Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses all 10 races at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis.

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses all 10 races for Rosehill Gardenson Saturday, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis.

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RACE 1: Traffic Warden @ Darley Hcp 1200m

SPICE PRAWN (11) is the fourth foal of dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour; herself a granddaughter of ace racemare and broodmare gem, Twiglet. Spice Prawn should have won on debut on the Kensington track in my opinion. Her two trials were excellent. The draw is a concern though. ROYAL AIR FORCE (7), a $900,000 Magic Millions Yearling and son of Wootton Bassett, who was born and raised on the Apple Isle has the ‘blinkers on’ first time as he resumes off two typical ‘Waller trials’. Nice horse; he’s a half to Think About It too.

Bet: Spice Prawn each-way, if scratched Royal Air Force each-way

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RACE 2: Midway (Bm72) 1300m

PRETTY TAVI (11), whose seventh dam is the legendary Chicquita, has finished second and third respectively in her two 1300m Rosehill Midways, including the first-up one on June 28 behind Rolling Magic who runs here as well. Difference might be a more favourable draw for her this time. DENMAN STAR (2) had trialled exceedingly well prior to his bookie-busting Canterbury win. Got a cracking ride that day from Zac Lloyd who is back in time for Saturday.

Bet: Pretty Tavi to win

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RACE 3: Tab Highway Hcp (C2) 1100m

NATION CHANGING (19) is, without peer, the horse I am most looking forward to seeing how it goes (if it comes, of course). He rolled a long odds-on favourite on debut then won a Class 1 easily which is not always the case. Spelled, won his Gunnedah trial by almost ten lengths on July 9. PONY SOPRANO (9) (love that name) will win a Highway at some stage, nothing surer, and maybe this is the one. In an astute barn. HIGHWAY STRIP (2) is obvious and VEECEE (8) is overs.

Bet: Nation Changing each-way, if scratched Pony Soprano each-way

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RACE 4: Stuart Macdermid (Bm72) 1500m

Welcome back Jay Ford; he’s on ISLAND DREAM (10) here for Chris Waller, a filly of some promise. She’s only raced four times; big on debut, won the next two then was pitched into the Kembla Classic and was only beaten five lengths. Trials are good, barrier not so good. MAORI CHIEF (3) was close enough to a good thing beaten here last start; barrier 1 can be a curse at times. CLIMB THE LADDER (9) is first-up here, keep in mind, he was ripping home on debut at Mornington to Summer Flame no less.

Bet: Island Dream each-way, if scratched Maori Chief to win and Climb The Ladder to place

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RACE 5: Private Life @ Coolmore (Bm78) 1200m

SPYWIRE (5) has raced twice at Rosehill. You may recall he was a very easy and impressive winner on debut three starts prior to his third to Storm Boy in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. His other Rosehill run came as recently as June 28 when a close (and unlucky) second to King’s Secret. FLYING DESTINY (2) is another good ‘Rosehill horse’. Always runs well when he draws well and he’s got box three on Saturday. UNSTOPPABLE (8) and AXIUS (10) are well in contention.

Bet: Spywire to win

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RACE 6: Myplates (Bm78) 1200m

USEAPIN (9) finished sixth of nine first-up but only beaten two lengths. To be fair, if the horse had any luck, he darn near could have won. Whatever the case, we can all agree that it was a most encouraging return from the Yes Yes Yes filly. The 1200m suits big time. TUILERIES (7) is a quality filly from nose to tail. One wonders what might have been in the Magic Millions Guineas had she not drawn 18 of 18. Love the horse, hate the draw here. TOTOKA (8) is slow early and fast late, but sometimes a bit too slow early.

Bet: Useapin each-way, quinella 7, 8, box trifecta 7, 8, 9, 11

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RACE 7: Mostyn Copper (Bm78) 2400m

FIOPROSPERO (10) was one of a handful of horses that can count themselves unlucky out of that Benchmark 78 here two weeks ago won by Good Banter who swept home, unimpeded down the outside. GOOD BANTER (3) won an Adrian Knox, she is more than likely a better horse than Fioprospero but personally I like him more at 2400m being a son of Fiorente on the way to a peak. Speaking of horses looking for a trip, the Dundeel mare GENTILESCHI (9) is ripe for 2400m now.

Bet: Fioprospero each-way

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RACE 8: Schweppes Sprint 1100m

Let’s look at the Rosehill 1100m runs of DISNECK (7). First of his three was in the Golden Gift on in November 2022 where he was eating up the ground to finish three lengths off Barber. Three weeks later he came back and thrashed Kimochi. His third one was June 2024 and he rushed home to finish second to In Flight on an unsuitably heavy track. Fair track would help. OUR KOBISON (4) likewise is deadly accurate at 1100m and his on-pace pattern suits Rosehill. Massive excuses last start. STORM THE RAMPARTS (8) is flying, BRUDENELL (1) too.

Bet: Disneck each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg 7, 2nd Leg 4

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RACE 9: Asahi Super Dry Winter Challenge 1500m

PHEARSON (8) is much too good a horse to have gone up at $23 and he’s met with support too. For one thing, he has won six races including a Liverpool City Cup and a Heat of the Provincial Championships among other things. He is third-up on Saturday and no one would have missed him charging down the outside here in the Winter Stakes. That was the race that Bjorn Baker’s rejuvenated, Ingham winner ROBUSTO (1) was so good in. Love and respect the consistency of the stablemate, THUNDERLIPS (10).

Bet: Phearson to win

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RACE 10: Toyota Forklifts (Bm88)

If BUNKER HUT (4) wins, it might just be the draw we all point too. Mind you, we could say the same if he gets beat, given barrier 1 can sometimes be a double-edged sword for horses and riders. Whatever the case may be, Bunker Hut is just so consistent and it never hurts to be on-pace at Rosehill. CLOUDLAND (3) was spectacular winning first-up. Sure, it was run to suit but who is to say this won’t be? ABLE WILLIE (9) has sent a lot of punters to the madhouse and the poorhouse but $41 seems long.

Bet: Bunker Hut to win, Able Willie to place

Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday