The Golden Rose always an interesting betting race and this year is no different.
We have a cracking card of racing at Rosehill on Saturday and our full 2022 Golden Rose Day Preview can be read below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – Highway Handicap (1500m)
Highway races are often times won by a lightly raced horse with a bit of upside and Lumber Dream fits that bill here.
Has been placed in seven of 12 overall and he closed out his last campaign with a win at Wagga.
Was good in a recent trial and represents good value at $34 at time of publish.
Race 2 – Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m)
Cruel Summer has two cracks at the Midway Handicap during his last campaign and was narrowly defeated in both attempts.
The four year old gelding has won both his trials leading into this first up assignment and the double figure odds represents great value.
Race 3 – Benchmark 88 Handicap (1900m)
Alcyone has been such a consistent performer over his short racing career having been placed in nine of 15 overall.
The now five year old gelding wasn’t beaten far first up in a benchmark 94 and although he usually has a tough time of it second up, he looks really well placed in a race of this quality.
Race 4 – Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m)
Herman Hesse broke through for a much deserved victory last start at Rosehill albeit in a lesser grade of race than this.
He drops seven kilos for that win which will help his chances and he is a much better horse on top of the ground which he likely gets in this year’s Colin Stephen Quality.
Race 5 – Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m)
Diamil is a last start listed winner at Eagle Farm during the winter carnival and resumes in a winnable race after two nice trials leading in.
He has finished in the top two in seven of 11 career starts and has always shown a fair amount of ability.
He has been gelded since the last time we saw him and this is a litmus test to see exactly what pathway he takes during his spring campaign.
Race 6 – Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m)
The Golden Slipper runner up Best Of Bordeaux is a dual acceptor on Saturday at Rosehill and I’m keen if he accepts in this 1100m event.
He settled on the speed in the Run To The Rose and although he was well beaten by In Secret, I thought he battled on gamely for second.
He’s better suited over the shorter distance in my opinion and has drawn perfectly in barrier five.
Race 7 – Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m)
Nimalee has proven trustworthy during her career, rarely running a bad race in black type races throughout.
Her runs have been spaced out of recent but she was last seen finishing third in the Group 2 Tramway at Royal Randwick where she was beaten just 2.4 lengths behind Zaaki.
She will bring a fitness edge into the Golden Pendant over most of this field and will be in this for a long way.
Race 8 – Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m)
Godolphin have a very good hand in the feature race of the afternoon and I’m keen to back two of their runners.
In Secret was excellent behind the very smart Zougotcha first up in the Silver Shadow and that form was franked with that filly winning last week.
I loved the way this filly ran right through the line when winning the Run To The Rose last start at Rosehill over 1200m and she has drawn perfectly in barrier three.
Golden Mile also finished second first up behind a very promising young horse in Kibou before coming out and dominating his rivals in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty last start.
This is another step up in class but the son of Astern has an enormous amount of upside and will be ready to peak at his third run this prep in the Golden Rose Stakes.
Race 9 – Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m)
Ellsberg was cramped for room at a vital stage when resuming in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes at this track.
I loved the way he picked back up and found the line to be beaten just over a length and the step up in distance for the Shannon Stakes suits.
He’s run second three times from four attempts second up from a spell and has finished outside the top two just once over 1500m.
Race 10 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m)
The Hawkes trained Fire has been a very consistent performer for the stable with three wins and a further three placings from eight career starts.
He kick started this prep with a dominant 2.25 length win at Sandown and has since finished second in two subsequent starts.
He looks well placed yet again in this event and the winkers go back on.
