Rosehill is set for a big Saturday, with Five Diamonds Day bringing 10 races and a trio of feature events to the track. The Group 3 Five Diamonds, Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes and Listed Golden Gift headline a card packed with plenty to look forward to.
The track is rated a Soft 7, with fine weather forecast in the lead-up and late showers possible on race day. The speed map and early positioning could prove crucial as the track conditions take shape.
We’ve worked through the key runners, main winning chances and betting opportunities. Now, let’s try to find some winners.
MAINSTAY (3) comes to town for the Highway Handicap looking to keep his perfect record intact.
The Messara & Gavranich-trained gelding let down powerfully to win at Scone by 1.86 lengths before easily accounting for his rivals at Muswellbrook two starts ago.
Last start over 1000m at Scone didn’t go to plan. Sent out as a $1.50 favourite, he was held up in the straight and lost a shoe. Once Aaron Bullock finally found a gap with a furlong to go, he charged to the line and won by a neck.
He takes on 1200m for the first time, but he’s rock-hard fit and has been strong late in all his races.
There looks to be good speed engaged, which should see Bullock land midfield or better before launching.
| 3. Mainstay (7) 59kg111 | |||
| Yet to taste defeat in three starts. When well in the market, favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 2.5 len in a Cl1 at Muswellbrook on October 5 over 1000m defeating Real Mccoy carrying 59kg at $1.18. Last start favourite; settled well back; won by a long-neck in a Cl2 at Scone on October 23 over 1000m in soft going defeating Won’thearmecoming carrying 61kg at $1.50. Undefeated in three starts and should relish the extra trip. | |||
MAIDOFF (5) was heavily backed last start over 1200m at Randwick but didn’t enjoy the best of runs.
The Clarry Conners-trained gelding raced three and four wide and loomed as a winning chance, but that early work took its toll and he finished 2.4 lengths fifth.
Prior to that, he had won back-to-back races at Illawarra Grange, including one over this distance for the first time.
He’s drawn better for Nash Rawiller and should enjoy a nice run just behind the leaders.
| 5. Maidoff (5) 58kgx5115 | |||
| Last start 5th of 14 in a Midway Bm72 at Randwick on October 24 over 1200m, 2.5 len behind Let’s Go Again with 58kg at $3.40. The run before that favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 2.75 len in a Mid Bm64 at Illawarra Grange on October 1 over 1300m defeating Point Score carrying 60kg at $2.10. Very tough to beat from the good gate. | |||
SAVVY SPY (3) has enjoyed rising in distance and is looking to win his third race in a row.
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained gelding looked a class above two starts ago at Hawkesbury, where he got to the outside and stormed home to win by 1.2 lengths, with third place more than six lengths away.
He stepped up to this distance at Warwick Farm last start and found himself trapped on the fence at the tail of the field. Before entering the final turn, Tim Clark got his mount to the outside to circle the field and dash clear, saluting by 1.42 lengths.
The outside barrier isn’t ideal, but he boasts an excellent turn of foot and just needs clear air in the run home to feature.
| 3. Savvy Spy (10) 55.5kg27311 | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. At the latest run favourite; settled well back; won by 1.4 len in a Bm78 at Warwick Farm on October 28 over 2400m on a soft track defeating Criteria with 54kg at $2.25. The run before that favourite; won by 1.2 len in a Bm64 at Hawkesbury on October 15 over 2000m on a soft track defeating Think I Do with 58.5kg at $2.60. Hard to stop in this vein of form. | |||
We’ve got a real Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles affair here, with half the hard-shelled foursome, DONATELLO and MICHELANGELO, lining up.
While he doesn’t wear purple blinkers, I’m with DONATELLO (6). He’ll love the rise in distance after settling last over 1500m at Randwick and charging home to finish second, just under a length away.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding proved too strong over this distance last time, scoring his maiden win at Hawkesbury by 1.2 lengths.
He remains down in the weights and will be piloted by Zac Lloyd.
| 6. Donatello (9) 54.5kg1×122 | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start came home strongly from last on the turn; 2nd of 8 in a 3&4yo Bm78 at Randwick on October 31 over 1500m, 0.8 len behind Agent Zero carrying 55kg at $3.60. The race before that 2nd of 7 in a 3&4yo Bm68 at Warwick Farm on October 21 over 1400m, 0.6 len behind Prince Of Verona carrying 59kg at $3.70. One of the chances looking for this trip. | |||
CASHOUT (1) ventures north after winning three of his four races this preparation in Victoria.
The Price & Kent Jnr-trained son of Capitalist returned as a gelding with a strong win on the Pakenham Synthetic before finishing second on the Hillside track second-up.
He returned to winning form with an emphatic three-length win on the synthetic, then produced his best performance last start over this distance at Cranbourne. He led all the way, dashing clear in the final furlong to put a gap in his rivals.
