We’re off to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday for another ten-race program that is highlighted by the rescheduled Winter Challenge.
I’ve run the rule over every galloper and contest, and you can find my complete Rosehill Gardens Tips below.
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in this week’s Highway race, including Iconic Dame.
Iconic Dame has been excellent for the Moruya stables of Jamie Stewart since making her debut, winning three of five starts and only just missing on another occasion.
A repeat of her last-start performance and win in a Highway race here at Rosehill would see her tough to beat again.
Hell I Am has drawn awkwardly into this contest, but I have fast become a fan of the classy gelding, and I think he’ll still take plenty of beating.
The Hellbent gelding stamped himself as one to watch during a nice debut prep; failing to win, but finished fifth in the Wyong Magic Millions race on debut and finding form around some good horses.
He returned a smart winner on the heavy going at Canterbury earlier this month and is ready for this rise in class.
Saquon is the one that I want to be with in this week’s Midway Handicap.
The Paul Perry-trained galloper does tend to mix his form a little, but this quality of race really has been his bread and butter, and he was an impressive winner when resuming at Randwick back in May.
He’s since had two spaced starts, running into some talented gallopers along the way, and he steps out this week in peak order.
William Pike has options from the rails draw and we can have an each-way play at the price.
Narrated has returned some nice efforts back this time and will relish another heavy track at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Snitzel mare has recorded two wins and an agonizingly close second in races not dissimilar to this one since resuming, and she was last seen finishing a credible fifth in Group 3 company up in Brisbane.
She’s drawn ideally under Nash Rawiller and if she holds her form, there really is no reason why she can’t win.
I thought that French Marine could make his presence felt in something like this.
The Kris Lees-trained galloper has been a credible Saturday quality horsed throughout his career, and he’s returned plenty of typically competitive performances during a busy prep this time in.
He is returning from a short freshen-up this week, his recent trial was good and he’s another who will relish a rain-affected track.
This is one of the trickier races of the day to analyse and there is a case to be made for a few of them, including Manhood.
Manhood has made just four career appearances at the races, but he really has gone to another level under Annabel Neasham, winning both starts this time in in dominant fashion.
Fitter third-up, he looks ready for this tougher race at Rosehill and with even luck, he can strike once more.
This is another wide-open race and I thought that Kirkeby looked a bit of value at around the $8 mark.
Kirkeby hasn’t managed to win in five starts back this time, and he has only just missed on several occasions, including a close-up second behind Caesars Palace last time out.
He’s rock-hard fit and drawn ideally under James McDonald – this is his opportunity to go one better.
Just as I thought last week when this race was supposed to run, Jojo Was A Man can win the Winter Challenge.
The Al Maher gelding has won three of five starts back this time, as well as only just being denied by the in-form Taksu in the Winter Stakes last time out.
The 1500m is ideal and I am still confident he’ll take a power of beating.
Rocketing By is another that was supposed to step out on last week’s abandoned program, and he can instead make a winning return in the penultimate contest this week.
It has been a while between drinks for Rocketing By, but he is back to David Pfieffer’s care this time in; a stable for which he returned some enormous results early on in his career.
He’s had the benefit of a couple of nice trials leading up to his return, he’s drawn nicely under Hugh Bowman and looks a touch of overs at around the $8 mark.
Sur La Mer has been excellent this time in and boasts a fitness edge over several key rivals in the last at Rosehill Gardens.
The Waller-trained mare has recorded two wins from four starts back this time, finishing second on the other two occasions and finding form around some quality gallopers.
She’s another who will have options this week from the rails draw and the booking of Hughie Bowman certainly doesn’t hinder her chances.