Racing returns to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes headlines the program.
The rail will be left in the true position around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Good (4) range.
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Race 1 – 11:55pm – Precise Air Handicap, (1900m)
I’m going to give Yiyi another chance to win the first on Golden Rose Day.
Yiyi hasn’t missed placing in five starts back this time, winning his first two (at a weaker grade) and filling the minors in Saturday company most recently.
He’s rock-hard fit, gets in well under the conditions and is drawn ideally.
Race 2 – 12:30pm – Highway Class 2 Handicap, (1500m)
It is not a huge stretch to say that the consistent So You Say can win this week’s Highway race.
The So You Think mare hasn’t missed placing at her last four trips to the races, winning one of these races at Rosehill in July most notably.
Given that she was generally around a month between runs up until her last effort for third in a similar race to this one, I’m confident that she’ll take improvement into this contest.
Race 3 – 1:05pm – Midway Handicap, (1500m)
This is a typically open Midway Handicap, and a horse like Calgary Queen has claims on winning.
Calgary Queen charged home to score in BM72 company at Randwick-Kensington when fresh, and she returned another nice in a similar race last time.
Fitter third-up and under James McDonald, she can fight out the finish.
Race 4 – 1:40pm – Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality, (2400m)
The Colin Stephen Quality looks a lovely race for No Compromise, and he can stamp himself as a threat in next weekend’s The Metropolitan.
No Compromise has been a strong and consistent performer for the Waller stable since arriving in Australia, and he takes his place in this field rock-hard fit, and off the back of a credible third placing in the Newcastle Gold Cup.
He gets into the race well under the conditions, he’s drawn ideally and will take plenty of beating.
Race 5 – 2:15pm – Listed Heritage Stakes, (1100m)
Make no mistake, Paulele is the runner to beat in this year’s Heritage Stakes.
Paulele hinted at above-average ability during the Autumn Carnival, but he has clearly taken big steps in his time away from the track.
His fresh performance and win in The Rosebud was nothing short of outstanding, while he only just missed in the San Domenico Stakes last.
Fitter third-up, he is my best bet on the program.
Race 6 – 2:50pm – Group 2 Shannon Stakes, (1500m)
This is a nice drop in class for Imaging and the Shannon Stakes looks the perfect race for him.
The Oasis Dream gelding has gone close in Group 1 company a few times throughout his career, but he probably just isn’t quite up to the top-line short distance and milers here in Australia.
So far this time, he has finished midfield in both the Group 1 Winx Stakes and the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes, and he strikes this race at the perfect moment.
Race 7 – 3:25pm – Group 2 Golden Pendant, (1400m)
Fituese was coming late in the Sheraco Stakes a fortnight ago, and I am more than happy to stick with her in the Golden Pendant.
The Deep Field mare has been nothing short of outstanding throughout her fifteen-start career, she has won multiple Stakes races, and she boasts a record of 9:6-1-0 on Good going.
Fitter third-up, Hugh Bowman can settle her a little closer from barrier 4, and she’ll prove hard to hold out again.
Race 8 – 4:05pm – Group 1 Golden Rose, (1400m)
It’s a talent-packed edition of the Golden Rose, but I simply cannot look past Anamoe.
Anamoe was arguably the star of the two-year-old crop during the recent Autumn Carnival, winning both the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ and the Group 2 Todman Stakes, and finishing in the placings of both the Blue Diamond Stakes and the Golden Slipper.
His resuming effort against a lot of these rivals in The Run To The Rose was excellent, and he’ll only improve second-up and out to 1400m.
I’m also going to have a saver on Artorius.
He won the Blue Diamond at just his third career start, and while Artorius hasn’t won any of he three subsequent starts, he’s also yet to race poorly.
We can have an each-way play at around the $9 mark.
Race 9 – 4:45pm – Group 3 Gloaming Stakes, (1800m)
There only looks to be a handful of winning chances in this year’s Gloaming Stakes field, and I am happy to have something on Subterranean each-way again.
Subterranean won at Group 3 level during his two-year-old season most notably, and I thought that there was a lot to like about his first two starts back this time, most notably.
He looks to be at peak fitness for this contest, and I also think that this looks to be about his level.
Race 10 – 5:25pm – Elite Sand & Soil Handicap, (1400m)
He has drawn the outside barrier, but Ellsberg will make his eagerly awaited return in the last on Golden Rose Day, and I am more than happy to be with him at this point of his prep.
Ellsberg won his first start back last time in impressive fashion, and he ended his prep with a credible second placing behind Ayrton in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic.
He has had the benefit of a couple of trials in the lead-up to his return, and the booking of in-form hoop Nash Rawiller certainly doesn’t hurt his chances.