Race-by-race preview and tips for Rosehill on Saturday

Race 1 – 11.25AM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

1. Hellova Nature is racing in outstanding form of late and there’s no reason he couldn’t continue that back to Midway grade. Good form around his second to Cold Brew two starts back, then overcame a wide run to win running away at Doomben. Draws well and claim offsets the weight. Dry-tracker that should be difficult to beat. 9. Attractiveness can be forgiven for a disappointing run on heavy ground two weeks ago, and a firmer track will help her. She’s always looked a progressive type and is a good chance. 12. Krasina is a new-season three-year-old taking on older horses off a maiden win at Canterbury, so it’s not going to be an easy task, but she does show some quality. Interested to see how she measures up. 6. Koios has a consistent record and he battled on well behind Rolling Magic two weeks ago on heavy ground. Similar sort of race for him and he can be competitive.
How to play it: Hellova Nature to win.

Race 2 – 12PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

Looks a potentially fast Highway and that might suit 8. Somerton Smart, which found his best again at Grafton winning a class 3 in good style. Down 2.5kg with the claim and should be able to land in that midfield or better position as he did last time. Good each-way chance at the very least if the race unfolds as expected. 7. Sobek is three from three at 1000m and below, and comes into his first Highway test having won a 1200m trial. Another with a claim and from that draw you’d expect him to be first to the fence. If he’s vulnerable at 1200m he could get found out if pressured, but he’s difficult to fault. 12. Oh Arthur led all the way to score first up at Canterbury on a heavy track, so you’d imagine he’ll be forward once again. He was a $26 chance there, so has to repeat the effort, but Highway company slightly offsets the class rise. 3. Wayburn has been honest in his two Highway runs, though it’s been nearly eight weeks since the latest where he was cut down by She Within. Include in the chances.
How to play it: Somerton Smart each way.

Race 3 – 12.35PM KIA ORA BLOODLINES TO HEADLINES HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

2. Columbus is one of the more interesting runners on the day, a $1.5 million buy that has been given some time, but he’s putting it together with successive wins split by a spell. While he was expected to win both, as a $1.45 elect, you have to like his style and the extra 100m is only going to be a plus. This is the right race to make the move to town, and he’ll take beating. 4. Funshow has not raced for a month as they dodged the wet tracks, and he brings two provincial wins into this race as well. Never threatened in his on-pace win at Hawkesbury last time and can measure up. 1. Dusty Bay seemed to appreciate sitting off the speed and swooping when scoring at Warwick Farm second up. Tactics will be significant from the wide gate, but there was a lot to like about that latest win. 10. Saloon Passage won a maiden last start, but she did it particularly well as favourite to break through at start No.8. Nicely drawn here and while skipping some grades she has a case.
How to play it: Columbus to win.

Race 4 – 1.10PM RANVET HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

6. Internal Affairs is the only three-year-old in the race, and he’s a lot better than what we saw at Rosehill two weeks ago on a heavy track. He was kept safe in betting off a first-up maiden win but just didn’t seem to appreciate the ground at all. He has shown early promise and the better track, soft draw, in a largely midweek-class race gives him a shot at bouncing back at odds. 3. Embrace The Wind is bursting to win a race, and also fell victim to the heavy track last time when favourite in a midway. Looked there to win, but the wheels spun and he managed to hold third. Slashing run fresh and with any luck he can go close. 4. Gatwick likely looks to cross to the front from the gate. Tried hard to replicate her maiden win when run down by Lady Invictus almost a month ago, and she can give a big sight if she gets across comfortably. 10. Kwirky Smile comes out of a Gosford class 1 on a heavy track where she circled the field and won charging away. Hard to line her up, but she is well bred and has upside so can’t leave her out.
How to play it: Internal Affairs each way.

Race 5 – 1.45PM CONGRATULATIONS SIENA GRIMA HANDICAP (2000 METRES)

3. Mo Chroi made a solid Australian debut winning over 1550m at Canterbury, but didn’t run up to market expectations a few weeks back when straight to this track and trip. He worked a bit from the outside and didn’t go on with it. Freshened up a bit, drawn the inside it’s a different set-up for him and in an open race, he can improve. 1. Anythink Goes is racing in great form with a win at this track on July 4 before backing up a week later and boxing on OK after making an early move. Each-way chance. 10. Horizons backs up from her brave second behind Satono Jasmine last week when she surprisingly had to work overtime to get up outside the leader. That left her a sitting duck, and while up in distance here, she’s not far off a win if things go her way. 4. Tambeloa gave a huge sight in front two runs back, but last week wasn’t able to get on the speed and was a bit plain. Gear change and down in the weights again, so no surprise if he’s more prominent.
How to play it: Mo Chroi each way.