Dylan Gibbons can give him the run of the race from the low draw.
| 1. Cashout (3) 59kgx1211 | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. Last start favourite; scored a big 4 len win in a Bm74 at Cranbourne on October 23 over 1400m defeating Didn’t Miss Many carrying 58kg at $1.55. The start before that favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 3 len in a Bm66 at Pakenham Synthetic on October 2 over 1400m defeating Happy Link carrying 60kg at $1.90. | |||
SILENT INTENT (7) looked like a professional operator, winning two jump-outs ahead of his debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Plate at Flemington.
Unfortunately, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained colt raced in limited room and only got clear with 100m to go. He then hit the line hard to finish 2.05 lengths third.
He’s since won a jump-out, which should have tuned him up nicely for his second start.
Tim Clark is a good booking and should be able to settle in a prominent position.
| 7. Silent Intent (3) 56.5kg3 | |||
| Was well in the market at debut, 3rd in a small field in the LR Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington on October 3 over 1000m, on rain affected going; 2 len behind Musandam with 58kg at $4.80. | |||
The Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes is essentially a repeat of the Group 2 The Invitation, with most of that field lining up again.
Despite wanting to run about in the straight, LAZZURA (1) proved too strong. I can’t see her rivals turning the tables, especially as they meet under set-weight conditions.
Just two starts ago, she won her only previous race over this course and distance when claiming the Group 2 Golden Pendant.
From barrier 2, Tommy Berry should be able to minimise the risk of bad luck and settle on speed.
| 1. Lazzura (2) 57kg2×311 | |||
| Form hard to fault. At the latest run favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 0.5 len in a G2 The Invitation at Randwick on October 24 over 1400m defeating Infancy with 59kg at $2.70. The race before that favourite; came from midfield and won by 1.2 len in the G2 Golden Pendant at this track on September 26 over 1400m defeating Verona Rose with 58kg at $1.85. | |||
WELCOMETOTHESHOW (11) was unlucky not to challenge for the win in the Five Diamonds Prelude last start.
The Tyler Donaldson-Aitken-trained entire looked full of running but was trapped away on the fence. It took some doing, but he was able to extricate himself to the outside before hitting the line hard to finish 1.66 lengths third.
Two starts back, he was swamped on the line when finishing a neck third in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap.
Regular rider Craig ‘Froggy’ Newitt has made the trip from Melbourne. That’s a big positive, given he has won three of five races aboard him.
| 11. Welcometotheshow (9) 56kg26133 | |||
| Last start 3rd of 11 in the Five Diamonds Prelude at Randwick on October 24 over 1500m, 2 len behind Declichy Boulevard carrying 56kg at $6. The start before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 15 in the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 10 over 1600m, long-neck behind Lady Shenandoah carrying 52.5kg at $16. | |||
MERCY ME (2) gave a sight in front when resuming over this course and distance but was run down by fitter horses to finish just under a length third.
A slow start saw the Nathan Doyle-trained mare settle near the tail last time out, but she let down strongly to finish 2.07 lengths fourth.
She’ll strip fitter and won her only previous third-up race, over this distance at Gosford, when she led all the way to salute by 2.32 lengths.
Tim Clark takes the ride and should land in a great spot just behind the leaders, who could have to work from the outside barriers.
| 2. Mercy Me (4) 58kg20×34 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up rolled along in front then was edged out late 3rd of 11 in a Bm78 at this track on September 26 over 1100m, 0.9 len behind Annie’s Rose carrying 56kg at $3.50. Last start 4th of 10 in a Bm78 at this track on October 10 over 1100m, 2 len behind Fierce with 56.5kg at $5.50. | |||
HORSESHOE HILL (9) was scratched from the previous race in favour of this assignment, and it looks a good move by Bjorn Baker.
The All Too Hard mare resumed last start over 1000m at Warwick Farm and caught the eye, charging through the line after being held up to finish just under a length third to BRUCE I AM, who franked the form by winning at Randwick on Tuesday.
She’ll strip fitter and won second-up last preparation before going on to compete in black-type company.
Tommy Berry can drive forward from barrier 1 and give his mount a sweet run on speed.
| 9. Horseshoe Hill (1) 55kg067×3 | |||
| Dual acceptor. Second-up. First-up after six months 3rd of 9 in a Bm72 at Warwick Farm on October 21 over 1000m, 0.9 len behind Bruce I Am with 59kg at $3.60. Previously second-up ran on from midfield and won by 1.2 len in a F&M Bm72 at Randwick Kensington on March 25 over 1150m on a rain affected track defeating Lighthouse Lass carrying 58.5kg at $3.10. | |||
Rosehill Big Bets
The big bets are in for Five Diamonds Day. See which runners are attracting attention at Rosehill.