The settling period has arrived. No Group racing on Saturday as the Queensland racing carnival draws to a close and the racing fans and punters alike begin the ‘calm before the storm’ period ahead of Spring. That does not mean we stop ourselves from getting our racing fix and finding winners, however. After finding Seentoomany at $41 last week and Tofane to win the Stradbroke last week, the tail is well and truly up. Hopefully another big one today at Rosehill!
The track is currently a Heavy 8 with showers forecasted throughout the meeting while the running rail is out 7m for the entire circuit. Let’s get stuck into the meeting and find some winners once again.
Race 1 Two-year-old Handicap (1500m) @ 11:30pm
Royalzel
He was quite disappointing on face value last start when peeling wide and looming up before being unable to go on with it. plenty of reason he can bounce back to winning ways in this. Gets back onto a Heavy track, where his dominant win came two starts back at Kembla Grange by three lengths. James McDonald jumps aboard, which is a big addition, and he may look to settle closer to the speed here with the lack of pace in the race. Can bounce back in this.
Hundred Proof comfortably beat home Royalzel last start but did get the gun run of the race in behind the speed and is a query coming onto Heavy ground for the first time. Deficit is well proven on Soft ground and beat home Royalzel on debut at Wyong.
Verbek is getting ever so close to a win after three seconds in a row, including one behind the smart Volcanic Rock at Eagle Farm last start. My Snow Queen also has claims.
Selections: 5-4-2-3
Suggested Bet: Backing Royazel to bounce back and win ($5).
Race 2 Benchmark-72 Handicap (1800m) @ 12:05pm
Wicklow
The European import has made a terrific start to his racing career in Australia with two impressive wins from two starts. His first run at Newcastle was fantastic on the eye when he came from last to round them up and win and beat Peekays Legacy, who has won twice since. He then stepped it up a gear and produced another great win at Rosehill last start when beating Too Much Caviar and Always On Show, who won at Doomben on Wednesday. Should be rock-hard fit third-up, draws well and has experience on a Heavy track. Should make it three in a row.
Another former European who is third-up coming into this is also trained by Chris Waller and goes by the name of Crystal Pegasus. Made up good ground last start behind Jungle Book and the step up in distance looks ideal. Heavy track first time is a query but draws next to Wicklow and looks the main danger to him.
Red Santa and Power Me Up with the very light weight are place chances.
Selections: 4-1-6-7
Suggested Bet: Two horse race here but not worth a bet with Wicklow’s extremely short odds. No Bet.
Race 3 Highway Class 3 Handicap (1200m) @ 12:40pm
Kattegat
Do not think there is that much between it and Patino Ruby out of their last run at Rosehill over 1200m. They both came with runs from back in the field together, with Kattegat coming up the inside and switching off heels while Patino Ruby came down the outside. Patino Ruby got the better of the two on that occasion, but Kattegat will be greatly improved from the first-up run and gets the advantage of barrier one, where he should be able to roll forward and be more prominent in running. Not too many other dangers and looks a great chance of running a good race here.
Cavalier Charles is lightly raced and has plenty of promise about him. Has the wide barrier and Heavy track for the first time to overcome much like Patino Ruby. Fangela is another who is lightly raced and should run well in this.
Selections: 6-15-7-5
Suggested Bet: Kattegat is a great top three and winning chance so backing him each-way ($7.50 win, $2.10 place).
Race 4 Benchmark-78 Handicap (2000m) @ 1:15pm
Monsieur Sisu
Knocking on the door for a win and looks to get all the favours to do so in this. He has bumped into the in-form Mubariz in his last two starts at this track in this grade and Benchmark-94 grade. He steps back to the 78 grade here and is fourth-up, where he has a handy record of two wins and a placing from four starts. Has never won at the 2000m before but he does get plenty of favours to change that record. Comes onto a Heavy track, where he has a terrific record of four wins and six placings on, comes up with barrier two and looks to be able to lead the field up relatively comfortably and gets a weight relief with apprentice jockey Louise Day’s two-kilogram claim. Will take some catching!
Lackeen bumped into a handy one in Achiever last start narrowly going down but was in poor form before that. Under the odds. Prince Of Aragon battled out the finish with the rest of the pack as promising Incentivise gave its rivals a shellacking at Eagle Farm last start. Was in good form prior, including a win at the 2000m. Can bounce back while No Compromise was a strong winner last start and can go close once again.
Selections: 2-3-6-1
Suggested Bet: Backing Monsieur Sisu each-way ($7 win, $2.10 place).
Race 5 Benchmark-72 Handicap (1100m) @ 1:50pm
Magic Ruler
Paying way over the odds here. Can forgive the last start performance when he was three-wide no cover on a strong speed for the entire trip in a race won by the handy Gravina at Randwick. Start prior, he was a dominant winner when winning his maiden on a Heavy track at Canterbury leading all-of-the-way. He drops back to the 1100m, gets a Heavy track once again and draws to get a far better run up on-pace from barrier five. Gets a drop in weight and expecting a strong showing here at the big odds.
