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

Track heavy 9 and rail out 4m.

Race 1 – 11.25am CAPTIVANT @ KIA ORA 3YO & 4YO BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1500m)

2. Barbray can return to the winner’s stall here back on a likely very heavy track and deep into the prep. Won two straight up to BM64 midweek company before running home late in a similar race to this at Randwick, then not suited in the group 3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast. Senior jockey goes back on, and the wetter the better for a gelding that relishes the mud. 5. Amusing swept home for a second career win here a fortnight back, and gets first use of the inside. Wouldn’t be taking too short a price, though, going up sharply in weight. 4. Narbold is a stablemate of Amusing, which was overrun by her late last start after being specked at an each-way price. Only the one win so far, but drawn well and has a sound record on rain-affected ground. 1. Balla Khaihah is over the odds third up with blinkers added after closing off strongly here a fortnight ago. 3. Hopper has been disappointing since a super maiden win in early May, but he made up plenty of late ground behind Amusing.
How to play it: Barbray each way and box trifecta 1, 2, 4, 5.

Yoshinobu is a progressive four-year-old that can make it two straight with a hefty drop in weight.Credit: Getty Images

Race 2 – 12pm MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1400m)

5. Cold Brew is a talented and still progressing four-year-old trained on the track and shooting for three wins on the bounce heading back into metropolitan company. Has led comfortably and won up to this trip in his past two, and while obviously taking on some better ones here, loves the going and proven to be a reliable weight carrier. From a wider draw, the jockey has the option of crossing over or staying off the fence. 1. Denman Star is a tough provincial-based wet-tracker that ran home OK here a fortnight ago. Drawn to get cover, and premiership-winning jockey takes over. 2. Forecaster has been in the money in three of his past four around this level, and with a 3kg claim, can give a lot of cheek on the speed. 7. Convergent is lightly raced and a market watch reloading off an eight-week break for just his second start. 11. Pretty Tavi, which has run home well in two runs back from a spell, and at big odds 3. C’mon Mate, which is second up, are worthy trifecta and first four players.
How to play it: Cold Brew to win.

Race 3 – 12.35pm TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HCP (1200m)

2. First Landing is a talented and still improving five-year-old building an impressive record, having not finished further back than second in his past four. Dominated in consecutive races from just off the speed before being ridden quieter and charging home late to finish only a length from high-class sprinter Storm The Ramparts at BM78 level. Was also strong late from midfield when missing by a long neck in a Highway here a fortnight ago, and despite drawing wide, he gets a decent map a few lengths back and well off the fence. This is a shade stronger in depth, but he represents the best value in the race. 5. Without Parallel is the measuring stick in the race, and likely the clear favourite, as she is unbeaten in three starts. Was tough leading all the way at Eagle Farm when having her first run in 17 weeks, and gets in well at the weights after the jockey’s claim. 7. Cambar is a sparingly raced stallion with a stack of ability, and resumes off two trial wins. Unbeaten on rain-affected ground, and did win at his only previous Rosehill run in a class 2 Highway when fresh. Significantly, blinkers come off, so naturally a huge betting watch. 3. Martini Mumma has winkers on third up off a break, and goes in wider exotic plays. 1. Bengal can sneak into the money fourth up at big odds.
How to play it: First Landing to win and box exacta 2, 5, 7.

Race 4 – 1.10pm CONGRATULATIONS JAMES MCDONALD FILLIES & MARES BM 78 HCP (1400m)

7. Tuileries is a smart and progressive mare that looks to have this on a platter second up over a furlong further. Was beaten by the alley when fresh and closing off late, and with the top hoop taking over, and in a field reduced in size, she can track up off the fence and pounce early in the straight. Both wins late last year came on firm tracks, but she’s bred to get through these conditions being by So You Think out of a Bernadini mare. 1. Lady Extreme is a strong provincial mare that returns to the course where she won two straight up to this level earlier in the prep before doing her best work late in the listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton. Loves the going, being by wet-track sire Extreme Choice, although the handicapper hasn’t missed her, and she’s back up sharply to 60.5kg. Scratched from a later race to be saved for this. 11. Sister Daae hit the line hard second up behind Amusing, which goes around earlier in the program, so the form reference may be there. Another improver bred to get through the ground. 2. Pippie Beach needs to find more fourth up, but heavy ground and a sharp drop back in trip three weeks between runs are pluses.
How to play it: Tuileries to win and quinella 1 and 7.

Race 5 - 1.45pm: CONGRATULATIONS BRAITH NOCK 3YO & 4YO BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1200m):
1. Metaphorically can go back-to-back, stepping up from a dominant all-the-way win in BM72 midweek company. Ran a handy last 600m split that day on a soft 7, and the third-placed horse then scored at Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting. Thrives in the wet, and back in at the weights after the jockey takes 2kg off. 5. Stardeel is mixing his form, and probably looking for further, but is fit and still capable of running over them late. 2. Useapin rediscovered her best here a fortnight ago, surging late to claim a fillies and mares BM78. Sparingly raced, but unproven in heavy going, and a query she can beat a couple of these. 11. Grand Prairie is lightly raced, drawn inside and did best to win first up since early autumn at the midweeks.
How to play it: Metaphorically to win.

