We’re only weeks away from the first Group 1 feature race of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, and excitement kicks up another gear on Expressway Stakes Day!
As usual, ten races will be contested at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, including the Canonbury Stakes and Widden Stakes for the fresh crop of juveniles, and of course the Group 2 feature race that has attracted some star sprinters.
You can find my complete 2023 Expressway Stakes Day Tips below.
Olakau’atu faces the toughest task of his career to date this weekend, but he has returned to the races in fine touch and is worthy of a crack at a Highway race.
The Brett Dodson-trained galloper ended his last prep with a lovely win in maiden company at Coffs Harbour, and picked up where he left off at the same track.
He followed up that performance and win with another at Ballina on Cup Day, and steps out this week in fine order.
He’s drawn well under Josh Parr and we can have an each way play at the price.
The eagerly awaited return of King’s Gambit is set to take place in the Canonbury Stakes, and the talented colt can further stamp his Golden Slipper claims by winning.
King’s Gambit showed ability at the trials prior to debuting and put the writing on the wall with a dominant five-length victory in the Debutant Stakes.
He has tuned up for this race with another slick trial performance, and I think he’ll take a power of beating.
Hollywood North is another horse that looks capable of continuing his rise through the grades at Rosehill this afternoon.
The Vancouver gelding has won two of his last three starts, highlighted by an easy triumph over the likes of Reformist in BM72 company at Warwick Farm last time.
He steps out this week in peak order, the 1500m looks ideal at this point of his preparation, and he is drawn to receive every chance in running.
This looks to be one of the more open races on the program, and I thought that it looked a winnable one for First Light.
First Light worked home well to finish third, beaten less than half a length over 1500m at Randwick when resuming, and finished fourth over 1800m here last time out, though more than three lengths off the pace of Logan Street Lion.
He’ll take further improvement into this contest and the 2000m looks to suit, while he does look up to winning something of this quality.
This year’s Widden Stakes looks a wide open contest with plenty of winning chances, and I thought that the resuming Dipsy Doodle looked a bit of value at a double figure price ($14 at publish).
The Lonhro filly showed promise at the trials prior to debuting, and she was quite good when fourth, beaten two lengths by stablemate Barber in the Kirkham Plate back in October, despite racing greenly.
A recent trial hinted at improvement, and we can have an each way play at the price.
Kibosh can win second-up on Expressway Stakes Day.
The consistent daughter of So You Think has recorded a career total of three wins and six second placings from her eleven starts, but she clearly needed her first run back when tiring to finish fourth in a Midway race here a fortnight ago.
Her second-up record is excellent, and she can make all in what looks another open race.
Kalino is chasing a hat-trick when he takes his place in Race 7 on Expressway Stakes Day, and it does shape as another very winnable one for him.
Kalino went for a short break after failing to fire behind Hosier in a BM88 contest at Randwick on October, but completed an ideal return with a dominant performance under James McDonald on Christmas Eve.
He franked that effort with another smart win here last time out, and with McDonald jumping back into the saddle, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
An interesting edition of the Expressway Stakes headlines Saturday’s Rosehill program, and a couple of notable Group 1 winners are engaged; Forbidden Love and Golden Mile.
Both gallopers are resuming from a spell and are prominent on the top two lines of Expressway Stakes betting, but I personally believe both to be under the odds, and I am going to take them on with the second-up Pizarro.
Pizarro has been a model of consistency throughout his career, albeit at a weaker grade than this, and he returned from a break to finish a credible third in BM88 company three weeks ago.
He is yet to finish worse than second at this point of his preparation, is drawn ideally under Brenton Avdulla, and we can have an each way play at around the $12 mark (at publish).
Major Artie is third-up and ready to win when he takes his place in the penultimate contest on Expressway Stakes Day.
Major Artie returned some nice performances around some talented opposition last time in, winning a Handicap race at Eagle Farm most notably, while also only being denied by the talented Francesco Guardi over 1800m at Randwick.
He has improved noticeably for two starts back this time, finishing a head second over this route second-up, and I simply do not think that he’ll be offered a better opportunity to win in Saturday metro company than this.
Think About It looms as the one to beat in Race 10 on Expressway Stakes Day.
The talented gelding has hardly put a hoof wrong since making his debut, recording two wins and a close up second placing from during his three-start debut prep, while he returned with an eye-catching performance and win in BM72 company at Warwick Farm.
This is harder, but it is also the next logical step for him to take.