Vashka in dashing form and chasing a hat-trick of wins at Rosehill on Saturday

KEN CALLANDER: VASHKA, from the in-form John O’Shea stables, is low flying at the moment and looks in another race to suit at Rosehill on Saturday.

Photographer: Simon Bullard. Race 8 FRESHMARK HANDICAP (3YO&UP) - 2000m. Winner 'You'll Never; ridden by Tye Angland.

VASHKA, from the in-form John O’Shea stables, is low flying at the moment and looks in another race to suit as he strives for three wins on the trot at Rosehill this afternoon.

Last run, three weeks back, Vashka strode away to an easy win over the subsequent winner Commanding Wit over 1350m at Rosehill and he runs in the International Animal Health Handicap, 1300m, a similar race, today.

Blake Shinn, who was aboard in the last start win, will ride Vashka again.

Race 1 (1.10)

Betting: $2.70 Invincible Dame, $3.40 Zoutenant, $3.50 Voilier, $5.50 Ready Already

Comment: No race experience to go on. I loved the pre-season trial back in September of Zoutenant and he is a big query, Voilier looked ready made in beating four opponents in an easy trial win and Invincible Dame also flew in her trial win. Ready Already trialled OK, but the time was ordinary.

Bet: 4 Zoutenant

Exotics: Quinella 4 Zoutenant, 7 Invincible Dame

Race 2 (1.45)

Betting: $3.20 Binary, $3.40 Good Project, $5 Furbish, $7 Testashadow, $9 Redoutable Heart

Comment: Eisenhower (first), Redoutable Heart (2nd), Good Project (3rd) and Testashadow (fourth) all clashed over 1400m on the Kenso track two weeks ago. Good Project was wide all the way and he is the best weighted under today’s conditions while Testashadow was first-up and impressed with his work over the final 200m. Binary has had one start for one win and is hard to fault.

Bet: 3 Good Project

Exotics: Quinella 2 Testashadow, 3 Good Project

Race 3 (2.20)

Betting: $3.80 Frespanol, Surge Ahead, $4 Off The Rails, $6 Abbasso

Comment: Dylan’s Rojo looks the clear leader in an even race. Surge Ahead was good first-up when wide and he stuck it out in good style and Frespanel won two in row before having excuses last run. Off The Rails and Magical Stance have sound recent efforts, Sinjoren could be an improver and Abbasso handles soft going and is nicely placed.

Bet: 1 Abbasso

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Abbasso, 3 Surge Ahead, 4 Off The Rails, 7 Dylan’s Rojo

Race 4 (2.55)

Betting: $3.50 Habitual Offender, $4.80 Auberge, $7 Barge And Charge, $9.50 Tenacitus

Comment: Poor field. Sir Bigglesworth could lead from Retort Courteous. Habitual Offender’s last win at W.Farm was good, but he is up 4kg and has had time between runs. Auberge seems to be in the betting every start, but his form isn’t flash and Tenacitus is no more than an honest plodder. Barge And Charge’s last run was OK and he could have some upside. His Highness is not out of it.

Bet: 1 Barge And Charge

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Barge And Charge, 2 Tenacitus, 3 Habitual Offender, 9 His Highness’

Race 5 (3.35)

Betting: $3.50 You’ll Never, $3.80 Amovatio, $5 Pythagorean, $6 Beauty’s Beast, $9.50 Kaypers

Comment: Waller has six of nine runners. Beauty’s Beast (only fair Victorian form) and Pythagorean are ready made pacemakers, but I am more inclined to look to You’ll Never and Amovatio finishing strong from the back. I have a slight preference for You’ll Never. Kaypers had excuses at Goulburn last run and is not out of it.

Bet: 5 You’ll Never

Exotics: Box quinella 3 Kaypers, 5 You’ll Never, 6 Amovatio

Race 6 (4.15)

Betting: $2.30 Medcaut, $3.80 Saigon Tea, $4.60 Resurrect, $9.50 Drago

Comment: I don’t think there is much between Medcaut and Saigon Tea and I think they might have the wood on Resurrect who has proved extremely resilient in recent runs. I lean to Saigon Tea because of the distance and the soft track. Faust, Drago and Dowdstown Charlie are the pick of the rest.

Bet: 4 Saigon Tea

Exotics: Box trifecta 2 Faust, 4 Saigon Tea, 7 Medcaut, 9 Dowdstown Charlie

Race 7 (4.55)

Betting: $2.20 Vashka, $7.50 Specific Choice, $9.50 One More

Comment: Vashka is in dashing form, has barrier one and the wet should hold no worries. There are several go forward horses with perhaps last start Canterbury winner One More setting the pace. Perfect Weapon has won seven races and will be improved by first up run and Valcot is a chance and helped by the allowance. Specific Choice is hard to catch.

Bet: 6 Vashka

Exotics: Quinella 1 Perfect Weapon, 6 Vashka

Race 8 (5.35)

Betting: $2.60 Mohave, $4.60 Murder Of Crows, $6 Mr Jackman, $7.50 Forget, $10 Terra Amata

Comment: Kudero or Snitsky could lead with Mohave and Forget, both going well and both big chances, well placed. Murder Of Crows will be nice and fresh after a break and will sprint well from the back and Mr Jackman’s first-up run was hard to fault. Terra Amata is not out of it and Burbero has a rough hope at big odds.

Bet: 11 Mohave

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Burbero, 5 Murder Of Crows, 10 Forget, 11 Mohave

Originally published as Vashka in dashing form and chasing a hat-trick of wins at Rosehill on Saturday