Race 6 – 2.20pm NATIONAL JOCKEYS TRUST HCP (1500m)

3. Headley Grange is a tough five-year-old with a near 40 per cent winning strike rate, and can make it three wins from his past four, especially if the main market rival comes out. Powered home for two in a row in the listed Civic Stakes before just behind the place-getters under a huge weight on unsuitably firm ground in the South Grafton Cup. Back on the wet, back a shade in trip, and should be back in business. 8. It’s A Knockout is a progressive and lightly raced mare gunning for a second win in three starts, but unlikely here given she was targeting Friday’s Coffs Harbour Cup and a spot in the Big Dance in spring. 2. Estadio Mestalla is a stablemate of the top selection, and scored a big upset listed win two starts back before a fair effort in the listed Winter Challenge here. Up in weight, and would need the inside to hold up well if he is to trouble the top selection. 1. Welwal finished only midfield behind the former, but four of his five career wins from 25 starts have come on rain-affected going.
How to play it: Headley Grange to win.

Race 7 – 2.55pm JOCKEYS APPRECIATION BENCHMARK 78 HCP (2000m)

7. Piggyback is a tough mare and well placed to claim a fifth win at only her 14th start deep into the campaign in what is only a moderate line-up for this level. Has run into the money in three consecutive outings at this level since powering home to win a midweek BM72 on a heavy 10. Looking for this longer trip, and blinkers going on is a key gear change. 9. Juja Kibo capped three improving Victorian runs this prep, charging home for a dominant win in a midweek BM70. Drops sharply in weight for this tougher test, but did get the breaks and the right “lane” last start. Drawn to get early cover if the pattern suits. 8. Federer is an improving stablemate of the former, which rushed home into a place here in similar company third up and gets significant weight relief. Over the odds. 6. Sly Boots, off a third up midweek win, and 10. Captain Maverick, which has beaten all bar the winner in his past two at a lesser level, both go into trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Piggyback to win.

Race 8 – 3.30pm JOCKEYS CELEBRATION DAY BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1400m)

9. Liberty State is a talented and sparingly raced mare that has not had much go her way in the past couple at this level. Prior, had shown her wet-track ability at big odds, surging home from near last to claim a fillies and mares BM78. Loves this sort of going, and from a draw where she can stay out of trouble with some weight relief, watch for her finishing hard in a race with several chances. 12. Just In Time comes to the city three weeks between runs after two impressive provincial wins up to BM64 grade, both from just off the speed. In a shrewd yard, and the Justify stock normally get through heavy ground. 1. Fully Lit is fit enough now with blinkers coming off, but a query under this weight if the ground is very chopped up. 5. Rolling Magic is honest, although untried in heavy going. But if he gets through it, should emerge over the odds again, with winkers replacing blinkers. 7. Captain Furai has not raced since spring, but comes to hand quickly behind two improving trials, and already a two-time heavy track winner. 10. Fiddlers Green can improve enough from a wide draw to figure in the minor money.
How to play it: Liberty State to win.

Race 9 – 4.10pm NSW JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION BENCHMARK 94 HCP (1300m)

12. Yoshinobu is a progressive four-year-old that can make it two straight this prep, with a hefty drop in weight more than offsetting a rise in class. Did it tough from wide gates in three listed runs in autumn, but looks to have come back stronger after surging home to win here fresh. Has won two from three on soft, and heavier ground presents no hurdle. 9. Bunker Hut likes this ground and looms as the immediate threat second up four weeks between runs. 2. The Novelist is a big market watch, especially if the inside is OK. Reloads via an easy Randwick trial win 35 days after dropping out in a group 3 at Eagle Farm. Untested on heavy going. 1. Run Harry Run boxed on just fairly first up behind a smart winner at Caulfield. Blinkers off and winkers on is a key gear change, but has a task carrying this weight.
How to play it: Yoshinobu to win.

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Race 10 – 4.45pm CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS WALLER BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1100m)

3. Spywire is an improving four-year-old bursting to win again third up. Hit the line late to go under by a long neck when fresh before running home OK into a place at this level behind Yoshinobu, which rates on top in the previous race. First time on heavy going – but he’s bred to handle it – and gets weight relief. Importantly, he’s drawn to come wider in the straight late in the day. 7. Roselyn’s Star is a promising and lightly raced four-year-old resuming as a gelding with gear changes behind two smart trial wins. Bound to come to hand sharply, and the outside draw should not be a setback on what will be a very heavy surface. 5. Hanau roared home to win a lesser midweek race second up. Needs a decent tempo to chase, but capable of peeling off a dominant sectional even in these conditions. 2. Epic Proportions can run a big race at even bigger odds behind a determined win in a weaker midweek race as a hot favourite.
How to play it: Spyware to win and quinella 3 and 7.

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Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au

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