2021 Winter Challenge Stakes Day Tips & Preview
Harpo Marx. Photo by Steve Hart.

2021 Winter Challenge Stakes Day Tips & Preview

We have a mammoth 10 race card to assess at Rosehill this Saturday afternoon and we have done our best to find some winners below.

Our full 2021 Winter Challenge Stakes Day Tips & Preview here.

Race 1: 2YO Handicap (1200m) 11:15am
No. 2 King Of Sparta

King Of Sparta looks a very, very exciting young horse.

The son of I Am Invincible couldn’t have been much more impressive when he broke his maiden at Randwick first up when he put a long sustained run in the straight to put pay to his rivals.

He proved that he has a big amount of upside and I am of the belief that he will progress passed this grade of racing.

Race 2: Highway Handicap (1500m) 11:50am
No. 1 Bold And Wild

Bold And Wild has been placed in his last two leading into this Highway race and he profiles perfectly for a race like this one.

The lightly raced five year old gelding has won three times in 13 career starts but he will appreciate the step back in grade for this event.

Race 3: Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) 12:25pm
No. 7 Yiyi

The Chris Waller trained Yiyi was absolutely dominant when scoring by over three lengths first up at Newcastle.

The step up in distance should only be of benefit to the three year old gelding and barrier four and James McDonald are only advantages.

Race 4: July Sprint (1100m) 1:00pm
No. 1 Trumbull

The Kim Waugh trained Trumbull is being asked to carry the big weight in the July Sprint but the five year old gelding has won four from seven when resuming from a spell.

The 1100m is not his pet distance but he is yet to miss a place at this distance and he has trialed really well leading into this first up assignment.

best bet
Race 5: Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m) 1:35pm
No. 1 Harpo Marx

Harpo Marx looks one of the better bets on the card after showing his staying credentials on the heavy track last start at Randwick.

He was a long way back on the turn in that race but he put his rivals away in a few strides to score with his head on his chest by almost two lengths.

Despite the big weight, I can’t see anything beating him and anything over even money seems a gift.

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Race 6: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) 2:10pm
No. 1 Maddi Rocks

Maddi Rocks returns from a spell with three nice trials under her belt.

She has a win and two placings from five first up runs in her career and is more than capable at this level of racing.

Apprentice Tom Sherry will give the mare some weight relief and steer from barrier eight and the blinkers have been added.

Race 7: Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) 2:45pm
No. 2 Countofmentecristo

Countofmontecristo made his Australian racing debut at Randwick over 1100m behind Adelong and savaged the line late in the piece.

The Kris Lees trained import had his first start on a heavy surface last start and found it tough in the final 200m but it is a forgive run for mine.

He is a classy horse who has won over $2 million in prize money and The Winter Challenge looks an ideal race for him should the rain stay away.

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Race 8: Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) 3:25pm
No. 3 Fantastic Baby

Fantastic baby has barely put a hoof wrong in his short six start career to date having never finished outside the top two.

The lightly raced five year old gelding is a last start winner leading into this race and although this is another step up in class, he seems to rise to the challenge each time he is asked.

Josh Parr with have a difficult barrier to navigate but with some luck he will be featuring in the finish.

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Race 9: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) 4:05pm
No. 1 Lancaster Bomber

Lancaster Bomber has been a very consistent galloper over his career having placed in 17 of 30 starts.

Both runs so far have been full of merit including a second on the heavy track and Randwick last time out where he was making up significant ground late behind Perigold.

He should be fitter for the two runs and ready to peak now.

Race 10: Benchmark 88 Handicap (1300m) 4:45pm
Boxed Trifecta 3/6/11/14 *Sub* 12

Let’s box these up in the last and see if we can end the day on a winning note.