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By Brad Gray

Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Rosehill on Saturday.

The rail is out 6m and the track is currently in the soft range, but expected to be upgraded come Saturday.

5. Rotator was aided by a dawdling tempo first up to finish on the heels of Splintex but the Chris Waller-trained filly has obviously returned in very good order. The run nobody missed in the race was rising star Exceedance firing home into third. Despite the lack of speed there was a sizeable gap back to fourth which suggests that the form from the race will stack up. The grey two-year-old was around the mark in black type races in her first campaign behind the likes of Amercement and Tenley and that grade looks to be where her future lies. There is good speed engaged here but Jason Collett has the perfect barrier to just tuck in behind it and pop her out in the straight. Her trials prior to her resumption were eye-catching. Add into the mix that this is the time of year when Waller becomes a two-year-old juggernaut.

Dangers: 2. Roman Wolf took a little while to wind into his work at Randwick last Saturday but once he found his footing in the heavy ground he ran the fastest last 200m in the race. That was 11.61s compared to the winner Catwalk’s 11.68s (Punters Intelligence). The step out to 1100m looks the right progression. Would be more confident from a kinder draw but with no shortage of speed, imagine Sam Clenton will be looking to replicate how it panned out last week. There was little between 3. Blazing Miss and Rotator when they met in the Widden back in February and the gap between them in the market doesn’t look justified. Could we see the return of the real 7. Intrepidacious? The one that was so impressive on debut.

How to play it: Rotator WIN ($1.75 TAB Fixed Odds)

Rotator first up at Rosehill behind Splintex

14. Galapagos possesses the irresistible form line of having run third behind Kolding and Quackerjack in a BM78 at Randwick last start. Punters Intelligence reveals his last 600m split of 33.81s was only marginally outside of Kolding’s (33.77s). The four-year-old didn’t have much luck at Tamworth the start prior to that while the 1280m at Muswellbrook was too short for him first up. With only six starts under his belt, we’re still yet to see the best of this gelding but all he has to do is repeat his last start effort, being back to a Class 3 Highway, to blow these away. The 54kg he carries after the claim looks luxurious too. The son of Teofilo is a short-priced favourite, and has been heavily supported already, but deserves to be.

Dangers: The only knock on Galapagos is the lack of speed here. There doesn’t look to be a natural leader which could present Josh Parr and 11. Gentle Persuasion with the scenario of crossing from the wide draw before stacking them up. The former Mark Newnham-trained filly has won two from three for new trainer Mack Griffith and that could have been three with any luck at Scone last start. 8. Vigorish is ready to win fourth up 1500m while 5. Pat’s Nipper has claims on the strength of his win over Burning Crown two runs back.

How to play it: Galapagos WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds)

Galapagos chasing home Kolding last start

The price is right to take the punt on enigmatic grey 2. Sir Bacchus . The six-year-old possesses the acceleration to win but he can mix his form. A look at his efforts last campaign tells you that much. What also stands out from last preparation, however, is that first up he ran a bottler, filling third behind Cradle Mountain and Dyslexic. Back in a distant fourth and fifth were Smartedge and New Universe while in eight was 1. Passage Of Time. Chris Waller is meticulous in everything he does so it’d be no coincidence that Sir Bacchus resumes at the same track, over the same trip and with the same jockey (Sam Weatherley) on board as first up last time in. Sir Bacchus is drawn to get the cover he needs to settle and the small field suits.

Dangers: Passage Of Time draws widest here but should roll across to lead without too much trouble. The five-year-old was mentioned above but that was pre-gelding. Since the snip, he has not only gone to a new level but also been incredibly consistent. On what he has done to date, he is more dynamic over 1200m but if can stack them up the 1300m shouldn’t stop him. Nor will the weight being a big strong galloper. 4. Asterius was dynamite winning second up, and that is as good a performance he has ever produced, but there’s a big question mark over the drop back to 1300m after runs at 1400m and 1500m. Inclined to risk him at the short odds.

How to play it: Sir Bacchus WIN ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds) and SAVE Passage Of Time ($4)

Sir Bacchus first up last preperation

It’d be easy to peg 10. Snow Valley as a backmarker on what we’ve seen from her two runs back this time in but she has been a victim of horrible barriers. That changes here drawn 2 and tipping we’ll see her stalk the speed. In her first two starts, albeit both at Lismore, she sat outside of the leader. First up this campaign she ran fourth in a hot edition of the Denise’s Joy at Scone won by Ready To Prophet. Pretty In Pink trailed her home in fifth before beating Brave Song in a Group Two in Queensland. The Snitzel filly trained by Matt Dunn had to again be ridden cold at Doomben and finished hard behind Multaja. It was a high-rating race comfortably being the quickest of the four 1200m races across the day and that horse is now high in G1 Tatt’s Tiara betting. Confident we’re catching Snow Valley at exactly the right time.

