Rosehill stages a 10-race meeting on Saturday, with the Listed Winter Stakes the headline event on a typically testing midwinter program.
The track was rated a Soft 7 as of Wednesday, though with sunny weather forecast for the remainder of the week, there is scope for improvement before raceday. The rail is out 1m, moving back in from the 6m position used last week, which raises the possibility of a kinder strip closer to the fence. If that plays out, inside draws and economical runs could become important, particularly once jockeys get a feel for the surface early in the day.
While it may not be the deepest Rosehill card of the season, there is still plenty for punters to work through across 10 races. With conditions set to improve, let’s get into the Winter Stakes form and try to find a few winners.
ISLAND DEC (5) was no match for the flying Ice Kool two starts ago in a stronger race at Randwick but did find the line well.
The Robert & Luke Price-trained mare appreciated the rise to this distance last start at Canterbury, where she let down powerfully to win by just under a length.
She’s at peak fitness now and gets the perfect track for her.
Adam Hyeronimus will likely settle in the second half of the field, but there looks to be plenty of speed in the race, which will aid his cause.
| 5. Island Dec (4) J: Adam Hyeronimus 58kg 5×671 T: Robert & Luke Price |
SHE WITHIN (22) can be a hit or miss proposition, but when she is on, she’s hard to ignore.
The Danny Williams-trained mare got back last start over this distance at Randwick before working home well to finish 4.15 lengths sixth.
She was electric two starts ago in a similar Highway Handicap over 1100m where she savaged the line through the pack to win by just over half a length.
A repeat of that run will see her right in this and that’s what I’m banking on.
| 22. She Within (4) Scratched: | |||
OMALONG (1) debuted in impressive fashion last start with a win over this distance at Warwick Farm.
The Chris Waller-trained colt was slow away after lunging at the gates before they opened but produced a powerful finishing burst from the back to run down his rivals and salute by 1.24 lengths.
He’ll be better for the experience and gets the benefit of gun apprentice Siena Grima’s 2kg claim.
The gate is a touch tricky, but there looks to be good speed in the race, which should allow Grima to find a spot with cover.
| 1. Omolong (6) J: Siena Grima 58kg 1 T: Chris Waller |
As the short price suggests, BIG RED TEQUILA (1) looks awfully hard to beat racing against her own sex.
While the Joe Pride-trained Shamus Award mare was no match for Ice Kool two starts back, she should have finished closer than 2.35 lengths second given she was held up on the fence at a crucial stage.
Despite racing three-wide the trip last start over 1000m at Randwick, she still let down strongly to finish just under a length fourth to Ice Kool.
She’ll strip fitter and won third-up last preparation.
| 1. Big Red Tequila (5) J: Adam Hyeronimus 60.5kg 11×24 T: Joseph Pride |
HELLO CAPTAIN (4) was a sickening watch for those who took the shorts about him last start.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding had won three of his four career starts leading into the 1300m contest at Randwick but was held up badly on the fence and didn’t get out until it was too late, finishing just under a length fourth. He should have won, pure and simple.
He’s at peak fitness now and gets the services of 2kg claiming apprentice Siena Grima.
If the young hoop gets him clear air entering the straight, then he should be hard to hold out.
| 4. Hello Captain (3) J: Siena Grima 60.5kg 1×114 T: Chris Waller |
JUST TOO FLY (2) started his career in fine style in Western Australia, which included a win in the Group 3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Given his potential, he was transferred to Chris Waller’s Sydney stable but unfortunately largely disappointed in three starts last preparation.
The son of Justify returns a gelding and the procedure looks to have had the desired effect, as he was slick in two trials, the most recent seeing him charge home under his own steam to win.
Siena Grima can settle just off what looks like a strong speed.
| 2. Just Too Fly (7) J: Siena Grima 59.5kg x870x T: Chris Waller |
MO CHROI (5) is a lightly raced Irish import that started his Australian career in the best possible way.
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained gelding led briefly before taking a sit over 1550m at Canterbury last start. He looked to be in a spot of bother stuck on the fence, but he scraped the Dulux to charge home and win by 1.22 lengths.
Prior to coming to Australia, he won over 2010m second-up, so this looks well within his wheelhouse.
He’s drawn wide, but top front-running jockey Tim Clark rides and will likely roll forward to try and dictate the race.
| 5. Mo Chroi (12) J: Tim Clark 57kg 3x1x1 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
SMASHING TIME (12) faces his stiffest test to date but is racing in great form and chasing his third win in a row.
Two starts ago over 1200m at Gosford, the Robert & Luke Price-trained gelding made short work of the wide draw to cross and lead before fighting strongly to win by just under a length.
He followed that up last start over this course and distance when leading his rivals a merry dance for an all-the-way 2.24 length win.
With just 52kg on his back after Molly Fitzgerald’s claim, he could prove hard to catch.
| 12. Smashing Time (2) J: Mollie Fitzgerald 55kg 0x211 T: Robert & Luke Price |
MIDNIGHT DYNAMITE (4) has been low flying this preparation with three wins from four starts.
The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding impressed last start when letting down powerfully to win the Listed Civic Stakes by 1.66 lengths.
Three starts ago, he dominated on speed when saluting by 2.11 lengths over 1350m at Doomben.
He’s undefeated in three starts over this distance and while he’s drawn a touch sticky, Kerrin McEvoy can counter that by driving forward early.
| 4. Midnight Dynamite (10) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 57kg x1121 T: Bjorn Baker |
PUNTIN (4) didn’t come up last preparation and was sent to the paddock following two race starts.
The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding was excellent two preparations ago which included a win in this class over this course and distance and a close second to Oh Diamond Lil.
A return to that sort of form will see him right in this and his two trials this time in suggest that he may be close to doing so.
Tom Sherry can cross and find a forward position most likely on the back of Supermassive.
| 4. Puntin (6) J: Tom Sherry 59kg 3x60x T: Bjorn Baker |