Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy’s best bets and analysis for Rosehill races on Saturday
Racing editor Ray Thomas and form expert Ron Dufficy discuss the top chances at Rosehill Gardens along with the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas on the Gold Coast to help you find a winner.
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THE Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form expert Ron Dufficy debate the chances on the 10-race Rosehill Gardens program and also the two Magic Millions features at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
SUGGESTED BETS
DUFF’S BEST
Race 7, No.8: SPACEWALK
VALUE BET
Race 9, No.11: TOURISTIC
RAY’S BEST
Race 6, No.1: OAKFIELD DUKE
NEXT BEST
Race 7, No.4: DEHORNED UNICORN
VALUE BET
Race 9, No.11: TOURISTIC
ROSEHILL GARDENS
RACE 1: NED AUSTRALIAN WHISKY HANDICAP (1100m)
Ron Dufficy: I like barrier one for Red Resistance. He still looks a little green but has a good barrier for him and he is loaded with talent. Steel City is pretty sharp but I feel she is well found in the market. Queen Of Dragons was very good in her last trial against the Magic Millions favourite and is sure to be strong at the end of 1100m. Autunno might want further later on but I expect him to be running on.
Ray Thomas: I’ve also gone with Red Resistance. He has the natural early speed to take advantage of his inside barrier and race in a forward position which is advantageous around the Rosehill 1100m course. Red Resistance has shown ability at the trials and will be hard to beat. Steel City looks like a ready-made juvenile blessed with plenty of speed. Her trials have been impressive and she’s right in the mix. Fightertown is a well-bred Snitzel colt who has shaped promisingly at the trials and Queen Of Dragons will be running on strongly.
RACE 2: CITY TATTERSALLS GROUP HCP (1200m)
Dufficy: Kalino was dominant winning a similar race first-up and will be very hard to beat with a repeat performance here. Garrison has the speed to get across from his awkward barrier and he looked pretty good winning first-up at Randwick. With Your Blessing should get the right run from the inside barrier and is certainly in the mix. Sacrimony is ready for 1200m and sets up well.
Thomas: Garrison was above himself in condition but shouldered a big weight to a classy first-up win at Randwick, recording smart time. He’s a handy sprinter who has had his share of issues but could not have been more impressive first-up. He will strip fitter and can win again. Sacrimony has raced well without winning this campaign but he rates highly here. Kalino was impressive first-up and can’t be overlooked. With Your Blessing gets his chance from the good draw.
RACE 3: TAB HIGHWAY (1500m)
Dufficy: I like Evocator. He’s had a lovely quiet tick-over trial since an impressive first-up win and he only has to run the 1500m out to be hard to beat. King Of Spades is up 2.5kg on his last start win but I can’t see him not improving off that first-up effort. Zaru has a poor winning strike-rate but is going well. Eastern Glow is a likely looking type at this level.
Thomas: King Of Spades showed a lot of desire to hold off Super Extreme to win at Randwick. He was having his first race in 10 weeks so he should have improvement to come. Tough, genuine gelding and shapes as the one to beat. Evocator was strong late at Taree when resuming and is building a good race record. Trooper Knuckle missed out on making it four wins straight last start but he’s holding his form. Eastern Glow, a stablemate of Trooper Knuckle, did well to keep his winning streak going when resuming at Moruya and will be fitter.
RACE 4: SCHWEPPES HCP (1100m)
Dufficy: Ringmaster has always promised to make the grade and he did it well winning first-up at Canterbury. He can go on with the job here. Cosmic Minerva has upside and plenty of raw potential. Contributingfactor is usually better second-up but this is a lovely race for him. For Valour should get a cosy time of it up front and will give a good kick.
Thomas: Ringmaster got the right run but still posted a classy first-up win at Canterbury. He’s a three-year-old appreciating the firmer tracks and looms as the one they have to beat. Cosmic Minerva is lightly-raced but promising and drops 5.5kg on his stylish first-up Gosford win. Per Inaway burst through the pack to beat a smart field at Gosford and rates highly here. Contributingfactor is resuming and does boast a good strike-rate but is yet to notch a first-up win.
RACE 5: PRECISE AIR HCP (1300m)
Dufficy: Tough race. Ramones is good odds, has the speed to get across from his wide draw and will give a great sight. Cotton Fingers got further back than expected first-up and should improve sharply here. Zouthur has nice form around him in Victoria and could surprise at odds. His stablemate Royal Merchant has talent but is short enough from his awkward barrier.
Thomas: Cotton Fingers was doing his best work on the line when he resumed with a closing second to Fielding at Warwick Farm. With the scratchings he comes in to gate five and should get all the favours in the run. Hard to beat. Ramones has a wide draw to contend with but showed good speed to lead throughout for a dominant win at Randwick. Emerging young sprinter and will be in this for a long way. Royal Merchant is holding his form and Regal Pom comes off a very good comeback effort.
RACE 6: MIDWAY HCP (1200m)
Dufficy: I’m having a guess here with Kibosh. He hasn’t raced for over a year and ran last in a recent barrier trial but if anywhere near right he would take care of this lot from barrier one. He’s a yard and market watch. Dalaalaat needs to hold a better position from this draw and if he does he will be right in it. Oakfield Duke has a lovely set-up and should be in the finish. Broken Arrows has a horror draw but is sure to be charging home again.
