Rosehill Gardens Tips & Preview – Saturday 1st July
Kibou can win the last on Epsom Day. Photo: Steve Hart

Rosehill Gardens Tips & Preview – Saturday 1st July

Ten races will be run and won at Sydney’s Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, July 1st.

The weather in the greater Sydney metropolitan area this week has been decent, and we’re likely to be racing on a track rated in the ‘Good’ range.

You can find all of my Rosehill Gardens Tips below!

Kia Ora Farnan Handicap (1300m) – 11am
No. 1 Plundering

Plundering has returned to the races in typically consistent form this time and strikes another winnable race at Rosehill on Saturday.

The Shooting To Win gelding hasn’t missed placing in four runs back, winning in BM68 company at Randwick-Kensington while only just missing in a couple of Saturday metro races at his two latest.

He steps out this week in peak order and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.

The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1400m) – 11:35am
No. 1 Semana

Semana is another model of consistency that looks well placed to win at Rosehill this week.

The Winning Rupert filly hasn’t finished worse than second at her last four trips to the races, winning twice and improvement noticeably with each effort.

She’s rock-hard fit, gets some relief in the weights under Dylan Gibbons and needs only hold her form to take beating once more.

Racing For Good On July 29 Handicap (1500m) – 12:10pm
No. 4 Vintage Choice

I think that the Annabel Neasham yard can strike a couple of times early at Rosehill on Saturday, and I thought that this looked a really nice race for Vintage Choice.

Vintage Choice has improved for three starts since arriving in Australia, and he was last seen finishing a credible fourth in a similar race here behind Attractable.

There is a case to be made for a few of them, so I’m going to have an each way play on this bloke.

each way
Midway Handicap (1400m) – 12:45pm
No. 14 Allasandra

Allasandra faces another rise in class at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, but she has continued to leap as the bar has been raised, and it does look the next logical target for her.

The David Payne-trained filly broke her maiden third-up at Wyong back in April and hasn’t taken a backwards step, reigning supreme in Class 1 company at Newcastle before repeating the dose in BM72 company at Randwick-Kensington at her latest.

She’s another that is hard-fit and just needs some luck in running after drawing wide.

Highway Handicap (1100m) – 1:20pm
No. 3 Mogo Magic

Mogo Magic puts an unbeaten record on the line when he resumes in this week’s Highway Handicap, and he’s the one for me.

The Duporth gelding won both starts during his debut prep by a combined 11 lengths and returned in February to easily account for a Highway field at Randwick.

A recent trial way eye-catching and he is going to take a power of beating again.

each way
Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1100m) – 1:55pm
No. 10 Great Barrier Reef

This looms as one of the more open races on the program and I’m going to have an each way play on one at a price: Great Barrier Reef.

The well-bred gelding is yet to strike in three starts back from a break, but there’s no doubt that his fitness has improved, and he was just over a length behind the winner at Warwick Farm last time out.

From the good draw and with a light weight in tow, he does have claims in something like this.

Toyota Forklifts Handicap (2400m) – 2:35pm
No. 2 Fawkner Park

Fawkner Park is undefeated in Australia and looms as the one to beat again in Race 7 at Rosehill on Saturday.

The Zoffany gelding just got there at Kembla Grange back in May but hasn’t been troubled since, winning by more than two lengths up at Doomben before beating home a similar field here at Rosehill a fortnight ago.

He’s another that steps out this week in peak order and will enjoy some relief in the weights under Dylan Gibbons.

best bet
Furphy Handicap (1500m) – 3:15pm
No. 5 Kibou

Kibou was only just denied by a good and fit one in Iowna Merc first-up in June, and he can go one better in the eighth at Rosehill on Saturday.

Kibou was nothing short of outstanding last time in, winning three of four starts including the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes here at Rosehill.

His trials prior to his racing campaign were very good, and I have no doubt that he’ll improve noticeably from a decent resuming effort.

For those reasons and plenty more, he is my best bet on the program.

each way
Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) – 3:50pm
No. 3 Kirkeby

I thought that Kirkeby’s resuming performance was probably too bad to be true, and I am happy to give him another chance we he steps out in the penultimate contest in Sydney on Saturday.

Kirkeby has been a good horse of the Waller yard since making his debut and returned an improved galloper last time in, picking off a couple of races in town.

He is a horse that tends to enjoy good improvement with a run under his belt, and I like that he has been back to the trials since his first run this time.

each way
Bowermans Handicap (1300m) – 4:30pm
No. 1 Colour Sergeant

Not the easiest way to end the program from a betting perspective and a case to be made for a few of them, including the resuming Colour Sergeant.

Colour Sergeant hasn’t been seen the races since December, but he does boast a good fresh record (4:1-0-2), and he has typically contested races of this quality throughout his career.

He’s had the benefit of a couple of trials leading up to this return and has options in running from the rails draw.