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To the Penthouse, your Highness? Shayno and Duff debate the chances at Rosehill, Magic Millions

Our Sydney form experts have a couple of regal tips for punters keen to cash in at Rosehill and also in the Magic Millions two-year-old classic at the Gold Coast.

Racenet
8 min read
January 12, 2024 - 12:00PM
Punters Hold All Tickets 2023 (Episode 18) 13-01-24

Racenet form analyst Shayne O’Cass and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy debate the Magic Millions 2yo Classic plus all 10 races at Rosehill on Saturday.

GOLD COAST R8 – MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO CLASSIC (1200m)

Ron Dufficy: I like HIGHNESS (4). I think he is a beautiful colt. He savaged the line well, winning at Wyong. He’s had a great trial since and I just think he only has to keep up early within a few lengths from this draw to prove hard to beat. Obviously, STORM BOY (1) is a deserved favourite. He has got speed and stamina. I don’t think he is foolproof yet but he has got an exciting future and will be hard to beat. I liked ARABIAN SUMMER (8)’s win last week. I like what she did; she ran solid enough time and all she has to do is run 1200m to be a good chance. SPYWIRE (2) hasn’t done much wrong in his three starts and he is sure to be ready for his grand final here.

Shayne O’Cass: Maybe it’s just because he is a chestnut in the James Harron colours but HIGHNESS (1) really reminds me of Capitalist, Duff. He is such a ‘racy’ colt blessed with pace and speed but also a great turn of foot. He comes into barrier 3 now and that means Tommy Berry could be able to give him the same ride as Blake Shinn gave Capitalist when he won the Magic Millions. STORM BOY (1) is going to be hard to catch but at $2.30, I would prefer to back ERNO’S CUBE (11) at $4.20 to place.

DUFF’S BEST FOR ROSEHILL

Race 3 No.1 PENTHOUSE
Race 10 No.2 TESTATOR SILENS

ROSEHILL R1: MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1500M)

Ron Dufficy: I thought it was a tricky start to the day. JUMEIRAH BEACH (2) may have just struggled when stretched out in distance in Queensland last start. I think she gets another chance back to 1500m from a good draw and on-speed. POSEIDON RULER (3) hasn’t been far off of late and is well weighted with the claim here. GELATIN (6) is a lightly-raced, well-bred three-year-old on the rise, although his two recent wins were on Heavy tracks. BLUFF ‘N’ BLUSTER (8) is always a knock-out chance.

Shayne O’Cass: BLUFF ‘N’ BLUSTER (8) has only managed five wins in 51 starts, Duff, but he has placed 14 times. Half of those are seconds and to be fair to the horse, it has often been a case of ‘outside circumstances’ rather than talent that has beaten him. JUMEIRAH BEACH (2)’s prospects went up – a lot – when he drew barrier one.

ROSEHILL R2: HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HCP (1100m)

Ron Dufficy: EXTRAVAGENT LAD (1) is in good hands and he maps well first-up after not being let go in a recent trial. He has some city form to his credit and that stands him in good stead. LIFE’S A PARTY (7) was specked at good odds at this level last start and was very good. It is not easy going to a Highway at your second start but I’M A STEEL (11) was dominant, winning at her debut and DIVINE SINNER (3) should be respected first-up.

Shayne O’Cass: I’M A STEEL (11), a $15,000 yearling from the same family as Northerly, was brilliant in her trial and outstanding on debut. Her win was on a Heavy 8 but her trial was a Good 4. I concur though, this is a big step but she might be pretty good. Don’t think there is much between OUTBACK RINGER (2) and DIVINE SINNER (3) who have both won three races and placed three times in less than 10 starts.

ROSEHILL R3: HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HCP (1100m)

Ron Dufficy:PENTHOUSE (1) was brilliant winning a recent trial and might be just too good for a field like this. BLOW DART (2) is nice and fresh and is a tough competitor. SYRIAN STAR (9) is first-up without a trial and is a big query. SWIFT CHARM (4) is capable enough on his day.

