Rosehill races: Shayne O’Cass’ tips and extended preview

A filly who caught the eye on debut in a Listed race and has trialled impressively in recent weeks can cause an upset in the Up And Coming Stakes says form analyst Shayne O’Cass.

Brad Widdup prepares Hasty Honey who can cause an upset in the Up And Coming Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for the Rosehill meeting on Saturday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

ROSEHILL

Track: Soft 5. Rail: Our 6m from 1500m to W/Post, Out 4m remainder

RACE 1

Overview: Matthew Dunn has won 29 Highways and is favoured, literally, to make it 30 via the lightly-raced Take The Kitty who wasn’t beaten at all far in a Randwick Highway on July 15 then went to line untested in a second one there two weeks later. In Nash we trust! Rouge Lune was poking up along the fence late at Goulburn with not much room to move. Has the talent if he gets the luck. Speaking of luck, if Melody Again gets the room and the momentum - boom.

Bet: Take The Kitty to win

RACE 2

Overview: Wineglass Bay has been costly but consistent. Fourth-up, at home, 2000m, barrier 1, James McDonald - there’s every box ticked right there. Now with all that said, Wineglass Bay was $2.50 fav with the TAB Fixed Odds compared to Travelling Kate at $7.50. Let’s not forget, she beat him last start. There’s a bit of a weight turnaround but the difference in their respective draws from then to now is perhaps potentially more significant to the outcome.

Bet: Quinella 2, 3

Progressive stayer Marquess can make it back-to-back wins. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 3

Overview: Marquess, the son of Tavistock and dual Group 1 winner Purple, was $3.50 into $2.60 when he won first-up at Warwick Farm over 1300m. You wouldn’t see many more impressive wins. This is a decent step-up but at the moment, he is a horse with no ceiling. Foujita San was fifth of eight first-up but was arguably to the ‘run of the race’. Worth noting that his only win so far was second-up. The draw is perfect and so is the 1500m. Green Shadows has only won two from 14 but has some deep form.

Bet: Marquess to win, quinella 5, 8

RACE 4

Overview: Monfelicity is unplaced in all seven starts at her home track but she has run well in some decent races at the venue. How about a fourth to stablemate Raging Bull one day and a diminishing two and three-quarter lengths behind White Marlin and Manzoice. She might be in for her best campaign yet judging on her Hawkesbury win. Casual Connection ran a ten times better than his ninth of 11 first-up. Fitter, goes good second-up and the extra metres can only aid his cause. Go Troppo and Elettrica are potential medallists.

Bet: Monfelicity each-way

RACE 5

Overview: Smashing Eagle was very impressive ‘to the eye’ when he beat Garza Blanca here two weeks ago and the clock revealed why. Get a load of some of these 200m splits; 10.98, 10.76, 10.95 and his last 600m in 32.69. Different race this time with different rivals but he is very hard to tip against. Tristate couldn’t hold off Olentia here two weeks ago. No Olentia’s this time. Just needs to get over from that draw if he can. Hard to Say was both fast and brave here first-up. One of the biggest ‘watches’ all day is Xtravangant Star who does indeed have a bit of X-Factor.

Bet: Smashing Eagle to win

Smashing Eagle was impressive winning last start and can do again. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 6

Overview: Happy to play the ‘system horse’ in Pierossa who is first-up having last raced in a ‘classic’; in her case the ATC Oaks. That’s the system by the way. Fast forward to more recent times and the Snowden/ Triple Crown mare was as good as anything in her trial and better than most in fact. I say yes she can win unless the market says ‘no, wait’. Call Di went down fighting here first-up over 1400m. Worth noting that Nash rode her at her only win. Any of the Chris Waller trio could win; Mascaret is the pick of them only because of J-Mac.

Bet: Pierossa each-way

RACE 7

Overview: Best longshot all day is Hasty Honey. How is she $101? She ran a big race in the Woodlands on debut off just the one trial when fifth behind the very talented Hip Hip Hurrah. Spelled, has trialled twice and was closing off under zero pressure. Win or lose, I am certain she won’t disgrace herself. Griff was a street corner tip when he resumed in the Rosebud. Granted, it was a blanket finish but a lovely return from a horse who has unmistakeable quality. Encap probably has the biggest finish on any of these. Caballus and Tom Kitten are in the mix.

Bet: Hasty Honey each-way, quinella 10, 12

RACE 8

Overview: Kandinsky Abstract was the Easter Sale topper; he made $3 million in 2022 for reasons not limited to the fact that he is a full brother to Sunlight. He is a huge talent but he’s got a terrible draw. Still, it’s not as bad as Barber who will start from the outside alley. Then again, he jumped (awkwardly) from 13 of 14 and won the Golden Gift. Stablemate Corniche is flying at the trials. Reckon we might see Armed Forces in, and winning, stakes races this spring.

Bet: Kandinsky Abstract to win or if scratched Barber to win, Armed Forces to place

Political Debate (navy blue) holds off Sharp 'N' Smart (outside, red and blue) to win The Phoenix at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography.

RACE 9

Overview: Political Debate beat Sharp ‘N’ Smart in a Listed race at Eagle Farm two weeks prior to his herculean second in the J J Atkins. The now four-year-old was fantastic in the best Spring Preview you would ever see having not raced since the 2022 Golden Rose. Mission Phoenix beat Political Debate home in the Preview and is 2 from 3 at this track. Inver Park is much better suited at 1400m coming off an encouraging 1100m Aussie debut.

Bet: Political Debate to win

RACE 10

Overview: Arts is a market and yard watch being first-up since the Australasian Oaks in Adelaide and our ATC Oaks before that. In assessing Arts, you have to acknowledge how far she came in her first prep and then mark her ‘up’ again given she is a four-year-old, more mature and experienced, mare now. Brosnan has been gelded. There is at least one very big race in this horse. A Golden Eagle perhaps? The Kris Lees pair of Razeta and Loch Eagle are giant players.

Bet: Arts each-way, Brosnan each-way