Sydney: Comprehensive preview of every race at Rosehill

A COMPREHENSIVE preview of every race for Saturday’s meet at Rosehill with Greg Spletter

'Pindan Pearl. Picture: Simon Bullard

Race 1

Competitive race to open the card and while the favourite will be awfully hard to beat, there’s plenty of value in the $17 on offer about MOOHARIBA. She put in a nice effort on debut here a fortnight ago battling on behind a runaway Foxplay but it was a big ask to debut over 1350m. She didn’t look at home on the soft-7 to me either and is a likely sharp improver back on top of the ground. Gets a nice weight turnaround on the favourite and is a great each way pop from the inside draw. FOXPLAY travelled well in the run and cleared out to beat the top pick by five lengths and while she’s going to be very hard to beat again she does rise by 2.5kg and comes back to a firm track which may dull her superiority. OCTAVIAN AUGUSTUS is one of four last-start winners in the race and was far too good for maiden company at Newcastle last start. Nicely bred and has some upside.

Race 2

PINDAN PEARL battled away okay on the heavy-10 here last start but her previous run on firm footing was exceptional and back to a dry track tomorrow can return to winning form. She ran a good race over 2040m at Moonee Valley when last in work so she’ll get the trip without a worry and looks one of the best bets on the day at the $2.70. PIAMIMI has also been bogged down on the wet tracks of late and should go better on a good-4 here. Not that far away from Vassal here last time and this is easier. DESTINATION TUCSON wasn’t sighted at Randwick last start after striking trouble early on but her previous win at Gosford was good. Gets a nice weight pull off the favourite and could show up at $14.

Race 3

Another even field but it’s hard to go past anything the Snowden team is presenting at the moment. EL SASSO resumes here from a good gate and has a strong fresh record. Ran some nice races up in Brisbane just prior to the break and he will be right on the speed here and should have something to give in the straight. The $4.80 looks about right and he’ll give a sight. FREEZE THE CHARGES led them up here two weeks ago and was far from disgraced finishing a half length from the winner in a blanket finish. Should get a comfortable lead here and will give them something to run down. FELINES was a touch disappointing for mine when resuming in the Lightning up at Doomben. Had everything in her favour but didn’t ping when she needed to. It was still a fine effort, though, and she showed at the end of last prep that she is right at home in this grade.

Race 4

TUCANCHOO finished close-up behind Index Linked in the Tatt’s Cup up north last weekend and did a great job to get so close to the winner. He won his previous two outings fresh off a break and should have no problems with the extra trip. Still down on the limit weight which is surprising but very welcome, and at the $2.35 is the bet of the day. LOOPHOLE battled away without threatening behind Foreign Prince last start after chasing the same horse home the run prior. Untried at the top but shapes as though he’ll run it out and will be fitter again after three runs back. JIAYUGUAN hasn’t done much at his last two but they were very muddy tracks and he might be looking for something firmer. Had very successful staying preparation when last in work and could improve significantly here.

Tucanchoo (white cap). Picture: Jenny Evans

Race 5

ERIKA finished strongly from the back of the pack here two weeks ago, running on into a place in a 1500m Highway race and looks perfectly suited by the step up to 1800m here. Carrying her fair share of weight but has the services of B Shinn again and this does look her race. BALAMETALICA hasn’t been all that far away at his two cracks at Highway races and will go better on top of the ground tomorrow than his four length third on the heavy-10 here last start. ROSARUBY has been very consistent out of town and that consistency was rewarded with a win at Kembla over 2000m last weekend. This is tougher, but she is racing very well and is one of the main hopes.

Race 6

LANCIAOT produced a great run at his Australian debut here two weeks ago, closing late to beat all but Dinghu Mountain over 1350m. Won his last run in New Zealand before hopping the ditch and with all the main hopes carrying big weights here he will go close. VANDERKAMP looks a little over the odds at $13 and can improve on his last start fourth in the Dinghu Mountain race. Strong run at Canterbury at his previous outing and should be better suited on a dry track tomorrow. DINGHU MOUNTAIN will be hard to beat again after running home over the top of them here last start and looks a fair quote at $3.70.

Race 7

OXFORD POET stuck to his guns on the soft-7 at Randwick last start finishing third in the June Stakes over 1100m and drops down to the limit weight tomorrow. Performed very well out to this trip when last in work and will go very close here, thought he hasn’t been missed at the $3.30. I was very impressed with SNIPPETS LAND up north where he beat all but Coolring in the PM’s Cup before taking out the BRC Sprint over this trip beating Religify and Artlee. Held up behind Spill The Beans in the QTC Cup last start and looms as a big danger. MARENOSTRO disappointed when shooting for his hat-trick at Randwick last start on suitable conditions. Drops sharply in weight into this stakes race and it may pay to overlook the latest flop.

Race 8

Throwing a speculator here with AWASITA who comes back sharply in grade tomorrow and will benefit from a return to a dry track. Missed the kick in the Lightning up in Brisbane last start but her first-up run here was very good when a battling length fourth to Our Renaissance. Drawn ideally in three and in a field of many chances she appeals at around $17. THUD finished close-up behind Butterboom when resuming and will strip fitter tomorrow. She’s only won two of 13 but is rarely far from the action and the stable is really firing. PIONEERING did nothing on the bog track at Randwick last time round but her other three runs this campaign on top of the ground have been very good. Looks a little skinny at $4.40 but will make her presence felt.

Race 9

This last race is a lottery but from the good draw THRUSTON looks as good as any. Ran home strongly second-up over 1800m here two weeks ago behind Vassal after a similar effort at Randwick back in May when resuming. The drop back to 1500m isn’t ideal but the return to a firm track is. Nosing out several runners for favouritism at $6.00 and has solid claims. EMBLEY is $0.50 behind him and won’t be far away at the finish. Big run first-up behind Avenaco, then wasn’t suited on the soft-7 when running on behind the same horse. Drawn wide here but should drift back and be saved for the run home. AVONACO shares the second line with Embley and has won two of three starts this prep. Still creeping up in the weight which is a concern but he is racing very well and must be included among the chances again.