The Group 2 Hill Stakes is set to headline a bumper day of racing at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.
Whilst there’s no Group 1 action on the card this week, there’s still plenty of quality racing on offer, with five black type races to be run and won as well as the lucrative $1.5m Alan Brown Stakes.
I’ve had a close look at all ten races and have provided my thoughts and selections below in my Hill Stakes Day Preview.
There was a lot to like about the last start win of POISEN POINT and I think she’ll be hard to beat again.
Off a wide draw, the Swiss Ace mare was always wide and exposed over this course and distance but still gave a good kick over the final part to score by three quarters of a length.
She kicked off her preparation with a very encouraging run over 1200m, and she certainly relished to the rise to 1500m last time.
An improving type, she’s putting together a tidy record, and I think she’ll continue to rise through the grades.
Zac Lloyd stays in the saddle and if he can slot her in early and find cover, she’s sure to be strong late in the first on Hill Stakes Day.
VETWELVE didn’t have a lot of luck last start but I’m confident he can atone for that here.
Coming off a six-week let up, the John Sargent trained gelding was dropping back to 1300m and travelled well in the box seat before switching across heels to find clear running.
Once in open space, he finished off strongly to get within a length of the eventual winner.
The slight rise to 1400m looks ideal and he gets in beautifully with Mitch Stapleford’s 3kg claim.
UNLIMITED is racing well and presents hard fit.
The six-year-old son of Saxon Warrior returned to the winner’s stall with a strong performance over 1800m at Caulfield two runs back and out to 2000m there last start, he settled a long way back and charged home late into second.
A two-time winner over 2000m, he looks ideally placed here and he drops 2kgs on that latest outing.
Nash Rawiller will take the reins for Chris Waller, and I think he’ll prove hard to beat.
Golden Slipper winner MARHOONA kicked off her preparation in fine style as she proved too good in the Heritage Stakes, and I think she’ll take some beating once again in the 2025 Roman Consul Stakes.
The Snitzel filly travelled beautifully in the ‘one-one’ and when the pressure was applied, she really knuckled down over the final part to edge away and score by half a length.
She will have taken plenty of fitness benefit from the run and the slight rise to 1200m will be to her liking.
Under the set weights conditions, she gets in extremely well with just 54.5kgs and gate four should see her afforded a similar run throughout under Tommy Berry.
FARNICLE was doing his best work late when resuming in the Listed Heritage Stakes and he looks ideally placed here second up as he steps out to 1400m for the Tapp-Craig.
The Waterhouse / Bott trained colt settled towards the rear and when presented into clear air, he closed off strongly late to finish only 1.1 lengths from Marhoona.
The son of Farnan just the four starts in his first campaign which yielded a debut win at Kensington and stakes placing in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm behind subsequent Group 1 winner Cool Archie.
He looks to have returned in top order the low draw will see him afforded all the favours under Tim Clark.
WITHIN THE LAW continues to perform well and she’s certainly deserving of another win.
A highly talented filly, she’s recorded three wins and five placings from her eleven starts, all of which have been at stakes level.
She famously crashed through the fence shortly after the start of the Golden Slipper but bounced back without issue as she filled the placings in both the Percy Sykes and Champagne Stakes the following month.
She’s come back in good order this time in, and her latest run was full of merit as she tracked race favourite and eventual winner, Apocalyptic throughout and fought strongly to hold second.
I think she’ll relish stepping out to 1800m, but she will need a touch of luck from the wide gate in the Gloaming Stakes.
GANGSTA GRANNY has been terrific in both runs back this preparation and she looks well placed to get another win on the board.
Resuming in heavy conditions in the Toy Show Quality, the daughter of Written Tycoon settled just off the leader and shot for home 200m out before being run down in the shadows of the post by star mare and subsequent Group 1 winner, Autumn Glow.
Last start she endured a tough run, three wide and exposed throughout in the Sheraco Stakes but she fought gamely and finished a very credible third.
At peak fitness, she draws to enjoy a much kinder run in transit and Zac Lloyd takes over the steering for team Hawkes.
ELAMAZ just looked to peak on his run when kicking off his campaign over 2000m in the Kingston Town Stakes.
Having only his second start on Australian soil, the Gleneagles gelding travelled nicely behind the leading group and looked like he was going to be in the finish as he was brought into clear running but held his ground over the final furlong.
The former European galloper made a big impression when kicking off for the Waterhouse / Bott team back in June, scoring a gritty all-the-way win over 2000m in the Listed McKell Cup.
Fitter for the first up run, he looks set for a much-improved performance and with Tim Clark to take the reins, I expect him to take up the running and give them something to catch.
MISS ROUMBINI has been the runner up in both of her runs this campaign and another win looks imminent for this talented mare.
She returned with a gallant effort in the Cockram Stakes, finishing off strongly after travelling wide without cover throughout.
She had the job ahead from barrier thirteen last time in the Sir Rupert Clarke and after settling second last, she produced a barnstorming finish to get within three quarters of a length of Sepals.
A very honest mare, she’s yet to miss a top four spot in eleven career starts and I expect her to be right in the finish once again.
I’ve been with ROSELYN’S STAR at his past two starts and I’m keen to stick with him.
At his latest outing, over this track and trip, the son of Shalaa was held up momentarily at the 300m mark but let down strongly, only to be run down right up the line.
He did hold a two-length gap back to third and he lines up here at peak fitness.
He returned off a lengthy break with a very encouraging effort here but just looked a bit flat second up when he failed to finish off.
Lightly raced, he showed plenty of promise in his first preparation, recording a win and two second placings, one of which was in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes.
He’s come back in top order and draws to receive an economical run under Zac Lloyd.