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

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass examines every race for Golden Eagle Day at Rosehill Gardens to point you in the right direction to finding a winner.

Ruthless Dame can overcome the outside gate and win the $10m Golden Eagle at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for the $10 million Golden Eagle meeting at Rosehill on Saturday.

ROSEHILL

Track: Good 4. Rail: True

RACE 1

Overview: Lisztomania has finished on the podium at eight of his 12 starts; that’s two wins, six seconds too by the way which is thoroughly commendable. His first-up is good enough without being outstanding but this is his trip and his three previous Highway runs were huge. Dream draw, gun jockey. Hard not to be impressed with Bandi Boy’s Highway win last week. All the one-time conqueror of Zougotcha has to do now is be able to back-up seven days later. Dollar Magic likewise was in action last Saturday. ‘Ambushed’ was the word for what happened that day.

Bet: Lisztomania each-way

RACE 2

Overview: Nash Rawiller has liked Peace Officer for longer than anyone else bar Hall Of Famer Clarry Conners of course. They are a great team, the lot of them. Nash of course had to watch Aaron Bullock hit it out of the park with that Midway win on Oct 21 but I am sure he would have been cheering him on. Speaking of Nash, he played a pivotal role in Dream Hour’s first-up win on the Kensington track. Harder here but she could be in for a good preparation. Nails Murphy ran exactly like a horse that was $8 into $6 at that Aussie debut.

Bet: Peace Officer to win, quinella 1, 2

Peace Officer can make it back-to-back wins when he heads to Rosehill. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 3

Overview: Edward Cummings bought Queenmaker for $35,000 as a yearling and she has already won over $210,000 with the promise of more to come. On top of that, a horse called Anamoe has come into the pedigree, close-up, which only adds to her value. As for Saturday, you just know this fit, honest and often on-pace mare, is going to give it her best shot. Olympic Gaze was a month between runs when he was a ‘not shocking’ seventh of eight. He won before that, don’t forget.

Bet: Queenmaker to win, Olympic Gaze to place

RACE 4

Overview: Anyone who saw Cholante win that maiden at Nowra in August last year would have known that we were looking at a horse well beyond country racing and blessed with a little bit of X-Factor. There is a stakes-win in this daughter of Choisir so long as she plays ball; that is to say, she can set herself some herculean tasks. Shohei is another lightly-raced and talented mare who boasts a win over Parisal and a nose second in the Listed Gold Bracelet. Trialling like the good fresh horse we know her to be. Miss Hellfire trialled like a bomb herself the other day.

Bet: Cholante to win

RACE 5

Overview: Zoe’s Mission is a maternal granddaughter of a horse called The Green Monkey who remains, to this very day, the highest priced equine ever sold at auction. Drum roll please, US$16 million as an unraced 2YO in Florida in 2006. For the record, he raced three times, lost all three as a heavy favourite. This is Zoe’s Mission’s first run for Kris Lees and if she brings her trial form, she might just win. Mars Mission has been rocketing home at his two runs this prep over 1100m; 1300m on Saturday.

Bet: Zoe’s Mission to win, quinella 3, 8

Smartawi looks an each-way chance in the Four Pillars. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 6

Overview: Smartawi won the Wagga Guineas on May 5 and was at Eagle Farm 22-days later running in the Derby up there. Fast forward to October 21 and the Greg Hickman-trained gelding was pretty good for a horse that ran 13th of 16 in the 1400m Midway. Makes real each-way appeal at the odds. Sweet Mercy is a capable mare on her day. She has form around Kovalica (fourth) and Banana Queen (second). Adelaide son Deniliquin could be a surprise packet.

Bet: Smartawi each-way, Sweet Mercy each-way, box trifecta 6, 9, 14, 18

RACE 7

Overview: Even though Think About It has won 11 of 12 (should have been 12 by the way), I am not entirely sure he is over the line if only due to the presence of his stablemate Private Eye. If you judge them solely on the Everest, they were probably as good as each given Think About It won and Private Eye covered ground and was beaten a neck. With all that said, barrier 3 versus barrier 8 means ‘advantage, Think About It’. Bella Nipotina is the best of the rest. Welcome back Cascadian.

Bet: Quinella 1, 4

RACE 8

Overview: Ruthless Dame was going to be my good thing of the day when the field came out on Tuesday. That was unless she drew barrier 1 or 20. Can you believe, she drew 20. As bad as it is, every other horse is going to need luck and we have already seen a Golden Eagle or two where it gets a bit messy for those in traffic up the straight. So many things have to go her way now. Hawaii Five Oh on the other hand, has ‘a winning draw’. Kovalica was, in my opinion, the run of the race in the Epsom and the King Charles III.

Bet: Ruthless Dame to win

No Compromise is on the quick back-up from his fifth at Randwick last weekend. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 9

Overview: No Compromise has won seven races, all of them between 2000m and 2400m. I was all over him on the Craven Plate and while Tommy Berry laid it out on a platter for him, he did kind of race like a horse looking for further. I just hope 2000m is far enough. Diamil has been building up nicely this preparation. Every start has been that little bit better than the last one and make no mistake, 2000m is his go. Can’t you just see Sky Lab ambushing them all late. Maybe.

Bet: No Compromise to win, Diamil and Sky Lab to place

RACE 10

Overview: Fox Fighter’s numbers tell the story. here goes; Track seven starts, two wins and three placings. Track/distance, four starts for a win and three thirds. One more; first-up; five starts for three seconds and a third. All his best form is at Rosehill too. Fox Fighter is an 84 rater in a 78 so got 63kg. David Payne didn’t claim so he obviously thinks can carry it. Way To The Stats is a welcome presence, Tristate too, given they’ll help set it up (fingers crossed) for Fox Fighter, With Your Blessing and Smashing Eagle.

Bet: Fox Fighter each-way, box trifecta 1, 3, 5, 8

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