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Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from Rosehill Gardens

Daily Telegraph racing expert Mitch Cohen has run the rule over all the action on Group 2 Hobartville Stakes Day which also featured the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Mitch Cohen
4 min read
February 23, 2025 - 9:52AM
Our Anchorage (white) gives Ash Morgan his first Group winner in the Parramatta Cup at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.
Our Anchorage (white) gives Ash Morgan his first Group winner in the Parramatta Cup at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Daily Telegraph racing expert Mitch Cohen has analysed all the chances from Saturday’s feature card and found a few worth following in the coming weeks.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

POINT BASSE (Race 2 – 7th)

This lightly-raced blueblood’s return in the Highway was better than his seventh placing suggests after running into multiple dead ends. He’s a quite a gross horse and will take natural benefit.

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FRENCH RULER (Race 3 – 4th)

First-up over a distance short of his best, the John Sargent-trained galloper was hitting the line better than anything. Follow him as he gets up over more ground.

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BUFFALO (Race 6 – 6th)

There was a lot to like about his first-up performance in the Silver Slipper Stakes when he got back to last and surged home. Look forward to seeing him stretch out over more ground late this prep.

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KINESIOLOGY (Race 7 – 3rd)

Stick with Chris Waller’s imported stayer. He was good again in the Parramatta Cup and is building nicely towards Sydney’s autumn carnival staying contests.

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SWIFTFALCON (Race 8 – 2nd)

No match for Broadsiding in the Hobartville Stakes but he was excellent through the line. Over a mile and beyond later this prep he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.

STEWARDS SAY

Withstand (Race 2): Attempted to buck shortly after jumping and was eased out of the race. He will have to trial satisfactorily before racing again.

Bonita Queen (Race 4): Gave limited response and weakened over final 200m. The mare was found to be slow to recover and trainer Bjorn Baker confirmed she will now be spelled.

Makarena (Race 5): Jockey Tyler Schiller thought the odds on favourite gave a good response when initially pressured in the straight but was slightly disappointing finishing over the final 200m. No abnormalities were found.

Bel Merci (Race 6): Cleared of a bleed by vets post-race after inquiry opened into a misunderstanding between jockey and strapper. A degree of mucus was found in the filly’s trachea, which will be treated.

Kinesiology (Race 7): A veterinary examination found the import to have mild muscle soreness post-race and his condition will be followed up.

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THE CLOCK

Wallenda (Race 4): Went within a whisker of pulling off a terrific last-to-first win when finishing off with the best final three furlongs of 11.17, 10.86 and 11.38 seconds. Her last 600m was 33.41.

Dark Glitter (Race 5): Bolted home from the back closest to the fence to just miss in the Millie Fox, clocking a super 32.92 seconds for her last 600m. The winner Firestorm finished off in 33.11.

Wodeton (Race 6): The Golden Slipper favourite was caught three deep before running third in the Silver Slipper with the fastest last 600m of the race in 33.49 seconds. Buffalo was next best in 33.50.

Swiftfalcon (Race 8): Settled last in the Hobartville and rattled home, posting the best last 600m of the meeting in a sizzling 32.88 seconds to finish second. It includes splits of 11.03, 10.67 and 11.18.

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TRACK TALK

“This is the first time I’ve ridden five winners – anywhere.” Jockey Zac Lloyd.

“It’s good to see Zac rising to the level because he’s had a big day here and yet when the big race came around, he was still there to deliver.” James Cummings on Zac Lloyd.

“I love seeing the horse back like that, he’s a smashing colt and yeah, it’s going to be an exciting journey ahead for him.” Cummings on Broadsiding.

“Everything points to him being 100% ready to go in a few weeks’ time.” Kerrin McEvoy on Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton.

“I love to be able to win races that my father’s won or my uncle Neil or Rodney, because they’ve been supportive to me, it’s very nice.” Adam Hyeronimus after winning the Silver Slipper.

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work for the last four or five years to try and get these opportunities.” Ash Morgan after Our Anchorage’s win.

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BETTING WRAP

Parramatta Cup

Our Anchorage justified its favouritism with TAB punters, winning at $2.90 after opening at the same price with over 35 per cent of all outlays. One punter had $3000 on the gelding to be first past the post at $3.20.

Hobartville Stakes

Broadsiding opened at a short $2 and won at $2.70 with a weight of money behind it, including a $3000 wager at $2.20 and a separate $2400 outlay at $2.80.

Race 9

Ducasse was backed right into $4.40 from $8.50 by the time it upstaged strongly backed Headley Grange, which was music to the ears of the TAB punter who had $5000 each-way at $5.50/$2, and another who placed a $4000 bet at $4.60.

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THE SCHEDULE

Monday: Albury, Grafton

Tuesday: Kembla Grange, Taree

Wednesday: Rosehill Gardens

Thursday: Wyong, Armidale

Friday: Canterbury Park, Goulburn, Orange

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Tuncurry, Wagga, Warren, Yass

Sunday: Coffs Harbour, Moruya

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RON DUFFICY’S ROSEHILL GARDENS SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY

You had to love the way Broadsiding shown how he could take up a position and put paid to a good field the way he did.

He will still have good opposition in the upcoming Randwick Guineas but he is sure to take some beating.

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FORGET THEY RAN

Although both were beaten don’t give up on the two nice quality West Of Swindon and Wodeton.

They were far from finely tuned and should be judged more on their next run regarding Golden Slipper credentials.

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THE BLACKBOOK

A few three-year-olds that will improve from Saturday if they are produced in the right races are Bide Your Time which was terrific at his first Highway attempt.

Others are French Ruler and Enriched, both caught the eye first-up.

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RIDE OF THE DAY.

What an incredible achievement by a young jockey just out of his apprenticeship Zac Lloyd riding five winners on a feature day.

He rode all of his winners with precision but his confidence on the good colt Broadsiding stole the show.

Originally published as Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from Rosehill Gardens

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/nsw-racing/mitch-cohens-blackbook-five-to-follow-from-rosehill-gardens/news-story/620b2cfbc3579bae63886695303b2e87