Racewatch: Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph’s Shayne O’Cass analyses Saturday’s Golden Rose Day meeting at Rosehill Gardens, where he’s keen on an each-way bet late in the day.

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph’s Shayne O’Cass analyses Saturday’s Golden Rose Day meeting at Rosehill Gardens.

• BET LIKE A PRO: Get expert tips from our team of professional punters

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RACE 1: MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72 (1300m)

UNIQUE AMBITION (12) is the system horse for those of us who subscribe to it (first-up out of a Classic). In her case, it was the Queensland Oaks. She has won at 1200m and a mile, so 1300m is cherry ripe. She has an exceptional fresh record, happy to chance on the wet, barrier 2, Blake Shinn. VICTORY LANE (3) is adept on Heavy tracks and was a real eye-catcher first-up two weeks ago. PAJANTI (5) is down in class from a Mona Lisa. Ditto for BINDI’S CHOICE (16).

BET: Unique Ambition to win (best bet), box trifecta 2,3,5,12,16.

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RACE 2: CLASS 2 HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1500m)

DUE CALZINI (15) is trained by eight-time Highway winner Danielle Seib. This son of D’Argento was runner-up at Wagga on Town Plate to Snow In May no less. Fast forward to August 31 and he ran a huge race in a Highway here over 1400m. Better draw, 1500m this time. STRAIGHT FIRE (4) has two wins, two seconds and a third from seven starts. One of those wins was on a Heavy 8 at Gundagai. BALINDERRY SAL (11) ran a huge race from barrier 16 of 17 in the Due Calzini Highway. Loves the wet it seems.

BET: Due Calzini to win.

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RACE 3: GROUP 3 COLIN STEPHEN QUALITY (2400m)

Lottery time. Any one of the eight could win without surprising. When in doubt, go Waller. He’s got half the field so it’s not a bad strategy. Me? I landed on FIRST LIGHT (5) for the sole reason that three of his four wins are at 2400m and he seems to be peaking third-up. CAMPALDINO (7) will probably lead again. He’s as fit as he’ll ever be and he has won two from three on Heavy. MATUSALEM (4) is better on top of the ground perhaps?

BET: First Light to win, quinella 5,7.

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RACE 4: BENCHMARK 88 (1900m)

FIRESTORM (7) was the aforementioned ‘system horse’ when she won first-up here at $20 beating Chica Mojito and another system horse in Mare Of Mt Buller (who runs here also). The 2023 Queensland Oaks participant is being ‘treated as a miler/2000m’ rather than an out and out stayer at home from what we read and she certainly reacted well first-up. Canberra Cup winner ALMANIA (1) was so much better than it reads (7th of 8) first-up. The Kris Lees trained import is one win, one second from two starts at the track/trip.

BET: Firestorm each-way, Alamnia to place.

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RACE 5: LISTED HERITAGE STAKES (3YO, 1100m)

Just for some context, I was all over ALTHOFF (2) first-up. As soon as he missed the start, he was done. More so from barrier 2. He never got to be tested at any stage. Barrier 2 again (different jockey too) but they might spread out here, it will be a fast run race you’d imagine, and my horse has a big finish. BODYGUARD (1) was one of the high echelon 2YOs last season. He was given a solid hitout in a recent trial. Perfect race for him. GATBSY’S (3) might do better on the wet this time around.

BET: Althoff to win.

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RACE 6: BENCHMARK 88 (1400m)

GOOD BANTER (20), an emergency here, also has a ticket in the Golden Pendant, which is also over 1400m – the ideal trip for this daughter of Tavistock to begin her spring campaign. She won’t have any issues with the ground, she beat Autumn Angel in the Adrian Knox on a 9. If we get deep into Heavy on Saturday, RHAPSODY CHIC (8)’s already bright prospects would soar. ZOOLOGY (4) is the ‘market watch’ while RUBY FLYER (2) is the ‘trial horse’.

BET: Good Banter to win or if scratched Zoology/Ruby Chic each-way.

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RACE 7: GROUP 2 GOLDEN PENDANT (1400m)

SEMANA (4) is a Group 1 class mare. I thought she was about to win her first major when she ambled up to them up the rise at Randwick in the Winx only to be passed late by the three placegetters. Just take a look at her numbers right across the board! The ones that inspire most are the trip, the wet and second-up. AMELIA’S JEWEL (2) was honourable in defeat in the Tramway. Heavy? Unknown to all. GOOD BANTER (7) if she’s here to Macarena in play.

BET: Semana to win.

• I Am … in The Everest: Maher sprinter earns slot

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RACE 8: GROUP 1 GOLDEN ROSE (1400m)

Is it just me or is there a bit of Anamoe about BROADSIDING (1)? Maybe not in looks but just the races they contested up until this point and the races that Broadsiding may one day line-up in. I hate barrier 1 but James McDonald just seems to always get it right. If we are on a Heavy 9 or 10, I could switch to EMIRATE (8). He has so much X-factor about him. Where could he get to by the end of his three-year-old season! TRAFFIC WARDEN (2) always delivers.

BET: Broadsiding to win, Emirate each-way, exacta 1 to beat 8, Daily Double 1st Leg (1), 2nd Leg (7).

• Why Storm Boy is still the one to beat in the Golden Rose

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RACE 9: GROUP 2 SHANNON STAKES (1500m)

For what it is worth, I was very keen on MOLLY BLOOM (11) AND TANNHAUSER (13) when they each resumed in the Theo Marks. Molly Bloom lost it at the start but was a bit disappointing all the same so she gets demoted here. Not so, Tannhauser (the system horse) who was threading his way through late but still in a lot of traffic. That was a big run to the eye and an even bigger run on the clock! I hope they run him in the Epsom.

BET: Tannhauser to win, Tannhauser each-way in the Epsom $100/$26.

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RACE 10: BENCHMARK 78 (1100m)

MOONHAVEN (7) has a wide draw but I suspect he was going back anyway in what shapes as a fast-run race even on the slop. Honestly, you should have seen Moonhaven jump up out of the ground and win at Flemington three starts ago in a 1000m straight race on a Heavy 8. If it pays to be up on the speed on the day, then all roads lead to BONITA QUEEN (8) – gosh, she is fast. Include CAVALLO RAMPANTE (11) (J-Mac!) and KREON (16) (if he comes).

BET: Moonhaven each-way.

Originally published as Racewatch: Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday