Rosehill Saturday Turf Talk: Mitch Cohen’s big throw at stumps on $151 shot

Form analysts Mitch Cohen is backing a Chris Waller runner at a huge price at Rosehill on Saturday while Shayne O’Cass has ‘gone mad’ and declared a horse in the Highway.

Form analysts Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate all the key chances on the 10-race card at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Mitch is keen to back the Chris Waller-trained KIRKEBY (Race 7 No.1) at huge odds, while Shayno has made EVERLASTING STARS (Race 3 No.13) his best bet of the day.

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Shayno: Hello Mitchy. First off, Happy birthday to all our four-legged friends of the equine species! We wouldn’t have a job without them and our Saturday’s would be pretty boring.

Mitch: I could see you working as a host at an upmarket Thai restaurant if it weren’t for ‘the great game’ Shayno! As for our thoroughbred mates, like most of us I reckon plenty are going to hate rain on their birthday weekend too.

Shayno: Would be nice to say we tipped the first metro winner of 2025/26. I am with BARBRAY (Race 1 No.2) for form reasons that are quite obvious but he also happens to have two of my all time favourite 2YOs as his third and fourth dams; Merlene and Bold Promise.

Mitch: I was with AMUSING (Race 1 No.5) last start and see no sense in dropping off her here, particularly with the scratching of her main rival Sister Daae. J-Mac is used to riding winners in the Godolphin royal blue but it will be a new one for trainer Chris Waller.

An Amusing finish! 🤩

Amusing wins in a thrilling photo finish in race 4 at Rosehill! @AlyshaCollett@[e-mail]/il0yD21HPi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 19, 2025

• NSW racing in the hands of the weather gods

Shayno: Hope all the ex-jockeys have fun at their annual reunion day Mitchy. Wonder if the Pumper, the Enforcer and the Iceman will be there? They were the days when jockeys had more clever nicknames than J-Mac and Ollie and Gibbo (God love ‘em all).

Mitch: You’ve missed one of the best in my option. Luke ‘Sausage’ Rolls. He’s got a couple at Newcastle on Saturday. Jason ‘Stubby’ Holder another favourite in South Australia.

Shayno: I have been on PHEARSON (Race 6 No.5) all preparation so I can say with absolute authority that he was both unlucky and brave in the Winter Challenge last start. He is a Festival Stakes winner at this track and trip remember.

Phearson leads the whole way to take out the final race at Randwick! @BWiddupRacingpic.twitter.com/GyUBE8wcgF

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 2, 2024

• Wynen hoping to strike gold at Rosehill on Saturday with Yulong cast-off

Mitch: We agree Shayno. He’s finally got one thing in his favour, barrier two! He jumped from barrier 12, 11 and then eight in the Winter Challenge where he was trapped three-deep and battled on well. He gets his chance here.

Shayno: I must have gone mad, my best is in a Highway! EVERLASTING STARS (Race 3 No.13). Speaking of gone mad, are you tipping something at $151 tomorrow?

Mitch: I could be miles off Shayno – and often am – but I thought KIRKEBY (Race 7 No.1) was a crazy price. Granted it’s been two years since he’s won but he’s been known to fire third-up and handles the conditions. I’ll take something small the win and a bet the place at $20 to find out.

Originally published as Rosehill Saturday Turf Talk: Mitch Cohen’s big throw at stumps on $151 shot