Dangers: 3. Danawi was tipped straight out after he didn’t fire a shot in the Inglis Sprint behind Fiesta and Estijaab. The changes have been rolled in since then though! He returns a gelding, has the blinkers on for the first time and throw in ear muffs for good measure. Don’t forget this is a three-year-old that ran second, as favourite, behind The Autumn Sun on debut and is already a Group Three winner. If the market says yes, look out. 7. England won well at Randwick last start but there was just 2.3L over the first nine home and Call Me Royal (2nd) and Skyray (7th) have both disappointed since. 6. Ljungberg, 11. Exceltic and 12. River Bird fall into that same bucket being from the same race. 2. Charlayne found her old form first up in a fast run race but won’t get the same set up here.

How to play it: Snow Valley WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds)

Snow Valley at Scone first up this campaign

Stay with me here while I make a case for 1. Tip Top. This unassuming six-year-old has been quietly going about his business in two runs back finishing sixth and then 10th. Nothing to see here? There has been a lot more merit than the finishing positions suggest. First up on the Kenso he blew out the cobwebs and although beaten a long way, Renewal and Star Of The Seas ran one-two. He then was set an impossible task, staying at 1400m, from long last at Randwick in race Renewal sat outside of the leader before nipping home in 33.46s. Tip Top ran his last 600m in 33.19s but still finished closer to last than first such was the shape of the race. Last preparation he beat Organza at Randwick and then 11. Berdibek and 5. Gresham. Those latter two are significantly shorter in the market here. The 1800m is a new challenge, as is the draw, but they could string out in the run allowing Tip Top to slot in. The cut out of the track furthers his claims.

Dangers: 10. Quackerjack carried the weight of the punting nation last Saturday and the three-year-old delivered. Up in grade and out to 1800m is what he faces here and what makes me reluctant to dive in again at the same odds he was last week where everything lined up perfectly. Josh Parr will get rolling from the wide draw and he is sure to give another huge sight. 8. Mister Belvedere closed off very strongly to win on his Aussie debut at the tight Cranbourne track. He’ll certainly appreciate Rosehill and with that turn of foot, is a stayer that’ll rise through the grades. 9. Dagny has returned in fine form but the barrier hurts her given her short, electric sprint. 7. So You Win beat Semper Fidelis and Mushaireb last start and both were comfortably beaten by Quackerjack last week.

How to play it: Tip Top EACH WAY ($41 TAB Fixed Odds)

Tip Top’s last start effort was better than it reads

4. Hush Writer was outstanding first up riding a hot tempo in the McKell Cup. Those around him in the run packed up to finish at the rear. One of those was free running Kiwi 5. Our Big Mike who will lead this field again. The gelding operation certainly did the trick for this Japanese-bred import. On the back of the brutal first sections, the overall time of the race was slick too, while the gap back to fourth is another tick for the race. Being in the Waterhouse and Bott yard, the four-year-old would have been screwed down for his fresh assignment but can only improve on what he did a fortnight ago. Mind you, he doesn’t need to in order to win the Winter Cup. He’ll either trail the leader again or might sit outside of him depending on hard Our Big Mike wants to go this week. Looks destined to play a roll over the spring carnival.

Dangers: 7. High Bridge only just missed behind Hush Writer with Punters Intelligence revealing his last 600m of 35.12s was 4.5L quicker than the next best in the race. The blinkers have switched this stayer back on. He’ll be spotting Hush Writer a big start once more but does meet him 2kg better off. It’s extremely unlikely they’ll go as hard in this race as they did in the McKell but he’ll be rattling home. 1. Yogi has been freshened since failing in the Sydney Cup but did start in the market there and ran fifth behind Avilius in the Tancred prior to that at WFA. He is the class runner and by all reports is very forward for this assignment. 8. Tamarack is the big improver from last start with a more positive ride.