Shayne O’Cass: Splitting the Highways on Saturday has really helped SYRIAN STAR (9) now. I suspect she was / is going back from the outside draw but with only 11 in the race, as opposed to 22, she has fewer to pass and finds less trouble. SWIFT CHARM (4) likewise will appreciate the strong pace set (undoubtedly) by PENTHOUSE (1) who could run them off their collective legs.

ROSEHILL R4: INGLIS CLASSIC SALE 11-13 FEB HCP (1300m)

Ron Dufficy: GALLANT STAR (1) has to make the leap from Highway grade but he appears the right type, capable of doing that. INFANCY (11) showed nice improvement second-up and has attracted good support in the early markets during the week. KING OF DUBAI (9) is a nice style of horse who should be around the mark again. And HIGH BLUE SEA (1) has been a little inconclusive at the trials but comes out of very good form races last preparation.

Shayne O’Cass: The Sydney Bowler form appeals to me, even before we find out how that horse went in the Magic Millions Guineas later on the day. Enter FIRE TRIBE (10) and DAZZLE LEGEND (8) who ran second and third respectively behind John O’Shea’s colt in recent times in different races. Just for the record, FIRE TRIBE (10) has raced since and won at Royal Randwick, beating a subsequent winner. I love him at 1300m now with the good draw and no weight.

ROSEHILL R5: CHANDON BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1200m)

Ron Dufficy: MRS CHRISSIE (7) was dominant winning first-up in Victoria and had drawn to stalk a good speed here. BUBBA’S BAY (5) is unbeaten second-up and is better off at the weights on Saturday. I have always been a fan of WINNING VERSE (2) and can’t leave her out after a couple of trial wins. Kitty Chat has good raps on her but she is short enough for a filly just out of midweek maiden grade.

Shayne O’Cass: Marc Conners has found the perfect race for WINNING VERSE (2) on the weekend. Long story short, she is a 79 rater in a 78 race over 1200m with a favourable alley and 57.5kgs on her back after the claim for Jett Stanley, who has ridden her in those two brilliant trial wins at Warwick Farm. BUBBA’S BAY (5) has a great strike-rate of four wins and three thirds from 11 starts. On top of that, the Kris Lees-trained mare is unbeaten in her two second-up runs and stuck on quite gamely after setting a very, very fast pace first-up. EITHER OAR (3) beat BUBBA’S BAY (5) last time and excels here at Rosehill.

ROSEHILL R6: FARNAN YEARLINGS SELLING NOW BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1800m)

Ron Dufficy: ARISTONOUS (3) is hard to approach after such an inglorious run last start but he moved well in a recent trial and I have to give him another chance here. LOUISVILLE (8) is a promising type who is ideally suited stepping up in distance now. FLOATING (7) could need it softer but finds a suitable race. And TONY BE (1) is well-placed with a claim second-up and could surprise at odds.

Shayne O’Cass: LOUISVILLE (8) has finished on the podium at 10 of his 11 starts but with that said, he has been very costly lately. The Gerry Harvey-owned and bred grandson of Jezabeel has finished runner-up at his past three starts at $2,60, $3.80 and $2.50. There are just no excuses left if he doesn’t win on Saturday being at 1800m with a good draw at his home track. Regarding ARISTONOUS (1), there’s a whole chapter in the Punter’s Handbook about ‘forgiving a good horse for one bad run’.

ROSEHILL R7: JANUARY CUP LISTED (2000m)

Ron Dufficy: NAVAL COLLEGE (12) has a harder race to contest now but he looks a nice young import on the rise. LUNCIES (1) has a class edge and does no work from barrier one. TOURISTIC (9) was five weeks between runs last start and gets blinkers at his peak now. BABY RIDER (5) has found a bit of form and makes his own luck up-front.

