Ken Callander: Fiorente's ready to break Down Under drought

With picking the Golden Rose winner in Sydney a bit like tipping the Lotto numbers, today's best bet looms at Moonee Valley with classy import Fiorente

Fiorente is after his first win on Australian soil in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

With picking the Golden Rose winner in Sydney a bit like tipping the Lotto numbers, today's best bet looms at Moonee Valley where Gai Waterhouse's classy import Fiorente runs in the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m).

Fiorente, one of the favourites's for this year's Melbourne Cup, turned in a super first-up effort when sixth to Atlantic Jewel in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes after missing the start and striking trouble in the home straight. Today's race looks more suitable and he should be at the top of his game.

In the Golden Rose it is harder to find horses who haven't a chance than those who have and at least a dozen runners will be well backed in Sydney's first Group 1 of the season. The Anthony Cummings-trained Drago is going to be at his best over longer distances, but, with the pressure that is sure to be on early in the Rose, watch out for him to be charging home in the straight.

Race 1 Sydney (12.40)

Betting: $3.40 Index Linked, $4.60 Hosting, $4.80 Windswept, $6.50 Reunite

Comment: Zakynthos Imprintz and Turnley look the go forward horses with last start winner Windswept likely to get the run of the race. Index Linked (awkwardly drawn) and Hosting get back in the field, but both have good acceleration and will come into the race in the straight. Reunite is racing well and has a top hope and Generalife has some fair runs on his formsheet.

Bet: 4 Hosting

Exotics: Box trifecta 4 Hosting, 5 Index Linked, 6 Windswept, 11 Turnley

Race 2 (1.15)

Betting: $4.80 The Special Two, $5.50 Hoybell, $7 Aliyana, $8 Footy Fan, Wind Bender

Comment: The Special Two, an on pacer, has looked good in wins at Newcastle and Hawkesbury, but is facing a steep climb in grade. Hoybell will be helped by Kissick's allowance and is drawn to get a good run, while her Waller stablemates Fast And Sexy (a last start winner) and Wind Bender (strong at the finish) are also well placed. Aliyana and Footy Fan are definite hopes and Sail looks value.

Bet: 3 Hoybell

Exotics: Box trifecta 3 Hoybell, 6 Sail, 8 Wind Bender, 12 The Special Two

Race 3 (1.50)

Betting: $5 Green Beret, $6 Shelford, $8 Agent, Rock Magic, Diamond Oasis

Comment: Should be plenty of speed with Blazing Snitzel crossing from out wide and Fort Sumter, Green Beret, Shelford, Rock Magic, Le Cap and Diamond Oasis all looking for forward spots. It is a tricky race. Perhaps Shelford, who has had a few problems, but who is lightly raced and has potential, should be on top from Green Beret, Reflectance and Rock Magic.

Bet: 5 Shelford

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Agent, 2 Reflectance, 4 Green Beret, 5 Shelford

Ecuador (race four) was an impressive last-start winner at Canterbury 10 days ago. Picture: Mark Evans

Race 4 (2.30)

Betting: $1.70 Ecuador, $9.50 Multilateral, $11 Acropolis

Comment: Ecuador is highly promising and he looked terrific in an all the way 4 lens Canterbury win (1550m) on September 4. He is very hard to toss. Multilateral, an up and coming Waller stayer, was in the ruck behind Ecuador at Canterbury but will derive a lot of improvement from the run. Acropolis is a last start winner, but beat nothing and Diamond Jim is an honest plodder who could manage a place.

Bet: 1 Ecuador

Exotics: Quinella 1 Ecuador, 6 Multilateral

Race 5 (3.10)

Betting: $2.50 Rain Affair, $4.60 Boban, $7 Solzhenitsyn, $11 Somepin Anypin

Comment: If Rain Affair is not flat after his tough run when third in the Warwick Stakes he is the one to beat despite his 59.5. Boban was impressive in weaker class two weeks ago, but had a charmed run from barrier one and today has drawn the outside. Solzhenitsyn is classy and reports from Brisbane on him are good. Of the others Someday could surprise.

Bet: 1 Rain Affair

Exotics: Quinella 1 Rain Affair, 2 Solzhenitsyn

Ichihara has a gun barrier for today's Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

Race 6 (3.50)

Betting: $4.60 Bennetta, $5.50 Peron, $6 Ichihara, $7 Appearance, $11 Driefontein, Dystopia

Comment: Ichihara drew wide when a first-up fifth to Rebel Dane at Warwick Farm and has the two box today. Bennetta (barrier one) will get a good run and is a quality short course horse while Appearance goes well fresh and won two G1s last time in. Peron has won six from eight and has been well backed in early markets and Dystopia will be right in it if she can overcome her barrier.

Bet: 2 Ichihara

Exotics: Box trifecta 2 Ichihara, 3 Bennetta, 7 Dystopia, 12 Peron

Race 7 (4.30)

Betting: $4.60 Prince Harada, $5 Fast 'N' Rocking, $8 Cluster, $9.50 Sidestep

Comment: Lot of chances. Prince Harada, Fast 'N' Rocking and Thermal Current have good Melbourne form, which may or may not stack up in Sydney. Dissident, also from Melbourne, has gone good in two runs here and will get a good run and so will Eurozone, Sidestep and War. Zoustar and Aussies Love Sport will need a bit of luck and Drago, Cluster and Criterion will be charging home.

Bet: 10 Drago

Exotics: Box trifecta 4 Zoustar, 10 Drago, 12 War, 16 Cluster

Prince Cheri and I'm Imposing appear the standouts in the last race at Rosehill Gardens.

Race 8 (5.10)

Betting: $3.50 Prince Cheri, $7.50 Less Is More, $8.50 Julienas, Pelicano, $9.50 I'm Imposing

Comment: Prince Cheri is drawn deep, but he can cross and make his own luck. He was impressive winning over 1500m a fortnight ago, but I'm Imposing, third in the same race, meets him 2.5kg better and will appreciate the 2000m. Julienas (improved by two runs in) and Less Is More (last start winner) will also race forward and run well while Honorious, Pelicano and Euryale are in the mix.

Bet: 11 Prince Cheri

Exotics: Quinella 10 I'm Imposing, 11 Prince Cheri

BEST BET

Race 5, No. 1

Rain Affair

BEST VALUE

Race 1, No. 4

Hosting

WHO'S HOT

Mark Kavanagh's champ Atlantic Jewel is at Black Caviar odds in the Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley and is being quoted as a $1.10 chance by TAB Fixed Odds.

WHO'S NOT

Prince Harada has looked good, but not exceptional in his Melbourne runs and, in a race of good horses, he is under the odds at $4.60 in the Golden Rose.

DROP A HINT

Gai Waterhouse has five runners in the Golden Rose, but has nominated stable jockey Tommy Berry for the impressive last start winner War, a young horse with terrific potential.

EYE CATCHER

I'm Imposing charged down the outside in the fastest final sectional of the day to run third to Prince Cheri at Rosehill a fortnight ago. He can win the last