Rosehill Gardens plays host to another quality 10-race card on Saturday, with the Group 1 Coolmore Classic between the fillies and mares highlighting the card.
Some showers throughout the week could have us racing on a wet track, but fine weather is expected on race day with the rail in the true position across the track.
The 1500m feature is complemented by the Group 2 Phar Lap and Ajax Stakes, two key lead-up races with the ATC Derby and Oaks in mind.
With The Championships fast approaching, see who we’ve landed on this Saturday at Rosehill in our full set of tips below!
AUDREY’S LANE (13) resumes for Brad Widdup looking to add to an impressive first-up record.
The Pierro mare looks forward enough for this 1200m assignment based on recent trials, while she also held her own here at Rosehill last August when she finished just outside the money over 1500m on a very wet day.
She’s still lightly-raced for a five-year-old and has proven capable of handling all conditions. Down at the weights and likely to roll forward from barrier 7, she’ll be tough to catch.
James McDonald and Chris Waller combine with TAZIMA (4) looking ready to peak third-up.
The Irish import out of Group 1 2000 Guineas winner Awtaad has always looked in need of further in both runs back this prep, finishing a distant third at Warwick Farm over the mile last time out after struggling to run on at Caulfield fresh.
He’s been given a trial between runs to keep him sharp after nearly a month off and draws to find the box seat early from the inside barrier with some good wet track form also working in his favour.
Happy to give PEMBREY (3) another chance here third-up with a run under her belt over 1200m.
Tony Gollan’s filly caught the eye when winning over shorter on debut at Eagle Farm last month, then venturing to Randwick to contest the Sweet Embrace Stakes where she was caught in a late pocket looking to try and shift out.
She still ran on well to finish 1.5 lengths off Spicy Miss, and she’ll likely handle soft conditions again with James McDonald on board. If the pair can settle midfield nice and early from an awkward gate in the Magic Night Stakes field, they’ll be right there when it counts.
CENTRAL EUROPE (5) and Warwoven clash again, and I’m leaning the way of the former after going down by the smallest of margins in a head bob in the Skyline Stakes on debut.
Some late traffic was against the Frankel colt at the top of the straight, but I thought he accelerated well over the final furlong once Jason Collett felt for him.
He’s another solid chance in a strong book of rides for J-Mac on Saturday and we’ll likely see the pair settle back early from the gate to save something for the finish in this year’s Pago Pago.
It’s Waller vs Waterhouse in the Sky High and there’s a bit to like about the overseas prospect TRINITY COLLEGE (6).
The Dubawi entire was thrown in the deep end on debut in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes a fortnight ago, seen settling right back in the run and spinning his wheels at the top of the straight, before finding top gear to really charge the line hard.
The mile was well short of his best, as we saw last year when he ran second over 2400m in the Group 1 Prix De Paris at Longchamp.
Where he winds up from the inside gate is the query, but he’s the got the class to really measure up here back a level.
KING’S SECRET (4) is a bit of a track/trip specialist for Joe Pride with a pair of wins to his name.
He’s still lightly-raced for a four-year-old and was airborne to start the year before being sent back to the paddock briefly, winning in back-to-back succession at Randwick and Canterbury, the latter over 1200m.
The son to Shalaa flew home late to run second in a recent trial at Warwick Farm, closing a big gap behind Kiss Goodnight, who led all the way and is a smart filly in her own right.
Andrew Adkins knows her inside and out and the pair are drawn to get the gun run late from the inside barrier.
SIXTIES (1) appeals back a level for Chris Waller.
He’s short in betting, but that’s about what you’d expect for a colt who went within half a length of Observer in the Group 1 Australian Guineas two weeks ago.
His two wins to kick off his prep started here at Rosehill when he put paid to his rivals by more than 1.5 lengths, and he should benefit from the drop back to 1500m with J-Mac hopping back in the saddle.
The wide gate does make this slightly tricky, but on pure class, he should have lengths on most of these with another Group 1 tilt not off the table sometime soon.
CILACAP (14) is a definite each-way chance here third-up where she remains unbeaten.
It’s been a while since Grahame Begg’s mare last won a race (nearly a year to be exact), but she’s won twice at this stage of her prep and was strong all the way through the line last time out over much shorter in the Millie Fox Stakes.
Granted, it took a while for her to wind up, but once she got going over the final 100m or so she really warmed to the task and indicated she might want longer.
The gate and the fact Rachel King carries only 51kg only strengthens her claims, and keep in mind she was eight weeks between runs last time out, so there should be natural improvement still to come.
GLOBE (1) can mix his form first-up but there’s been plenty to take away from his two recent trial wins, both suggesting he’s forward enough for this.
The 1500m trip is well short of his best, but he did run a drum over this trip at The Valley last August on his way to to winning the Group 1 Might and Power at Caulfield later in the spring.
The wide gate leaves Tommy Berry with a bit to overcome, but always honest and capable of rolling forward early and using his early speed, we’re getting a good price to find out if that trial form counts for much.
Quite the similar setup here for AMREEKIYAH (18) to what she saw a few weeks ago when winning over the same trip at Randwick.
The Snowden-trained mare bolted in to get the better of Sovereign Hill over the late stages, the pull at the weights proving the main factor, which she gets again here carrying only 54kg.
This is slightly tougher again and she might need to find some room along the rail, but there’s no query on her turn of foot as she looks to add to a growing record that features four wins from nine starts.