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

Shayne O’Cass has made a long-priced runner his best bet of the day while Mitch Cohen also has a value bet to kick off the day. Get their race-by-race tips and analysis for Rosehill on Saturday.

Mitch Cohen
8 min read
July 18, 2025 - 1:18PM

Racing writers Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass present their race-by-race tips for the 10-race Winter Challenge meeting at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

MITCH’S BEST BET
Race 5 No.5 SPYWIRE

MITCH’S BEST VALUE
Race 1 No.6 ALPHARD

SHAYNO’S BEST BET
Race 9 No.8 PHEARSON

SHAYNO’S BEST VALUE
Race 4 No.10 ISLAND DREAM

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RACE 1: TRAFFIC WARDEN @ DARLEY HCP (1200m)

Shayne O’Cass: Hello Mitchy. A fabulous late season bunch of soon-to-be three-year-olds to get us underway on Saturday. SPICE PRAWN (11) is the fourth foal of dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour; herself a granddaughter of Twiglet. Spice Prawn should have nearly won on debut on the Kensington track IMHO. 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’. He looks a nice horse; oh and he’s a half to Think About It too!

Mitch Cohen: I can’t believe they put up $26 around ALPHARD (6) and he’s into his right price now at $7.50. There is no doubt in my mind that he should have won first-up behind Sapphire Rose at Canterbury when he just had no luck with plenty to offer. He only needs to get out from barrier one to show his quality. SAPLING (10) might not have beaten much in her maiden victory at Wyong last time but there was plenty to like about the performance. She will take plenty of benefit from the win. The same goes for I SHOW SPEED (4). He was excellent winning on debut at Canberra.

Spice Prawn is a key hope at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Picture: Bradley Photos
Spice Prawn is a key hope at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Picture: Bradley Photos

• EXPERT TIPS: Clinton Payne’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

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RACE 2: MIDWAY HCP (1300m)

Shayno: 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 (1) who runs here as well. Difference might be a more favourable draw for ‘Tavi’ 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. The 1300m looks like it is tailor-made for this absolute dead-ringer for his old man.

Mitch: DENMAN STAR (2) has won a quarter of his 16 starts and tipping he can add to that strong record here. He showed an excellent turn of speed to win first-up at Canterbury and trainer Angela Davies has kept the freshness in his legs with a month between runs. Good draw a huge tick. There was nothing wrong with the first-up win of ROLLING MAGIC (1) in the same grade. Barrier 10 makes life harder this time but he’s in form. HARRY’S BAR (6) is racing consistently and should be ready to peak third up.

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RACE 3: TAB HIGHWAY HCP (1100m)

Shayno: Love the name, love the horse. Who else could I be talking about Mitchy than PONY SOPRANO (9)? I know you like him too – I’ll leave it to you to explain the why – but I just want to give a mention to his trainer Robert Agnew who has a small team up there at Port Macquarie but he was clever enough to buy this horse for $18,000 and then of course there is the stalemate Show ‘Em Howl. Of the others, HIGHWAY STRIP (2) is the obvious and VEECEE (8) is the overs.

Mitch: PONY SOPRANO (9) has been slashed from $19 into $6.50 and it’s easy to see why. This Robert Agnew-trained featured in a Country Championships Qualifier last preparation and wasn’t far away for a horse without much experience. His trial tells me he’s come back better than ever. FIRST LANDING (1) was only a touch over a length off Storm The Ramparts last start so that’s always going to read well for a race like this. Barrier 15 has to be the concern. HIGHWAY STRIP (2) wouldn’t know how to run a bad race.

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RACE 4: STUART MACDERMID HCP (1500m)

Shayno: Welcome back Jay Ford; he’s riding ISLAND DREAM (10) here for Chris Waller, a filly of some promise IMHO. She’s only raced four times – handed in a big 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. Not even sure of she will step out of her box which leaves it to her stablemate MAORI CHIEF (3) who was close enough to a good-thing beaten here last start; barrier one can be a curse at times. That time was a curse!

Mitch: AMUSING (12) is capable of bouncing back after producing an underwhelming run second-up. She was luckless before that in Saturday company so I am eager to be forgiving of her last start effort. We get a double figure quote to find out. DON’T FORGET JACK (1) is racing in top form with two wins in four starts this preparation. He will be one of the strongest late. MR VERSE (2) looks to be a progressive type and his Sunshine Coast win had plenty of merit.