Thomas: Oakfield Duke was backed into favouritism at Randwick first-up and although he had his chance, he stuck to his task well. Fitter, drawn to get every chance and will go close. Kibosh is a very interesting runner. As you pointed out, Ronnie, he is resuming after a long spell but he has plenty of ability. Broken Arrows will have to go back from his wide draw but he’s not out of this race.
RACE 7: KIA ORA CAPTIVANT HCP (1100m)
Dufficy: I’m very keen on the recently gelded Spacewalk, Ray. He’s coming off a great trial and should be hard to beat with his lightweight. Dehorned Unicorn is a tough competitor racing well. Midwest has a good looking record and should be ready third-up. Mariamia is a smart mare with fresh form and is well graded here.
Thomas: Dehorned Unicorn is flying this campaign. He has run fast times to win over 1100m at Rosehill and Randwick, with a second placing to the outstanding I Am Me in brilliant time sandwiched between those successes. He’s gone to a new level this campaign and can win again. Spacewalk is the major threat. He looked in great shape winning his trial and is a talented young sprinter. Midwest is a smart sprinter with a consistent record.
RACE 8: TAB HANDICAP (1500m)
Dufficy: Major Artie has solid second-up statistics, the extra distance suits him and he will run well. Banju is up 4.5kg but is flying at the moment. Saigon hasn’t won for a long time but has her hoof on the till backing-up here. Two Big Fari is going better than what his form suggests.
Thomas: Banju monstered his rivals to win by a big margin over the Randwick mile last start. He’s dropping back to 1500m and is up in weight but is at his peak now. He can win again. Danish Prince always seems to fly under the radar but he’s very competitive at this level and likes his course and distance. Saigon is on the back-up after losing narrowly here last week and should run well. Major Artie wasn’t beaten far first-up and can improve.
RACE 9: ROSEHILL BOWLING CLUB HCP (2000m)
Dufficy: I think Touristic’s two Australian runs have been good enough. Hopefully this will be more of a staying test for him and we might see the best of him third-up here. Irish Legend needs luck from the draw but he is definitely ready for 2000m at good odds. Tony Be does have a better draw but he has been costly. Thalassophile gives the impression she is looking for this trip as well
Thomas: I’ve also got Touristic on top. He worked home well between runners when fifth to Mach Schnell at Randwick last start when he didn’t get a lot of galloping room. His two runs for the Snowden stable have been encouraging and getting to 2000m suits. Maurice’s Medad can mix his form but if he runs up to his last start effort at Randwick he will go close. Whanga Wonder has to come back from 2400m but the blinkers go on and she is racing in very good form. King Ratel has drawn off the track but he’s also racing well and should be charging home.
RACE 10: FURPHY HCP (1100m)
Dufficy: Snapped is an untapped lightly-raced Victorian mare who really impressed winning first-up. She finds a suitable race here. Waverider Buoy did enough first-up and there is improvement to come. Jewellery is back in distance with a significant weight drop. Kir Royale is well placed but I’m not sure with her back in distance.
Thomas: Snapped is a promising mare, winning three of her five starts and she was dominant first-up at Sandown. She got a long way back when resuming but does have the tactical speed to take advantage of her inside gate. Waverider Buoy is fitter and should go close. Forzanini has been trialling well and Jewellery is a lightweight chance.
GOLD COAST
RACE 7: MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO CLASSIC (1200m)
Dufficy: I’m keen on Empire Of Japan. He was terrific in the Breeders Plate and the slow tempo was against him last start. The faster race here suits him and from an acceptable draw he just needs things to fall into place to win. The fillies are the dangers. Empress Of Wonder has had five weeks between runs since catching the eye in the Calaway Gal Stakes. She will be charging through the line. Platinum Jubilee was very impressive winning the Gimcrack Stakes then was far from disgraced first-up. She should position well from the draw. Summer Loving is the sleeper. She has the blinkers on and is another one who will eat up 1200m.
Thomas: Platinum Jubilee is going to get the right run from her favourable draw and she is the one to beat. Talented filly who was outstanding winning the Gimcrack Stakes and then a lack of race fitness cost her at Randwick. I’ve got her on top from Empire Of Japan who looks hard to beat for all the reasons you mentioned, Ronnie. Empress Of Wonder is going to get back from her wide draw but she has a powerful finishing sprint. Sovereign Fund has been impressive winning both his starts convincingly but he is going to have to do plenty of work from his wide draw.
RACE 8: MAGIC MILLIONS 3YO GUINEAS (1425m)
Dufficy: I’m with the Snowden stable again and Russian Conquest. This race sets up perfectly, her dry track form is excellent, this race is within her range and will be very hard to beat. I’m wary of Latakia. Even though she lacks experience, she looked very good winning last week. She commands respect and the map is in her favour. Yellow Brick has come a long way in a short time and it’s hard to knock winning form. Tijuana is first-up with blinkers and should run very well.
Thomas: Russian Conquest ran a blinder first-up, finishing fast from back in the field to just miss in the Gosford Guineas. She’s a classy filly who ran a very good second in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last year. This is her chance. Yellow Brick has won five of his six starts, drawn to advantage and will go close. Hell I Am had his chance at Gosford but should be at his peak for this race. Soothsayer is in top form but has to overcome a horror barrier.
Originally published as Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy’s best bets and analysis for Rosehill races on Saturday
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