2020 Winter Challenge Stakes Day Tips & Preview
Special Reward. Photo by Steve Hart.

2020 Winter Challenge Stakes Day Tips & Preview

The Winter Challenge is the feature race of the day at Rosehill on Saturday however there are nine races in total to navigate throughout the day.

We have done are darnedest to find as many winners as possible and a=our full 2020 Winter Challenge Stakes Day Tips and Preview can be found below.

Race 1: Sky Racing Active Handicap (1200m) 11:45am
No. 2 Smart Image

Smart Image is the obvious choice in the opening race of the day after the Smart Missile colt won on debut at Warwick Farm two weeks back.

He has drawn well and it will take a good one to beat him.

Race 2: Xtravagant At Newhaven Park Sprint (1200m) 12:20pm
No. 4 In Lighten Me

In Lighten Me returned from a spell with a nice win at Warwick Farm first up and she is a very progressive type of mare.

Four wins from 13 career race starts suggests she has a good will to win and this does not look much tougher than her first up assignment.

each way
Race 3: Highway Handicap Class 3 Plate (1500m) 12:55pm
No. 5 Group Think

Group Think has placed in six of his 11 career starts including two wins.

His third at open class three year old level at Grafton last start was full of merit proving the So You Think gelding has no issue with the 1500m.

He will get a nice run in transit from barrier three and represents nice value at his current price.

best bet
Race 4: July Sprint (1100m) 1:30pm
No. 1 Special Reward

The Kris Lees trained Special Reward is a very talented gelding on the rise and whilst this is a very competitive race, he is more than capable of winning first up.

He has won eight of his 14 career race starts including the back to back Group 3 races late last prep.

Ms Louise Day will give him some weight relief with her claim and he looks overs to my eye.

each way
Race 5: Refinitiv Charity Foundation Handicap (2400m) 2:05pm
No. 2 Rezealient

Rezealient is capable at running a nice race in the fifth event of the day at Rosehill here.

He returned from more than a year on the sidelines at Flemington first up when running 13th (of 14) but has since finished second and then first.

His win at Newcastle suggests he will appreciate the 2400m and he represents good value at the each way odds.

each way
Race 6: Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m) 2:45pm
No. 4 Rothenburg

Matt Dunn has traveled Rothernburg to the big smoke twice now for two very impressive wins in succession.

He now believes the three year old is capable of progressing on from the Highway races and so do we!

$10 seems too good to refuse in what we admit is a very hot little race with plenty of winning chances.

Race 7: Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) 3:25pm
No. 6 Noble Boy

Noble Boy broke through for a very much deserved black type victory last start over the 1400m at this track and I can’t see why he couldn’t repeat the dosage here.

He has a very good overall winning record with eight wins from 18 career starts and he has drawn well in barrier five.

Race 8: Everest Carnival On Sale Handicap (1300m) 4:05pm
No. 1 True Detective

I have a big opinion of True Detective and when everything goes his way, he looks quite a promising prospect.

He has a fantastic record over the 1300m at Rosehill with three wins and a narrow second to his name from four starts.

He gets in well at the weights for this assignment and he has drawn perfectly in barrier three with Hugh Bowman climbing aboard.

Race 9: Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1100m) 4:45pm
No. 5 Varda

Varda returned to the races with a five length win at Canterbury before stepping out at Rosehill last start and recorded her third career victory.

She is a talented filly who looks really well placed to finished our day on a winning note.