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RACE 5: PRIVATE LIFE @ COOLMORE HCP (1200m)

Shayno: SPYWIRE (5) has raced twice at Rosehill, Mitchy. 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. Spywire’s 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. UNSTOPABULL (8) and AXIUS (10) are well in contention.

Mitch: I am eager to stay with SPYWIRE (5) and have made him my best on the program. He didn’t have the clearest passage in the straight first-up as a gelding but looks to have returned in good order. He strips fitter here and will be ready to win. Ciaron Maher-trained stablemate AXIUS (10) is the clear danger. He was impressive first-up at Randwick Kensington and the runner-up Epic Proportions has won since. YOSHINOBU (6) has raced in stakes company throughout his career and can run well fresh in lesser grade.

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RACE 6: MYPLATES HCP (1200m)

Shayno: USEAPIN (9) finished sixth of nine first-up but only beaten two-lengths first-up. 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/fast late, but sometimes a bit too slow early.

Mitch: The only reason TUILERIES (7) isn’t even shorter in the market is the wide draw. She’s clearly the horse to beat in this but just needs to overcome barrier 10. Her class should carry her a long way. ART’S ALIVE (6) was tough on speed first-up and only went by less than half a length. You’d expect her to be right there again from a good draw. DOLLAR MAGIC (1) put in a rare flat run last start but she has been a consistent performer at this level throughout her career.

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RACE 7: MOSTYN COPPER HCP (2400m)

Shayno: FIOPROSPERO (10) was one of a handful of horses that can count themselves unlucky out that Benchmark 78 here two weeks ago won by GOOD BANTER (3) who swept home unimpeded down the outside. Given she (Good Banter) 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.

Mitch: CORMAC T (2) was on the wrong end of a photo finish last time but can go one better here. He’s rock hard fit now, has a win over the 2400m to his name and a good draw too. He’s right in this. ASSAILANT (7) got back and was caught deep when hard in the market last time but shouldn’t suffer the same fate here from barrier one. A bounce-back performance shouldn’t surprise. FIOPROSPERO (10) and GOOD BANTER (3) come out of the same form race as Cormac T and can run well again.

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RACE 8: SCHWEPPES SPRINT (1100m)

Shayno: Let’s look at DISNECK (7)’s Rosehill 1100m runs. First of his three was in the Golden Gift 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. STORM THE RAMPARTS (8) is flying.

Mitch: WITH YOUR BLESSING (2) was only narrowly getting beaten in Group 3 company behind Iowna Merc the last time we saw him at the races and that looks like great form for this. He has trialled up really nicely ahead of his return and would look well-suited in better company later this prep. SOUTH OF INDIA (12) was a winner at his last visit to this track and trip.

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RACE 9: ASAHI SUPER DRY WINTER CHALLENGE (1500m)

Shayno: 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).

Mitch: ROBUSTO (1) is going to take a lot of beating in the Winter Challenge. His Stradbroke Handicap run was a clear forget but he was back to his best when surging home last start in the Winter Stakes. Third-up from a good draw, he’s hard to beat. The drier the better for ACCREDITED (4). He was excellent finishing third in that Winter Stakes and will relish firmer footing here. THUNDERLIPS (10) and ESTADIO MESTALLA (2) both have big claims in a competitive affair.

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RACE 10: TOYOTA FORKLIFTS HCP (1300m)

Shayno: If BUNKER HUT (4) wins, it might just be the draw we all point to. Mind you, we could say the same if he gets beat, given barrier one 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?

Mitch: KING OF ROSEAU (6) comes into the last after a month freshen-up. Trainer Peter Snowden has given him a tick off trial since his last start where he was a super winner from back in the pack at this track and trip. He will be ready to launch late. BUNKER HUT (4) can run well second-up after a credible first-up performance. Expecting him to be poised to pounce from barrier one. KERGUELEN (12) hasn’t been far away while WAR ETERNAL (2) can give a sight at odds.

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

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

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/horse-racing/tips/mitch-cohen-and-shayne-ocasss-racebyrace-tips-analysis-for-rosehill-gardens-on-saturday/news-story/798fb58c604dfea8767e6fc3f7ab58a5