Put your dance shoes on, it Time To Boogie - Shayno and Duff debate the chances at Rosehill

Our Sydney form experts have a couple of top tips for punters keen to cash in at Rosehill.

Time To Boogie wins at Randwick.

Racenet form analyst Shayne O’Cass and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy debate all 10 races at Rosehill on Saturday.

DUFF’S BEST FOR ROSEHILL

Race 5 No.1 CABALLUS
Race 7 No.7 POWERFUL PEG

R1: NED AUSTRALIAN WHISKY TWO-YEAR-OLD HCP (1100M)

Ron Dufficy:Switzerland looks a good quality colt after two trials, placed in both, with plenty to offer. So, with a touch of luck from a sticky draw, I think he is hard enough to beat. Customized did enough behind the right horse (Storm Boy) at Eagle Farm and with a run under his belt and a good draw, he is right there. Deputize needs luck from a sticky draw as well but he has been well-experienced at the trials with three trials, two this prep and looking pretty good. I thought Zoutastic goes in one price-factor alone. He is a much better horse than what the market suggests.

Shayne O’Cass: No love in the market for Tartaglia which is surprising and troublesome in equal doses. I thought her trials were fine, the draw is just about perfect, and these Too Darn Hot’s can run fast and early. The $1.5 million yearling Switzerland has everything going for it, except maybe the barrier. With you Duff regards to Zoutastic who went up 50’s for no good reason.

R2: TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HCP (1400M)

Ron Dufficy: Happy to go with the favourite here, Associate. He has had a freshen-up and trial since an acceptable first-up run. He gets a set of blinkers and it didn’t look a strong Highway. If Missile Leader gets into this race, he is right in contention, Forgive on the Heavy first-up when nothing went right. He did start favourite - and with excuses - in a Highway at the end of last prep and does have upside. Musical Affair has been well-tried in early markets and maps extremely well. Bon Frankie, similar, and he has been solid in a few races at this level which is always an advantage.

Shayne O’Cass: Missile Leader will need a minor miracle to make the field but it is possible. I was all over him at Moruya on Cup Day and, as you rightly point out Duff, you almost have to just rule a line through that. I know Agirlsbestfriend was quite underwhelming there at Taree second-up but I fancy she can bounce back here on a nice big track with that very suitable (to her) Highway-tempo. Associate and Chestime my next in line.

R3: MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1200M)

Ron Dufficy: I know he is a little question mark at 1200m but I think Xpresso fits in really well in this race. It doesn’t look strong and he is the class of the field and he showed a return to form running well second-up. Willaidow is a lightly-raced five-year-old who has got speed and makes his own luck and sure to give a sight up front. He should get across from the wide draw. Super Bright, a stablemate of Xpresso, is a much better horse than what we saw there first-up and 1200m should see sharp improvement. Gently Rolled is pretty well all the rage. She was given an easy time in the trials and looks progressive but is short enough in the market though.

Shayne O’Cass: Gently Rolled is an old-fashioned Barber Shop tip, Duff. They talk about the J-Mac tax, I reckon he has knocked at least a dollar off what this mare’s actual price should be. Just the fact that he (McDonald) took the ride for Wednesday and Saturday suggests to me that the mare is ready, maybe even primed. Granted, he is seven-years-old and this is his 40th start but I reckon Dimaggio has a decent X-factor and I’ve loved his trials.

Time To Boogie should bounce back to the winners’ circle. Picture: Getty Images

R4: ROSEHILL BOWLING CLUB BENCHMARK 88 HCP (1200M)

Ron Dufficy: The map just looks too kind for this very short-priced favourite, Time To Boogie. He ambles to the front and will be hard enough to run down. He has to be top pick. Stromboli has got a little bit of form around him and should give a sight again. Noble Soldier surprised at big odds first-up and wasn’t far off there last start and this race has got a bit of a tale to it. And Sneaky Paige has been a touch off the boil in three runs back but a little bit more jar out the track certainly suits her.

Shayne O’Cass: Time To Boogie is either going to ruin every punter’s all-ups or just go out there and win like a $1.45 shot should. The only way he could lose is if somehow, he gets crossed and ends up third on the fence with nowhere to go. That’s the bad side to barrier one but for this horse, it probably just seals the deal on a win. Bit hard to win much on a $1.45 fav but maybe the exacta; Boogie and Stromboli might pay for a shandy.

R5: TOYOTA FORKLIFTS BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1100M)

Ron Dufficy: Well, he has looked the goods at the trials, this Caballus, for the new stable. He looked good early on, changed hands, and if he runs to his trials, he should win. I thought the only danger was Epic Proportions. He has had a five week freshen since doing enough there first-up at Moonee Valley and he has raced well in Sydney in the past. Soldier Of Rome; the trials were a little inconclusive and he is off a long break but respect any positivity on track. Satin And Silk will come out running (but) just a little query first time past 1000m.