Race 6 – 2.20PM CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS WALLER HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

3. Enviable took on some pretty smart company in spring with a group 1 fourth and a group 2 placing before a spell. She missed the autumn through injury, but made easy work of a maiden win first up at Newcastle. Given her previous form, this isn’t such a sharp step up and if she can stay settled in the run, she’ll be difficult to hold out. 5. Aye Aye Captain is the logical danger. She didn’t handle the heavy at Randwick three weeks ago and to finish fifth was an effort with some merit. Form prior was sound, draws well and gets conditions to suit. 2. Ticklebelly was a bit disappointing a couple of weeks ago when right in the market in the race won by Sword Of Justice. She led there and had no answer. Previous form at this track was honest and she can give a show. 9. Pierata’s Gem made a handy enough return behind Aroha Stone on a heavy track. Her form says she’s better on top of the ground and staying down in the weights she has claims.
How to play it: Enviable to win.

Race 7 – 2.55PM NATIONAL JOCKEYS TRUST HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

8. Tarzing is clearly on top, but he has some work to do from the barrier. He went back first up at this track and trip, and caught the eye behind Surf’s Up before sitting closer from a softer draw and proving too good for the handy Big Papa. That was at the end of June, so he’s had a freshen and a trial. Will need a good J-Mac ride and a bit of luck, but has to be the horse to beat. 11. Steel Strike was scratched from Wednesday to run here from a good gate and there’s nothing wrong with the form around his first-up placing behind Astronomix on a heavy track. Up in trip suits. 7. Silvanito is always around the mark, and he was able to poke through and win four weeks ago in a similar race. He can hold his form and is an each-way hope again. 10. Arapawa surprised a few when scoring at Rosehill two weeks ago, but it was his third win from his past four starts, so he’s clearly in good form. Has to do it on a drier track now, but he could be up to it.
How to play it: Tarzing to win.

Race 8 – 3.35PM JOCKEYS CELEBRATION DAY HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

10. It’s A Knockout returned to form when she charged home into second behind Mickey’s Medal at Randwick three weeks ago. She drew wide there, as she’s done again, but she does have some tactical speed and this looks a lovely race for her to get back into the winner’s stall with a lot of questionable form around. If she’d not drawn the outside, she’s a clear favourite. 2. Run Harry Run is a dry-tracker that resumed with a solid enough win as favourite in the Mildura Cup a couple of weeks ago. Not sure how that stacks up, but he has run well in stakes company previously and has drawn to be right there, so if he can back up that win, he’s right in this. 13. Watcha Matey could be the smokey at odds second up and back onto a firmer track. He was a big drifter in betting, doubling his price, first up and didn’t make an impact on a heavy track. Most of his overseas form is on top of the ground, and could surprise. 1. Punch Lane is probably better known as a wet-tracker, but he was close up in the Winter Challenge last time out and his racing style will see him on speed so that gives him a show.
How to play it: It’s A Knockout to win.

Race 9 – 4.10PM NSW JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION HANDICAP (1300 METRES)

12. Althoff enjoyed a good preparation last time in and was quite unlucky not to win first up before going on to score successive wins in BM78 grade. His past couple in 88 company were sound, too. Nice trials recently, gets in with no weight and the leading apprentice has won on him previously. He’ll be hitting the line and is an each-way chance fresh. 14. Gatsby’s ran a handy race first up, but there are plenty of reasons to forgive his effort two weeks ago in a wide run on a heavy track. Back down in the weights and the blinkers go back on, so he can improve quickly. 4. Justadeel ran fourth in the Big Dance in spring and generally isn’t too far away in his races. Fitter for a couple of jump-outs. If there’s support for him this is a winnable race. 3. Romeo’s Choice got the job done last start at the same track and over the same distance, albeit on a heavy track, and from the good draw there’s no reason he won’t put himself in the race somewhere and be competitive again.
How to play it: Althoff each way.

Race 10 – 4.45PM CONGRATULATIONS JAMES MCDONALD HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

12. Jarrito is a promising mare that looked particularly good streaking away to score easily at Warwick Farm to make it two from three this time in. Missed a place, albeit less than a length from the winner, in between on a soft 6 track, so the ground should suit her. She’s drawn nicely and should be very difficult to beat. 10. Zouripper is on the back-up and down a notch in class after running into third behind Hawker Hall last week. He’s been attacking the line with plenty of purpose for the new stable, finds J-Mac, and he’ll be thereabouts again. 5. Polyglot had things go his way when beating a promising one at Rosehill four weeks ago and with that win under the belt he can be expected to hold his form. Sure to run well, though up 2kg. 16. Formal ran a close third behind Polyglot last time and has that 2kg pull on him here. Racing well without winning and is in the mix.
How to play it: Jarrito to win.

Supplied by Racing NSW.