The lead-up to next month’s $1 million Golden Rose Stakes begins this weekend at Rosehill with the running of the Listed Rosebud (1100m) between the three-year-olds.
We’ve analysed the form for each race on the card and our best bets can be found below.
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Race 1 – Class 3 Highway Handicap (1300m)
Tricky race to begin the program with a case to be made for a few.
Daksha stands out at decent odds in his second run back after resuming at Tamworth a few weeks ago where he made up good late ground.
The son of Deep Field finish half a length second and was competitive against similar company at Randwick three runs back. He’ll appreciate a soft track on this occasion and the booking of James McDonald does warrant respect from the stable.
Barrier 9 should see him find cover early and with decent second-up form to his name, I’m confident he’ll be thereabouts.
Race 2 – Dooleys Handicap (1300m)
Major Beel is a promising three-year-old out of the Waterhouse and Bott yard that looks capable of taking the next step now.
The Savabeel gelding has made only two starts to date, winning his maiden at Wyong a couple of weeks back by a clear margin where he really stuck to the task in the run home.
He fought on well at Goulburn on debut on a bottomless track, and although he’s probably looking for further, Tim Clark retaining the ride with some relief at the weights is a big positive.
Race 3 – Midway Handicap (1400m)
Zou De Moon went around as the short-priced favourite in the Maclean Cup at Grafton a few weeks ago and did not disappoint scoring by over 2.5L.
The Zoustar mare has found the money in six of her 11 starts to date, while she also took on much tougher company than this running seventh in the Belle of the Turf during the spring.
A little sting out of the ground should suit and she was a dominant winner over this trip second-up at Scone last time in work. The wide barrier leaves Nash Rawiller with work to do, but she’s still a live chance in another open race.
Race 4 – Carbramata Bowling Club Handicap (1200m)
Conscript has been given a month between runs since his recent demolition job at Randwick last month where he led all the way.
The five-year-old son of Time for War is fitter for now two runs back, and if he can find the front out of the gates, this might be over before it even begins.
This is his first look at Rosehill, but Tyler Schiller has a good feel for the horse having won on him twice before. He eats up a wet track and will take a power of beating with not a lot of early speed on paper.
Race 5 – Campbelltown Catholic Club Handicap (1400m)
Hard to knock Chris Waller’s American bred import Frumos, who’s rightfully been installed at a very short price with a few weeks between runs.
This five-year-old mare earned a hat-trick over the track and trip last month after Willy Pike found a late split 200m from home to race clear and win by over two lengths.
Her previous two wins at Newcastle were just as dominant, and this assignment really doesn’t look any tougher with the added class of Hugh Bowman in the saddle now.
Race 6 – Bankstown Sports Handicap (1400m)
Oscar Zulu has been knocking on the door for quite a while now, notching back to b ack placings at Randwick earlier in his prep prior to back to back fourth’s in the Winter Stakes and Winter Challenge more recently.
He probably deserved to run a place last time out after struggling for room over the final furlong, and I think the step back to 1400m will suit given he’s found the money over this trip on six different occasions.
His wet-track form checks out, and with a fitness edge over a few of the other main chances, I think the current $6.00 quote on offer is generous.
Race 7 – Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Handicap (1800m)
Elusive Jewel and Lovely Esteem meet for a second time after the former held on to win narrowly in a three-way go for the line over this same track and distance a fortnight ago.
That win was gutsy, but I like Lovely Esteem to turn the tables with a couple of kg’s off and a much kinder draw with James McDonald retaining the ride.
Chris Waller’s mare has won only once from 11 starts, but she’s rock-hard fit now for three runs back and is well-deserving after running back-to-back places. There’s plenty of improvement still to come, and I think we’ll see McDonald settle a little closer to the speed this time around.
Race 8 – Listed Smithfield RSL Rosebud (1100m)
I like a couple at value in the feature, starting with John O’Shea’s promising colt, Zoukerino.
This son of Snitzel raced away to win by over three lengths on debut at Kensington a few weeks ago after Brenton Avdulla found a late gap through a wall of horses. The fact he won so comfortably on a heavy track reads well for this, while a recent second to the favourite Kibou at the trials is also a big tick.
Contemporary also stands out at a big price for mine. He’s six weeks between runs since winning his maiden on the Kensington track in similar conditions, while he was also only two lengths off stablemate Ojai and Queen of the Ball in the Kirkham at Randwick during the spring.
That first horse was far from disgraced in the Golden Slipper behind Fireburn, and the second went on to win a Group 3 back in January.
Race 9 – CLUBNSW Handicap (1400m)
Sticking with Marnix on top in what is another very difficult race to assess.
I thought the son of Written Tycoon stuck on well for third over 1300m here last-start when placed under pressure, and he does have room for improvement here on a shorter backup this time around.
A soft track should suit him perfectly, he’s got good form here at Rosehill, and he does draw much kinder on this occasion in barrier 3.
Race 10 – Guilded Leagues Handicap (1100m)
All eyes will be on Bjorn Baker’s promising mare Shades of Rose in the last.
The daughter of Rubick was back in the winner’s stall a couple of weeks ago thanks to a superb ride from James McDonald over the track and distance, one that saw the pair score by 3.5L.
Tactics cost her the start prior, but she’s clearly got a class edge over her rivals here and I can’t find any reason why she won’t win again.