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

Hush Writer winning the McKell Cup

Thought 1. Paulita did more than enough on her Australian debut when stepping out at Randwick behind Kolding. The imported US mare had to cart the field up to Quackerjack who slipped a few lengths in front, only to be beaten by 4.4L. The form out of that race looks the strongest reference for this race on Saturday with Kolding and Quackerjack both subsequent winners while Asharani should have won on Monday if not for bad luck. Kolding smashed the clock too. Paulita drops back to her own sex and doesn’t look too badly placed with 59kg after the claim given she is already a two time Listed winner. The map looks okay for her despite the wide draw. She has brilliant gate speed to slide forward and then look to slot in. They’ll run along so she should be able to get cover.

Dangers: More on the speed, 4. Pandemonium will punch up from barrier 2 while 14. Romantic Whisper will land in front with her. Paulita and 11. Toryjoy press on from wide draws while expect La Chica Bella to be fired out with the blinkers on for the first time! 10. Sweet Victory had the right set up to savage the line first up but that again looks to case here. Punters Intelligence reveals no horse hit the line harder than her there, clocking 11.33s her last 200. Just behind her was subsequent Saturday winner Gongs. 8. Evalina, with the blinkers on, was strong to the line in that race too but jumps from 1200m to 1500m. 6. Shokora is ready for the mile. 2. Nicci’s Gold and 12. Zavance have claims.

How to play it: Paulita EACH WAY ($8 TAB Fixed Odds)

Paulita’s first run in Australia

12. Sylvia’s Mother is a top class filly and although she finds a deep winter benchmark race, she is simply better than this company. She charged through the grades last preparation in four runs starting in a Hawkesbury Class 1 before ending it as favourite in the G2 Light Fingers, won by Nakeeta Jane. She failed to fire there but looked to have come to the end of it. In between those two runs was a sweeping victory over Alassio at Canterbury, and that mare was four starts later a two time Group winner, one at Group Two level beating Dixie Blossoms, while in the other start Sylvia’s Mother overcame all sort of trouble at Randwick to still win eased down. Maps to get a perfect trail behind a hot speed and her recent Rosehill trial provided everything we needed to see to suggest she is back as well as ever.

Dangers: It’s just about the perfect set up for 5. Albumin. The only thing missing is the firm track (watch for any upgrades). The four-year-old is an 1100m specialist (9:4-1-1) and he draws low, allowing him to be smothered up. Beaten 3.5L by Deprive reads well for this race. 10. Tony Nicconi is a horse I’ve been watching very closely given the strength of his trials this time in. It was no surprise to see among the gear changes that he has been gelded since last campaign. Horror draw dampens my enthusiasm, otherwise he’d be a genuine threat to the favourite. 9. Jungelized seems to thrive in high pressure races which he’ll get here.

How to play it: Sylvia’s Mother WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds)

Sylvia's Mother trialling at Rosehill - June 7

9. Dalmatia Prince had no luck whatsoever first up behind 2. Kapajack. The five-year-old trucked into the race up the inside but a wall of horses saw the handbreak stay on until 75m from home. He finished off powerfully from there but was entitled to given he hadn’t spent a penny. It certainly looks the right form reference for this race and if he can repeat that effort, he’ll be somewhere in the money. Dalmatia Prince is a two-time city winner, beating Magicus in one of them, and was beaten less than a length by Monsieur Sisu (where Astoria and Intueri were second and third) second up last time in. Senior hoop Josh Parr takes over from apprentice Sam Clenton from last start. With even luck, Kapajack will win but as outlined below, there is a query about how this will play out for him. Dalmatia Prince at $23 and $5 the place looks the play from a betting angle.

Dangers: There will be a few nervous moments for punters diving into the long odds on quote for Kapajack. He is no doubt the most talented animal in the race and has the scope to compete in much better races but barrier 1 will likely see him buried back on the fence and with a 3kg claiming apprentice on board. That’s no knock on Brock Ryan but he, of course, gets that allowance for being inexperienced. He’ll have a couple of big decisions to make in the run. Would need closer to $1.80 to take the punt. 13. Niccochet chased home Kapajack last start and despite the winner exploding clear between the 400-200m (Kapajck ran 11.16 compared to Niccochet’s 11.72), that flipped for the final 200m where Niccochet clocked 11.87s (Kapajack 12.07s). Perhaps that was just Kapajack clocking off once the job was done. Still, the Jason Coyle-trained isn’t without some hope of turning the tables.

How to play it: Dalmatia Prince EACH WAY ($19 TAB Fixed Odds)

Dalmatia Prince was luckless behind Kapajack

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