Ray Thomas delves into a big card of racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

In form mare So Newchee Thinks, currently in foal, will look to extend her winning streak at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday at her farewell to racing.

So Newchee Thinks will look to extend her winning streak on Saturday Picture: Bradley Photos

Pregnant So Newchee Thinks is chasing her third successive win in the Ranvet Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens at her final race start on Saturday – barring an unexpected weather event or some other unforeseen circumstance.

“February 1 is the last day she is able to race,’’ trainer Kris Lees revealed.

“I don’t want the races to be put back to Sunday because she won’t be able to run.’’

So Newchee Thinks was served and later tested in foal to leading sire Starspangledbanner last spring and under the rules of racing the mare must be retired to stud after Saturday.

She has never been in better form for her race farewell on Saturday after successive midweek wins at Warwick Farm and Kensington.

“I don’t believe we have ever had her going as well but she is by So You Think and although she has always shown us ability, she needed a bit of time,’’ Lees said.

So Newchee Thinks is at $7.50 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting behind $5 favourite Kapakiri with another Lees-trained starter, Age Of Sail at $10.

“Age Of Sail didn’t have a lot of luck first-up but he is out to a more suitable distance on Saturday,’’ Lees said.

So Newchee Thinks will farewell racing on Saturday

“He’s drawn the rails and will probably be back on the fence so he is going to need a nice run through.”

The Lees-trained Brudenell ($9) rates among the main chances in the Group 3 $250,000 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).

Brudenell was held up behind the leaders coming around the turn in the Listed Canterbury Sprint and had to wait for eventual winner Iowna Merc and Pereille to sprint past him before getting out into the clear and finishing strongly for third, beaten less than a length.

“You can make a case he probably should have won or at the very least gone close with clear running the other day,’’ Lees said.

“But from the good barrier (four) he looks to get third the fence or the one-one so he should get his chance.

“Admittedly, there is some progressive horses down in the weights that are on their way through so it’s a good race but Brudenell is there to run well.”

Lees is also optimistic Alliri ($14) can continue her form surge in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m).

Alliri broke through at her fourth start to win her maiden at the Beaumont track then backed that up with a convincing win at Kensington.

“We had her in at Canterbury (Friday night) but decided to go to Rosehill where she has a nice barrier (six) and a lightweight (53kg),’’ Lees said.

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

Royal Randwick

R1, Rapbidash $6-$5.50, Adolphus $8-$7.50, Wal’s Angels $15-$7.50

R2, Pocketing $2.50-$2.25, Not That Easy $11-$7.50

R3, Burma Star $2.80-$2.60, Blitzburg $8-$3.70

R4, Tempted $3.60-$3.30, The Playwright $3.60-$3.50, Snitzel Miss $4.60-$4.40

R5, Polyglot $2.80-$2.40, Lilac $4.60-$3.90, Panic $15-$11

R6, Kapakiri $8-$5, Piggyback $8-$5.50

R7, Step Aside $4.60-$4, Bunker Hut $8-$7, Lady Boss $11-$8

R8, Accredited $2.80-$2.60-$2.90 despite some significant support including bets of $2000 at $2.80 and $2000 at $2.60, Willaidow $4.60-$4.20, Hard To Say $11-$6.50, Brudenell $11-$9, Wategos $15-$9.50-$12

R9, Spring Lee $4.60-$3.40, Inhibitions $8-$5.50 including a bet of $1000 at $5.50/$2.10, Eye Of The Fire $11-$8.50

R10, Yorkshire $1.90-$1.70 with bets of $2500 at $1.80, $2200 at $1.90

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 2,3,7

Race 4: 1,3,4,9

Race 5: 3,6

Race 6: 1,5,6,10

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1,2,6,11

Race 8: 3,4,7,9

Race 9: 6,12,14

Race 10: 8,14,15,18

PRICE CHECK

Yorkshire (race 10) is the best-backed runner on the Rosehill program. The promising John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Yorkshire has firmed from $1.90 to $1.70 with TAB Fixed Odds after bets of $2500 at $1.80 and $2200 at $1.90.

TRIAL POINTERS

Burma Star (race 3) took a sit behind the leaders then sprinted brilliantly to win his Hawkesbury heat by a half-length, recording 45s flat for the 800m which was nearly a full second faster than any other trial that day. Godolphin two-year-old primed for the Canonbury Stake.

Lilac (race 5) was having her second barrier trial this campaign and showed brilliant speed to lead throughout and win by a widening six lengths from Gatsby’s with multiple Group 1 winner Fangirl fourth, beaten more than 12 lengths. Lilac broke 55s for 900m in the trial.

SECTIONAL STARS

Polyglot (race 5) ran up to his impressive trial form with an easy first-up win at Rosehill two weeks ago. The Godolphin three-year-old reeled off a final 600m in 34.17s including an 11.45s closing 200m sectional.

Zondee (race 10) settled at the rear of the field, went wide on the turn and finished powerfully to score last start. The Team Hawkes-trained Zondee sustained a strong gallop over the final 600m, recording 34.30s with an 11.55s closing 200m sectional.

BEST BET

Yorkshire (race 10) might keep punters waiting until the Rosehill closer but he should win. Promising four-year-old with four wins (and two placings) from six starts and goes to Rosehill third-up after a convincing win at the Wyong standalone meeting. Yorkshire has a lot of things going for him – he has good tactical speed, he’s drawn to suit, and gets James McDonald.

The exciting Yorkshire looks tough to beat on Saturday

VALUE

Tapa Kick (race 1) was shouldering a massive 64.5kg when resuming at Muswellbrook and stuck to his task to finish third over 1280m on a soft track. He drops 7kg for the TAB Highway, gets out to a more suitable 1500m, he’s drawn to get the run of the race from barrier 3, and has never missed a top three finish in 11 starts, winning twice – yet the bookies are betting close to double figure odds. Terrific each way value.

Originally published as Ray Thomas delves into a big card of racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday