Inside Mail and The Judgement: Expects give their final word on Rosehill Gardens

After a luckless third last weekend, Fox Fighter can end his spring campaign on a high note with a win at Rosehill.

Trainer David Payne has revealed Fox Fighter pulled up so well after his luckless last start minor placing, he could find no reason not to back up with the improving young sprinter in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“I was ready to send Fox Fighter for a spell but he didn’t have a hard run last Saturday,” Payne said.

“He got held up behind the leaders and probably should have won. He’s had a great campaign; he’s got better every run so I will give him another chance before sending the horse for a spell.”

Fox Fighter pleased trainer David Payne after his luckless at Rosehill last week. Picture: AAP Image

Fox Fighter is among three runners at Payne’s home track meeting as he also saddles up Viren in the Mates In Construction Handicap (1800m) and Tympanist contests the Midway Handicap (1300m).

Payne said Viren and Tympanist were both unlucky not to have won first-up, finishing close seconds at the Gosford provincial meeting last week.

“Viren was good first-up and he drops a lot of weight,” Payne said. “He has to come into the race.

“As for Tympanist, he’s another who should have won the other day. He basically threw the race away when he ran off on the home turn.

“Both horses have improved with the run and are good lightweight chances at Rosehill.”

THE BEST BARRIERS

The best barriers at Rosehill Gardens for the last 3 years (in order of wins)

1100m: 1,4,5,6

1200m: 2,1,3,4

1300m: 2,5,3,8

1400m: 3,5,6,4

1500m: 1.4.2.5

1800m: 23,4,6

2000m: 4,8,1,6

2400m: 1,3,5,2

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

Race 1: Herman Hesse $4.60-$3.90-$3.80 with bets of $800 at $4.20, $500 at $3.90, Olympic Gaze $26-$19

Race 2: Sizzling Cat $6.50-$5, Schiller’s Myst $13-$5.50 with bets of $600 x $400 e/w at $10/$3.50, $1,000 at $5.50

Race 3: Jazzland $4.40-$4.60-$3.90 with bets of $700 at $4.60, $500 at $4, Another One $15-$9.50-$10 including a bet of $400 e/w at $9.50/$2.40

Race 4: No big bets or market movements of note

Race 5: Dream Runner $3.70-$3.40-$3.50 with a $700 bet at $3.70, Wichita Warrior $26-$18

Race 6: Travest $10-$8, Saquon $7-$4.20 with bets of $500 e/w at $7/$2.40, $500 at $5.50, $500 at $4.20 twice, Tympanist $13-$6.50-$7-$7.50

Race 7: Sejardan $4.60-$5 with a $500 bet at $5, Nobel $11-$7.50-$8.50 with bets of $200 x $400 e/w at $12/$3.60, Shalatin $6-$4.20-$4 with a $1,000 bet $4, Ojai $11-$9.50-$9

Race 8: Rocha Clock $4.60-$3.90-$4 after bets of $2,000 at $4.40, $500 at $4.20, Tricky Gal $6-$7-$6.50 with a $600 e/w bet at $7/$2.30

Race 9: Fox Fighter $6-$4

Race 10: Zoushack $4.40-$4 including a $750 bet at $4.40

Country Championship runner-up, Another One (right) has been specked at odds in Race 3 at Rosehill. Picture: Grant Guy

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 1,3,4,9

Race 4: 2,4,8

Race 5: 2,3,8

Race 6: 1,3,4,13

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1,5,8,9

Race 8: 1,4,6,9

Race 9: 1,4,5,8

Race 10: 1,2,3,7

PRICE CHECK

Kinloch (race 9) is over the odds at $8.50. He got a long way back and stayed close to the inside before finishing seventh to Quantico at Randwick. He should be peaking after two runs from a spell and drops back in grade here. Likely to get back in the field but expect he will be finishing faster. Expect a much-improved run.

TRIAL POINTERS

Ebhaar (race 7) has an opportunity to win $580,000 at her first start given she is set to make her debut in the $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill Gardens. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly covered plenty of extra ground in her lone trial at Randwick on October 29 but still managed to prove too good for the others. Ebhaar is a superbly bred filly being by I Am Invincible out of Maroon Bay who is herself a half-sister to Merchant Navy and Jolie Bay.

Francesco Guardi (race 10) adds considerable interest to the last race on the card being that this will be his NSW debut and only his second start in Australia having finished well down the order at Mornington on September 26 when backed in from $5.50 to start $3.70. The Chris Waller-trained son of Frankel was given an easy trial over 1030m at Rosehill but looked as good as anything in the heat and better the most.

SECTIONAL STARS

Tympanist (race 6) is a lightly-raced three-year-old from the David Payne stable taking part in the Midway. This grandson of Lope de Vega was always going to be a better horse as time goes by but his natural talent saw him able to post a late season win while still a two-year-old. As for more recent goings-on, Tympanist stuck to his guns gamely first-up at Gosford when a neck second to the above-average Pascal over 1200m.

