Ten races make up Saturday’s program at Rosehill where it is Hobartville Stakes Day.
The feature has attracted a quality field of three-year-olds with an eye towards the Randwick Guineas, while ballot exemption into next month’s Golden Slipper also goes on the line in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes.
Our best bets for the entire card can be found below.
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Race 1 – 12:25pm – Class 3 Handicap (1400m)
Golden Point has been in work for a while but you wouldn’t know it based on his recent form.
The Stirling Osland-trained four-year-old had a lot go wrong in his latest assignment over 1200m at Randwick where he was caught three-wide in transit before copping a bump at the top of the straight.
He still managed to finish the race off strongly and run third, and the way he hit the line suggested he might handle the rise back up to 1400m now.
The trip, plus the gate are the two queries, but he doesn’t need to improve much to win and his soft track form also reads well.
Race 2 – 1:00pm – Schweppes Handicap (1100m)
There are a couple of impressive types lining up here, one of them being Shadow Crush.
The son of Per Incanto has strung together back-to-back wins at Randwick leading in, his latest coming off the speed where he gave away a big start before pouncing 200m out from home to win by over a length.
He’s clearly got a big turn of foot, and with a healthy amount of speed engaged here, he should be saving his best for late. With strong wet track form, he goes on top.
Race 3 – 1:35pm – Midway Handicap (1500m)
French Emperor can be hit and miss at times, but it did feel as though he was starting to put it all together when he won fresh at Kembla Grange last month.
The son of Tavistock was stone cold last rounding the home turn before Keagan Latham pushed the button over the final furlong to kick clear and win by two lengths.
He was ridden a little more aggressively over the mile at Randwick a couple of weeks ago in what I think was a complete forgive run. Latham gets back in the saddle here, and if he can remain patient again, the pair should be strong late.
Race 4 – 2:10pm – Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m)
The Millie Fox Stakes is often a great guide heading into races like the Coolmore Classic and the Queen of the Turf, and there are a few exciting types engaged in this year’s edition.
Krone is often thought of as a pure wet-tracker, but she has won several times previously on top of the ground.
The Tony Gollan-trained mare is just over a month between runs after running fifth in the Fillies and Mares race on Magic Millions Day on the Gold Coast, a performance that saw her finish off strongly from the tail of the field.
She’s won twice previously here at Rosehill and tends to run well third-up from a spell. Any rain would definitely improve her chances, and Hugh Bowman should have no trouble shuffling back from the soft draw.
Race 5 – 2:45pm – Ned Whisky Handicap (1100m)
A case to be made for a few here, but I’m happy to take a flier on Minsk Moment, who resumes from a spell for Chris Waller.
This lightly-raced colt held his own during the spring, winning first-up at The Valley by a comfortable margin before going on to run a place in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire.
He was far from disgraced in the Coolmore when seventh behind Home Affairs, and his two trials leading in have been promising.
Needs the rain to stay away, but an unblemished 2-0 record first-up is tough to ignore, and he should find this a much easier assignment.
Race 6 – 3:25pm – Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m)
This sets up nicely for Queen of the Ball to improve on her win in the Group 3 Widden Stakes over the track and trip last month.
The Freedman-trained filly rolled straight to the front and made every post a winner, even finding something extra in the finish to win by nearly four lengths.
She’s drawn perfectly in barrier 1 in the Silver Slipper with Rachel King steering again, and the form from that previous win also reads well with second place getter Revolutionary Miss coming out and winning the Blue Diamond Prelude last week at Caulfield.
Race 7 – 4:05pm – Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m)
Tough race, but it does look a winnable one for No Compromise.
The son of Pins has returned a place in both runs back, most recently running third over the mile behind a good horse in Frosty Rocks at Randwick a couple of weeks ago.
He’s got an awkward barrier to contend with, but that most recent start suggested he’s looking for further now after finishing strongly through the line.
The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old owns wins over further, and he’s never missed the money in four starts on his home track.
Race 8 – 4:45pm – Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m)
Anamoe was there to be beaten first-up in the Expressway Stakes, but I don’t think that’s the case here in the Hobartville.
He probably got a little too far back under James McDonald that day and obviously had no luck in the straight, but out to 1400m with a gap between runs should help him bounce back.
The son of Street Boss has found the money in all three of his starts here at Rosehill, and he’s also got some decent soft track form to handle any rain about.
He tends to run well in his second run back, and although the pressure is beginning to mount, getting back to his own age should help him steer back on course.
Race 9 – 5:25pm – Chandon Handicap (1400m)
Ranch Hand has also accepted for the race prior, but if he lines up here, I think he’ll be extremely tough to beat.
The son of Fastnet Rock has burned punters on more than one occasion, but his return first-up in the Eskimo Prince a couple of weeks ago could not have been more impressive.
The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old overcame a wide run in transit and loomed as the winner at the top of the straight, only to find one better to finish half a length second to Paulele.
From that, improvement is sure to come, and I think 1400m suits. He ran extremely well behind two of the top Lightning Stakes fancies in Home Affairs and Nature Strip during the spring, and with a step back up to Group 1 level in mind, he looks ideally placed here.
Race 10 – 6:00pm – XXXX Handicap (1400m)
Ulysses tends to do his best racing third-up from a spell and we are getting a nice double-figure quote for him here.
The Freedman-trained gelding ran fourth in a pretty ugly race over the track and distance last month where he came off the rail to finish a length behind Impasse.
He’s since had a trial to keep him revved up for this and he’ll handle the track whether its wet or dry.