Shayne O’Cass: Caballus went up $3.60 on Wednesday; then the trial watchers all stepped in. The last time I looked Duff, he was $2.40, having touched $2.30. I doubt there will be many other horses whose fluctuations in the last five minutes will be any more significant than Caballus. That said, as someone who ‘tips’ on trials, I can’t go past him. Same exacta for me too Duff, the one in the Alinghi colours, Epic Proportions, for second.

R6: PETALUMA BENCHMARK 78 HCP (2400M)

Ron Dufficy: Even race. I am going with Lyrical Gangster. He is a tricky customer. He decided to go everything right last start and if he does that again, he is hard enough to beat, and he gives the impression 2400m is ideal. Yarrawonga put a gap on them on the Heavy track there at Kembla last time and although this s a big step up in class, I wouldn’t sell him short. Tommy Berry has found the key to First Light, putting him back into winning form at this distance at his past two. And California Grass will appreciate plenty of speed up front here and is a young staying mare who might have a little bit more to offer.

Shayne O’Cass: Duff, I have been monitoring Fun Sunday for this whole preparation and my report to headquarters is one word - building. I am so keen to see her up over 2400m in a small field with no weight. My only little caveat is the same as her trainer’s which was maybe he would have liked one more run. First Light is in the perfect race and all that but just from where I stand, I can’t see him being a six kilo better horse or better chance than Fun Sunday.

.@KPMcEvoy is having a great day at Randwick as he gets another winner aboard Lyrical Gangster!@cwallerracingpic.twitter.com/DXybCBlB5w

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 6, 2024

R7: CHANDON BENCHMARK 88 HCP (1400M)

Ron Dufficy: I loved Powerful Peg’s first-up run. I liked what she did after covering ground. I know she is up in class but she gets weight relief and I think she is a good gamble. Excelladus returned to winning form, doing it well last start. He is another one with the jar outs suits him. Robusto does no work from that inside draw. Danaustar is racing very consistently and is a leading chance again.

Shayne O’Cass:Mission Phoenix has won from 1500m up to 2000m. That 2000m win was in last year’s January Cup. This is 1400m on Saturday but I am banking on him being both fresh and fit with two very, very easy trials to bring him along. Sure, he has 60.5kg but it’s not like he hasn’t earned it he is an 89 rated stakes winner. Stablemate Excelladus is the danger.

R8: BISLEY WORKWEAR BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1500M)

Ron Dufficy:Step Aside is going well this prep and was very good winning at his only run at this track. From that draw, he does no work and should be in the finish again. Anythink Goes is ready to win. He would have been top pick if it was a little bit further because he might be looking for a little bit further than 1500m. That said, I think he is the danger. Buillt got all the breaks winning last start and he’s a tough competitor. Crafty Eagle is capable on his day and maybe Nash is the right rider for him to stand over him.

Shayne O’Cass: Crafty Eagle had a big excuse, maybe that should be excuses plural. Maybe he was ridden a wee-bit close but it didn’t help the cause that he was in the death-seat in a take no prisoners first 1000m of the Randwick mile. I couldn’t agree more about your Nash call Duff. My next two are your top two namely Anythink Goes and Step Aside.

R9: TAB BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1100M)

Ron Dufficy: I like Our Kobison. He just lacked a touch of match practice, running his race in patches last start and I think he will improve off that and show what he has got. I thought Bubba’s Bay stuck on well after doing a bot work there first-up so if he gets the right run here, he looks good odds. Tintookie is a genuine type. She rounded them up well first-up and handles the conditions and no problem with the extra distance with her. And Xtra Gear is trialling up really well for the new stable.

Shayne O’Cass: I hate barrier one Duff. Not always but sometimes which leads me to Our Kobison. on paper, it is an absolute blessing but if he gets beaten, it will only be because he got bailed up. It hasn’t happened yet and it may not happen but it is always something to consider; less so when James McDonald rides though. Tintookie beat Our Kobison last start which will have a lot of punters asking ‘why not again?

R10: JAMES SQUIRE BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1500M)

Ron Dufficy: I am going with the Queensland form of Centrestone here. She has just looked a different mare looking really good in a couple of solid races in Queensland and this race lacks depth. I think the query is her stablemate, Infinitive. She has moved nicely under a hold in two trials and any market moves are significant here. Bootscooter did enough at this level first-up, running through the line nicely at big odds and gets in light again with the claim. Give Me Joy is way up in class but the thing in her favour here is she is the only leader and she will give a sight up near the lead.

Shayne O’Cass: The way it is outside, the track will be a Good 3 by lunchtime Duff! Not really but the rating come the last is of huge importance to Principessa who is 0 and 10 on Good tracks, albeit with five thirds. She peaks here third-up in my opinion but almost go as far to say ‘only’ if it is still soft. Cross The Rubicon is deserving of a change of luck. Infinitive is a market watch big time as you say. Give Me Joy will be in this for a long way.

Originally published as Put your dance shoes on, it Time To Boogie - Shayno and Duff debate the chances at Rosehill