Shayne O’Cass: Chris Waller has won six January Cups Duff and I am wishin’ and hopin’ that LORD ARDMORE (6) is number seven. The son of Waller’s vastly underrated racehorse and sire, Reliable Man, has some real depth to his form with placings behind the likes of Huetor, Coal Crusher, Arapaho and Zoumon. He won The Wave in 2022 and beat Francesco Guardi twice. Best of all, he is two from four when second-up and three from six at Rosehill. REBEL RAMA (13) was one of the best runs in the Belle of the Turf. She is a 2150m stakes-winner so the trip suits and it seems like she might have found that old form. NAVAL COLLEGE (12) has the draw to get his chance.

ROSEHILL R8: RANVET HCP BENCHMARK 100 (1300m)

Ron Dufficy: KA BLING (8) is up and running and has a real fitness edge on his rivals here with no weight and he has got a lovely draw to take control of this race. ZOU TIGER (3) was a little plain first-up but would only have to find a glimpse of his best form to prove hard to beat. UCALLEDIT (1) has a class edge and any push in the market late should be monitored. CUBAN ROYALE (5) has been kept up to the mark winning a trial after a freshen and has been a good old money-spinner.

Shayne O’Cass: ‘Target’ might be taking it a bit far but I reckon Chris Waller has picked out this race for RUBAMOS (6). Not as a Grand Final or anything but as a very, very suitable starting point. It seems to me anyway, that the horse’s Goldilocks trip is 1300m – it’s not too short and not too far for him and gives him a chance to settle and reel them in at the same time. UCALLEDIT (1) has been well-placed throughout by Kris Lees. He has won $525,110 thanks in part to back to back stakes-wins last preparation. Has a good draw and 3kgs off but that’s still four more than Rubamos.

ROSEHILL R9: TOYOTA FORKLIFTS HCP BENCHMARK 78 (1200m)

Ron Dufficy: I am happy to have a speck at big odds on SO GOOD SO COOL (3) here. I thought he had a bit to offer with no room to move last week. BOSTON ROCKS (8) is a nice horse who has had a months freshen since winning well first-up. UNION ARMY (11) sets-up well third-up now and PEREILLE (5) should sprint well fresh after two nice trials.

Shayne O’Cass: Wouldn’t go to war over it Duff but I reckon UNION ARMY (11) should have nearly beaten BOSTON ROCKS (8) when they met at Randwick mid-December. That was 1100m, Union Army went to 1200m here two weeks later and was beaten a neck in quite a respectable off-season Benchmark 78. Logic suggests he is at his peak third-up and he only has to walk out his box and into the parade ring this time.

ROSEHILL R10: TAB HANDICAP BENCHMARK 78 (1400m)

Ron Dufficy: TESTATOR SILENS (2) hasn’t won in nearly two years now but he has been around the mark in three runs for the Pride stable and this is a very winnable race for him. ELUSIVE JEWEL (4) did enough over an unsuitable distance first-up and is set to improve at massive odds here. The Victorian RHINOCEROS (1) is well-graded and was five weeks between runs in a harder race at Moonee Valley last time and could be the forgotten horse. MISS CHECKONI (11) is hard to knock off two straight city wins and gets in light again.

Shayne O’Cass: I was surprised to see ELUSIVE JEWEL (4) at $41 and $9 as late as Friday morning still. She was $41 when she resumed at Randwick and whilst she clocked in back on seventh of the 10 runners, she was really warming to the task late. How about these for some good numbers Duff; four starts at Rosehill for a win and two seconds, two starts at the trip for a win and a second and three placings from three second-up runs.

Originally published as To the Penthouse, your Highness? Shayno and Duff debate the chances at Rosehill, Magic Millions

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/nsw-racing/to-the-penthouse-your-highness-shayno-and-duff-debate-the-chances-at-rosehill-magic-millions/news-story/7caf4bb541308dc5492bb1f6846b0782