Escape Artist
Fastconi should get the gun run in behind the speed and should be right in the finish while Sally’s Day has a good chance upon resuming here. May need a bit of luck but has class. Miracle Street and Tiny look chances of running in the placings at big odds.
Selections: 8-10-5-6
Suggested Bet: Having a bet on both Magic Ruler ($34 win, $8.50 place) and Escape Artist ($16 win, $4.60 place) each-way.
Race 6 Benchmark-78 Handicap (1300m) @ 2:25pm
Taksu
Has his first run with new trainer Joseph Pride and comes into this with handy Victorian form. Finished second behind Inn Keeper first-up, who went on to win the Wangoom at Warrnambool, was beaten by 0.5 of a length by Reckoning at Ballarat before being beaten a length by Biometric and Adelaide Ace, who has won the Swan Hill Cup since at Caulfield last start. Not a lot of speed in this and all of it is drawn out wide so he should be able to cross and be up on pace and enjoys the sting out of the ground. Should be right in the finish once again.
Papal Warrior has beaten by 0.1 of a length in both of his last two starts and should go close once again if he gets the right run from barrier three back in the field. Royal Banquet ran on well last start from a long way back and will be better for the run second-up while Tycoonist and Count De Rupee also have claims.
Selections: 8-14-7-3
Suggested Bet: Happy to back Taksu each-way here ($7.50 win, $2.45 place).
Race 7 Listed W J Mckell Cup (2000m) @ 3:05pm
Berdibek
He was a good thing beaten last start in Benchmark-94 grade behind Mubariz. He looked to be travelling sweetly turning for home but was blocked for a run upon straightening and did not get clear air until the 250m. He then went to take a gap and was shunted out again at the 150m and had no where to go. Gets out to the 2000m for the first time this preparation after finishing just 2.2 lengths off the handy Spirit Ridge in Group 3 company last preparation over the 2000m. Lack of tempo is a slight concern but is a great bet at the odds.
Parry Sound is getting closer to a win and gets his chance once again today. Has had three seconds in a row now with his recent two being narrow defeats behind a couple of handy stayers in Polly Grey and Knights Order, who came out and won again in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup last week. Draws well and should be in the finish once again.
Yonkers is in some great form after a Wagga Cup placing to Inverloch separates two wins at Caulfield. Will appreciate the sting out of the ground and is a danger. Approach Discreet has performed well in Sydney in the past and gets his favoured Heavy track surface and only must carry 53kg. As does Brutality, who can bounce back on the seven-day back-up. Wu Gok must be given a strong chance with his Heavy track form.
Selections: 7-6-12-3
Suggested Bet: Backing Berdibek each-way ($15 win, $4.20 place).
Race 8 Fillies & Mares Benchmark-78 Handicap (1300m) @ 3:45pm
Expat
Expecting her to get across from the wide barrier with a severe lack of speed on in the race and lead this field up. Last start, she sat in behind the pace when beaten 1.5 lengths behind Majestic Shot, who led all-of-the-way. She was beaten home by 0.2 of a length by Sahra in that race, who she faces here again level at the weights, but was gaining ground late. Steps up in trip to the 1300m and gets onto a Heavy track, where she is one win from one run on. Should take some running down.
Sahra also has strong claims in this. Should be able to follow Expat across the field from the wide barrier and be able to tuck into a spot just behind the speed like she did last start. She also loves the wet and has a strong two wins and a placing on Heavy ground.
Like the way Rock My Wand finished off last time out and is another who loves Heavy ground. Third-up today and she finished third in Group 2 level to Instant Celebrity when third-up last preparation.
Belluci Babe has been in good form while Katalin is the promising type in the race after she returned with a dominant victory off a long 438-day spell. Has been freshened up since but the Heavy track for the first time is a query.
Selections: 15-14-12-7
Suggested Bet: Very tough race this. No Bet.
Race 9 Benchmark-78 Handicap (1500m) @ 4:25pm
Wairere Falls
Bumped into a smart one last start when finishing secondly by just 0.1 of a length behind Great House. Comes into this third-up and should be rock-hard fit by now. He draws a good barrier here in barrier three to get the gun run just in behind the speed, like he did last start, and has placed on Heavy ground in this only start on the surface. Strong chance to go one better in this.
Badoosh can run an improved race today coming onto his more favoured Heavy ground and made up some solid ground when first-up behind Dream Circle. Oscar Zulu returned to winning ways last start and has a good chance to go back-to-back. Will just have to navigate a good run from the tricky barrier.
Criminal Code was a real eye-catcher first-up and will improve second-up while Steely also has strong claims in this and is one win from one start on a Heavy track.
Selections: 12-7-4-3
Suggested Bet: Staying out of this one. No Bet.
Quaddie
Leg 1 (Race 6): 3,7,8,12,14
Leg 2 (Race 7): 2,3,6,7,12
Leg 3 (Race 8): 7,12,14,15
Leg 4 (Race 9): 3,4,7,8,12
$250 = 50%
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