We head to Rosehill Gardens this Saturday for metropolitan racing in Sydney with 10 superb races on the card.
Our thoughts and betting plays for 2022 Winter Cup Day can be found below.
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Race 1 – 2YO Handicap (1300m)
Baroque Road could not have been much more impressive when winning at Randwick by 3.41 lengths on debut two and a half weeks ago.
Nash Rawiller took the gelding straight to the front and he was never sighted over the 1100m, running away from his rivals in the concluding stages.
He looks an exciting juvenile and can extend his winning streak to two in this opening event.
Race 2 – Highway Handicap (1100m)
These Highway races are often times won by a progressive type of horse with plenty of upside.
Nadaraja put together three impressive wins in a row during his last campaign and although he was no match for them in The Kosciuszko, he looks well placed in this event.
He has had two trials leading into this first up assignment, the latest was a win at Scone ahead of Harvey’s Way and Edit.
Race 3 – Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m)
Tympanist returned to the races with a dominant win at Randwick when resuming from a spell over 1550m.
The three year old chestnut gelding was well back when straightening but he showed a quick turn of foot to close the gap and raced away in the concluding stages of the race.
The step up in distance suits as does the appointment of Jason Collett.
Race 4 – Midway Handicap (1400m)
Showtime Lady will need a few scratching’s to gain a start in this race but should she take her place in the field, she will be right in this event.
She has won four of her 13 career race starts and finished in the top two a further three times.
A first up win at Gosford by 1.82 lengths proves she is in store for a nice campaign.
Race 5 – Listed Winter Cup (2400m)
This is one of the weaker Listed staying races that you will find and that is proven by the fact that a four year old gelding that last won a benchmark 78 is the odds on favourite.
Military Mission brings in the best form of any horse accepted in this race and the fact that he has a lot of upside has punters, and myself, bullish about his chances.
He is proven on the heavy and looks a genuine stayer and that is enough to be winning this.
Race 6 – Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m)
Ceasefire is well over the odds in the sixth race of the afternoon at Rosehill.
The four year old gelding has won four of his nine career race starts including a two length win at Muswellbrook as favourite last time out.
This is a much harder task but he’s drawn well and represents good value at $19.
Race 7 – Benchmark 94 Handicap (1800m)
Skyman has been racing well in good company throughout this prep and has been beaten less than two lengths in all three runs.
He has placed in three of four starts at this distance and gets in well at the weights.
Zing is a talented mare on her day and she is going better than her record on paper suggests.
The daughter of Zoustar has been placed in 13 of 24 overall and the step up in distance suits.
Race 8 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m)
The Joe Pride trained Rubinocchi resumed from a spell with a dominant 4.5 length win at Canterbury which was her third win in eight career starts.
The Rubick filly then stepped up in grade when tackling the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone where she was far from disgraced, finishing four lengths from the winner Zapateo.
This looks a nice race for her at this stage in her prep and racing career.
Race 9 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m)
The Chris Waller trained Wicklow put together three wins on the trot during her last campaign including a 1.59 length win at this track when beating Crystal Pegasus.
He has shown he handles the heavy deck with no problem, has performed well at Rosehill and has won when fresh.
The one to beat from the inside draw.
Race 10 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m)
The Kim Waugh trained Kingsheir has not been seen at the races since January but he has a class edge over the majority of this field in my opinion.
He won a benchmark 88 at this track during his last campaign when he beat the very smart Yiyi and Papal Warrior and he was then very narrowly denied behind Lackeen and Canasta at his next start.
That form is good enough to be winning this race especially when considering he is two from two first up from a spell.
The apprentice gives some weight relief.
