn to have every chance in the run. 12. Sophiella has done nothing wrong winning both starts to date. Scrambled home at Scone then appreciated the extra 200m and was a lot more dominant at Gosford a couple of weeks ago. Expect she will go forward and she could well measure up. 9. Palladian is in need of a win with just one from 14 starts but he does perform when fresh and has drawn to get every chance.

How to play it: Chalk E/W ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Chalk is narrowly beaten in a trial at Rosehill on March 20

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