Rosehill races: Shayne O’Cass’ tips and extended preview

Form analyst Shayne O’Cass is waiting for the final event at Rosehill on Saturday for his best bet in the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Star Cherie.

Gerald Ryan (right) and Sterling Alexiou look set for a big day on their home track. Picture: Grant Guy

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for the Rosehill meeting on Saturday.

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 7. Rail: Out 3m

RACE 1: THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1300m)

Overview: Kir Royale faces another test of her mettle again going up in grade but she has so far jumped every hurdle and done it like a horse that isn’t done with yet. She is talented enough to win no matter, but the 1.5kg claim could make all the difference if it gets close. Kanazawa was fantastic on debut but couldn’t back it up next time which is the little query but it was a pretty strong race (I Am Lethal et al). Centimental is right up to this company and will be harder to beat with the added fitness from that honourable first-up run.

The Bet: Kir Royale to win

RACE 2: DAVALI HANDICAP (1100m)

Overview: Metallicity went up $2 but it’s his $11 quote in the $2m Inglis Millennium on February 5 that is significant given he will definitely come ‘in’ a few or a fair few points should he run to his trials on the weekend. Nice horse. Flashing Steel has looked good in his trials, never more so than the heat win at Warwick Farm five days ago. Draw is against him on paper. Lots to like about Matthew Dunn’s Street Smarts here. She is the only one with race experience and trials coming back into this have been rock solid.

The Bet: Metallicity to win

RACE 3: TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1500m)

Overview: Banju was brave in defeat when King’s Trust got the better of him - just - when they met two at Randwick on December 18. Fortune smiled on the former when he backed-up and won a Highway on the Kensington track on New Year’s Day. Simple case of ‘why not again’ for him. Big money on Wednesday for the Gerry Harvey/Joe Cleary mare Pruscino who has only missed a place twice in all nine starts. Lord Desanimeaux can never be ruled out of any Highway race so seems to be an appealing bet at the ‘each-way’ odds.

The Bet: King’s Trust to win

The Terry Robinson-trained King's Trust can land another TAB Highway win. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1200m)

Overview: Sky Command was a dual acceptor on the day but got the good draw in this one and sans Key Largo which will make his task easier. That said, there looks to be considerable pressure here with the likes of Eyewitness and maybe even Easy Campese but he looks to have ability above Midway standard. Evening Bride could be the ultimate beneficiary of what shapes as a potentially fast run race set up for one to swoop. Caveat is that she will need an ‘out’ from barrier 2.

The Bet: Sky Command to win

RACE 5: HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP (2000m)

Overview: Amica ran out of her skin in the Group 3 Belle of the Turf at Gosford last start given that the track was a Soft 7. Four of her five wins are on Good tracks and take note that her benchmark rating is higher than everything else in the race. Sword Point is starting to show his true colours now as he gets some race experience and fitness under his belt. Always going to get to 2000m - and now he is. It’s never just as easy as looking at a sheet of paper but history suggests that whatever beats Niffler - if anything does, will win.

The Bet: Amica each-way

RACE 6: ACY SECURITIES HANDICAP (1500m)

Overview: For Valour has won four times in his last five starts which is no mean feat. He is a known leader which begs the question, what does barrier 9 of 9 mean for him? Probably not a lot, negatively speaking, given that he will be ridden positively. Tulloch Lodgers are always hard to pass. Blesk will be dictated to by what happens with For Valour up front seeing as though he will be the one running on hardest and fastest at the end.

The Bet: Blesk to win

Blesk can break through at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 7: SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1100m)

Overview: The Bopper has had a boom on from day one; day one being a course record debut win no less. Had no right at all to win first-up, that was just amazing to see where he was at the finish considering where he was at the start. Mr Mosaic is probably outright the fastest horse racing at Rosehill on the weekend so he will, at very least, give his backers a run for their money’. Love the way Belluci Babe trialled at Warwick Farm the other day. She has exemplary first-up numbers and some real depth to her form.

The Bet: Belluci Babe to win

RACE 8: RANVET HANDICAP (1200m)

Overview: I am suggesting that Super Effort was in the worst going first-up. He loomed up to win but peaked on the run like a lot of others did on the day. Fitter now. Mensa Missile has the 2 alley here so will be nowhere other than up front and will surely be at his peak for this if he wasn’t already. Ditto that last bit for the Waller gelding Rubamos who has an even better draw - 1 - but if he has to take a sit of Mensa Missile, he can and will be just as effective. Fashchanel has barrier 3 which will keep her in striking distance throughout.

The Bet: Super Effort to win

Jay Ford sticks with Super Effort at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 9: ROSEHILL BOWLING CLUB HANDICAP (1200m)

Overview: El Buena got the James McDonald treatment to win here on December 4. Didn’t hurt that he jumped out of barrier 2 on the day so what has gate 10 done to his chances this time? Certainly, doesn’t help but no need to abandon ship. Olympic Legend has a great pattern which no doubt accounts for his good strike-rate. You could almost bank on Key Largo being the fastest last 400m/200m here. Perigord is in fabulous shape for the return, looking closely at him in the trial.

The Bet: Perigord each-way

RACE 10: NED WHISKY HANDICAP (1100m)

Super Impose relation Star Cherie has won 3 of 6 and placed twice. Sure, this is her first big test but you wouldn’t find a better ‘trial horse’ at the Rosehill meeting. Irish Angel is little miss consistency but she is paying for that in the weights. Steel Diamond, once third to Bivouac, was the eye-catcher first-up. Forzanini is as brave as her namesake and gets in here with a favourable draw and an attractive weight.

The Bet: Star Cherie to win

Originally published as Rosehill races: Shayne O’Cass’ tips and extended preview