Yamazaki (race 8) has been building up to a peak performance and is thus perfectly tuned for her Group 2 mission in the Hot Danish Stakes. The Matthew Dunn-trained mare turned in an eye-catching first-up run in the Nivison clocking-in less than three-lengths off the winner, Minhaaj, who has gone on to frank the form again. Yamazaki’s next and most recent appearance was in the ATC Filante Stakes over 1400m at Randwick 14 days ago where she finished a neck second to Exoboom with a last 600m in 34.56 seconds.

Yamazaki wins the Silk Stocking at Gold Coast, May 8 2021, Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography,

BEST BET

Dream Runner (race 5) has had an extended campaign but is extremely consistent despite winning only once in nine starts since June, recording five second placings including his last three in succession. His two most recent runs were a very good second to Yiyi over 2000m at Randwick then he beat all but Mightybeel on the Kensington track. He’s very well placed in the Country Classic, drawn to get all the favours from the inside gate and bursting to win a race again.

VALUE BET

Parachuter (race 4) is up in grade but down in weight and can run well at value odds. She was a Goulburn winner before reeling off three successive minor placings in city grade including her last start second to Norwegian Bliss at Canterbury. Drawn awkwardly but has good gate speed and should be able to slide across either find the fence or settle outside the leader. With her lightweight, she will take catching.

THE JUDGMENT

ROSEHILL GARDENS

R7: Golden Gift (1100m)

Paul Joice (Sky Thoroughbred Central): “Sejardan is a promising two-year-old. Unfortunately drawn the outside barrier but with any luck in running should be too classy. Shalatin attacked the line on debut and with any natural improvement must go close. Ojai maps to get the gun run and won well on debut.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Sports Radio): “Half the field comes out of the Kirkham Plate where it was impossible to miss the finish of Shalatin but remember it was Queen Of The Ball that was doing the work on speed and fought on extra well. She started much shorter than Shalatin and now finds herself nearly three times his price around Rosehill with the rail out. Value in her and also Shirvo who worked throughout in the same race and draws better here. Only knock Shalatin is the price.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Shalatin had to be taken back from the wide gate on debut but his closing sectionals were electric. Better drawn this time and with better race craft he looks hard to beat.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “I like Shalatin which has been backed $6-$4. Was a big eye-catcher on debut and the extra 100m will definitely suit.”

Verdict: Shalatin

Rocha Clock is the one to beat in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes. Picture: Grant Guy

R8: Hot Danish Stakes (1400m)

Paul Joice (Sky Thoroughbred Central): “Tricky Gal comes through the right form races. Held-up in The Invitation and should have finished much closer. Handles all ground and due for a change of fortune. Nudge to fly home late with Rocha Clock right in the mix.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Sports Radio): “Surely, The Invitation is your form reference here considering what Icebath and Vangelic have done since. Speed not a premium so looking for positive ride(r)s. Rocha Clock is at her peak third run in and can be handy with Tim Clark pressing early. Hoping the track has improved by now. She dashed at the 300m in The Invitation only to be out-finished by Icebath but held on for 2nd. Tricky Gal definitely wants edge off track and had no room in straight in same race. Danger.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Nudge on top. She looked to have plenty to give when luckless in the Invitation crossing the line untested. Normally improves into her prep, drawn out which is a positive, and finds T Berry.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Rocha Clock has been the best tried and is twice as popular as anything else. Third-up looks ready to peak.”

Verdict: Rocha Clock

FLEMINGTON

R8: Mackinnon Stakes (2000m)

Paul Joice (Sky Thoroughbred Central): “Colette is airborne this campaign and the way she savaged the line last week suggests she’ll be strong at the end of 2000m. Zaaki has the ability to win if he’s 100 per cent while Mo’unga will keep them all honest.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Sports Radio): “Really think this race is at least the equal of the Cox Plate if not a shade deeper so no surprise to see the drift for Zaaki off a hiccup. James McDonald probably leaves it to Homesman and Dalasan early from their inside barriers just to let him amble over from outside. He is the one to beat but couldn’t invest at less than $3 considering that was his Cox Plate price when scratched. Value for me sits with Hungry Heart finally getting to 2000m after 3 consecutive 1600m efforts. Happy to take double figures her and wait to see where Zaaki price finishes.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Zaaki is the Group 1 WFA horse in this field. Inclined to lean his way for the fact he gets control on the map and James McDonald aboard. Our customers agree with just under 70% of total investments on the race with the Neasham runner.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “The big money is riding on Zaaki who holds more than double what Colette and Hungry Heart are. Colette has been the most notable firmer though.”

Verdict: Zaaki

Originally published as Inside Mail and The Judgement: Expects give their final word on Rosehill Gardens