Shayne O’Cass’s extended preview and tips for Rosehill Gardens

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass examines every race for Group 1 Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday to point you in the right direction to finding a winner.

Hell I Am looks tough to beat in the Darby Munro Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Grant Guy

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Slipper meeting.

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: Out 2m

RACE 1

Overview: Air Of Alsace, a daughter of 2015 Ranvet winner Contributer, is a Midway runner-up here at Rosehill last winter. So far as her recent form goes, the Provincial-Midway Qualifier was run against her pattern; you can’t peg her with a 12th of 14 and be done with it. She is better than that. Vucetich, the son of Golden Slipper winner Forensics, was huge winning at Kembla. Strait Acer, winkers first time, tries every time.

The Bet: Air Of Alsace each-way

RACE 2

Overview: Sir Lucan got the Nash Rawiller treatment to win the Randwick City Stakes. Almost inclined to say ‘flattered’ under the circumstances. Sydney Cup favourite Glory Daze, the horse who ran in an English and Irish Derby (runner-up) was super impressive at Randwick but the ride helped. Pesto only has to make up four and half lengths to beat Glory Daze from their Feb 25 meeting and he’s $41 whereas Glory Daze is $2.60. As good as Glory Daze is, there just can’t be that much space between them.

The Bet: Pesto each-way

Gin Martini (centre) looks a good each-way chance in the Epona Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

Overview: Gin Martini ran third in the Baillieu on BMW Stakes day in 2021 as a two-year-old. She ran third in the ATC Oaks as a three-year-old and won the 3200m Sandown Cup as a four-year-old. Tough as teak, she was no worse than her stablemate Pink Ivory in the Aspiration; meaning to say, both were very good. By the way, Pink Ivory is a daughter of Lotteria and unbeaten in both second-up appearances. Thalassophile beat them both in the Aspiration.

The Bet: Gin Martini each-way

RACE 4

Overview: Phar Lap, Tulloch, Dulcify … Manzoice? Thirteen horses have won the VRC Derby/Rosehill Guineas including said trio of champions. Manzoice is no Tulloch, much less Phar Lap, but he did enough in the Randwick Guineas first-up to be super competitive in this and the ATC Derby that. Pericles is liable to peak here third-up off an easy win in the Autumn Classic. Elliptical wouldn’t have to go much above and beyond his Spring Champion run when he split Sharp ‘N’ Smart and She’s Extreme to win.

The Bet: Manzoice to win

RACE 5

Overview: Hell I Am has some fabulous numbers. For starters, he has won four of 10 and placed three times. He is three out of four at this same trip and comes off a Magic Millions Guineas third placing. Want to see a good trial? Go look. This is a dangerous thing to say and could come back to haunt but I don’t get all the fuss about Economics. Don’t get me wrong, he is a talented colt with a little bit of the old X-factor but he was plain as in the Fireball. If it was a Heavy 10, Opal Ridge would have been the bet of carnival.

The Bet: Hell I Am to win

RACE 6

Overview: Mo’unga’s only run at the track/trip was his Rosehill Guineas win in 2021 where he beat Sky Lab and Montefilia (runs here also). His only other start at Rosehill was his unforgettable win in the Dulcify. Spot on for this. Gold Trip was outstanding first-up since his Cup win. Has to be respected. Hinged is desperate for 2000m. Three years in a row on the weekend that Montefilia is in action on Slipper Day. She was third to Mo’unga in the 2021 Rosehill Guineas and of course last year, she beat Verry Elleegant in the Ranvet. Similar set-up here second up off a ripper run in the Chipping Norton.

The Bet: Montefilia to win

RACE 7

Overview: Artorius was Santa Ana Lane-like in the Canterbury Stakes. That was one of the most amazing last 100m’s seen at Randwick for a while. Everything comes down to one thing, can he be as explosive over 1500m? Oh, and can he beat Anamoe? I have been saying this for a few weeks now but I will say it again and again, Kirwan’s Lane is flying and he’ll be flying a lot higher second-up too. If something does happen to knock Anamoe off, it’s Kirwan’s Lane.

The Bet: Kirwan’s Lane to place, exacta 1 to beat 3.

Star filly Learning To Fly can remain unbeaten with a win in the Golden Slipper. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 8

Overview: Learning To Fly is the only unbeaten horse in this year’s Golden Slipper and while she hasn’t put Amelia’s Dream-like margins on her rivals, she has been hugely impressive and versatile. Too fast in the Widden, barnstorming in the Millennium and full of want and desire in the Reisling. If something beats her, I am almost sure it will be Lazzago. Cylinder, barrier (tick), jockey (tick), trainer (tick), breeding (tick), talent (tick). The somewhat maligned King’s Gambit dealt himself back in for mine after that trial. Wow.

The Bet: Learning To Fly to win, Lazzago each-way, quinella 10/14, box trifecta 5,7,10,14

RACE 9

Overview: Shades Of Rose won on debut at Bathurst on Australia-Day eve, 2022. She got beat three lengths in the Everest in October that same year. Granted, you would expect a mare of her pace and speed to be trialling well in the lead-up to a Group 1, but she’s been above and beyond impressive. Eduardo $8.50? Look at his numbers and he should be $4. Four from six at the track. Four from 10 at the distance. Unbeaten in both track and trip starts. Nash Rawiller on board. I can only think it’s because of the Good 4 they’re letting his fans on at each-way odds.

The Bet: Shades Of Rose to win, box trifecta 1,2,7,9

RACE 10

Overview: Would be an apt way to end Slipper Day with a win to Chris Munce. That’s trainer Chris Munce. Jockey Chris Munce won the 1994 Slipper on Dance Hero. What a horse he was. As for Munce’s mare Palaisipan, she won her first four starts before going onto win the Dane Ripper, 14 days before her third in the Tatt’s Tiara. She trialled like a bomb here just last Monday. Jal Lei was awarded her Group 3 win in rather strange circumstances but make no mistake, it was going to happen for her one day.

The Bet: Palaisipan to win, quinella 1,5