Races

Chris Nelson’s Saturday Rosehill Preview

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

RACE 1

Another cracking day of racing at Rosehill in the lead-up to next week’s Golden Slipper with the Group 1 Coolmore for the girls our feature later in the day. The Midway gets things underway & it’s a tough one, I’m defaulting to LET’S GO AGAIN as she’s the horse in the race with upside. She follows the same pattern as last prep running first up over 900m before straight to the 1200m second time around, she won both last time, this time she closed off nicely fresh just finding it a little too short. She has some decent form lines within her 7 starts & maps to park on speed. SALISANO is the class dropper, is she going all that well though? Claim a big help. THE EXTREME CAT first up a market watch.

Numbers: 12 – 1 – 5 – 3

Suggested Bet: LET’S GO AGAIN EACH-WAY (small bet).

RACE 2

The large stables really do dominate this race with the Neasham/Archibald combo at the top with 5 of the 12 acceptors. Another open affair where I thought UNLIMITED would open shorter than he has in the early markets. He’s in the right yard, only fairly lightly raced, drops in grade, strips fitter up to a suitable trip & the claim is a plus. HURSTVILLE ZAGREB beat home FIORSUM FRED at Canterbury, perhaps lucky to do so & is 2kg worse off at the weights, both can figure in this finish. PERFECT PLAY in the mix, just looks a little one-paced to me though, prefer over further.

Numbers: 4 – 11 – 12 – 8

Suggested Bet: UNLIMITED EACH-WAY (small bet).

RACE 3

First of a couple of crucial Golden Slipper lead-ups, this is it, last chance to get into the big one here next week. Market suggests we’re looking at a two-horse race between WEST OF SWINDON & SKYHOOK, I’m inclined to agree however which one gets the nod? I’ll lean to SKYHOOK who was very good at Randwick a fortnight back running on late after having traffic issues earlier in the straight. Through the line he was strong & should be further improved. WEST OF SWINDON was no match for the winner in the Silver Slipper however didn’t shirk his task, he’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since. COMEDY & EXTRACTOR appear the other chances in the race, both had factors against at their last start.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet:  SKYHOOK TO WIN.

RACE 4

Not a good draw at all for ARTISTIC VENTURE however with J. Mac to steer we’re a chance, I’ve really liked all her runs yet she’s only placed 1 of 3 attempts. She had to go back from the wide gate in the Sweet Embrace before finding the line strongly, chances are that will be the case again, fingers crossed! AUTUMN BLONDE was good in the same race sitting 3 deep without cover on a solid speed, had a tough run the start prior also, due for a change of luck. STRADA VARENNA rises in grade, can’t knock winning form though, the big watch is ENVIABLE who debuts for Chris Waller, trials have been good.

Numbers: 2 – 6 – 5 – 13

Suggested Bet: BACKING ARTISTIC VENTURE & AUTUMN BLONDE TO WIN.

RACE 5

Small field however a really good clash with LINDERMANN & ARAPAHO coming out of the Group 1 last start narrowly won by Via Sistina over Fangirl. Throw VAUBAN into the mix who has Group 1 form in the UK, finished out of the placings in two Melbourne Cups & now with the Waterhouse/Bott yard having trialled well. I’ll lean to LINDERMANN, he was terrific in the Very Elleegant up on the speed throughout going down by only a small margin. VAUBAN will be a BIG market watch, if ready to go (they usually are from this yard) he’ll prove very tough to beat.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet: Box up top 3 selections in exotics, don’t expect a big return though.

RACE 6

Chris Waller’s Lady Shenandoah comes out to run in the Group 1 later today, he’s still well represented in the race with 4 runners & they are all winning chances. DECLICHY BOULEVARD may be the one & the booking of McDonald certainly gives me added confidence. She was good in the spring before a couple of solid runs this time in with her latest in the Surround very encouraging clocking the slickest final split in the race. MOVIN OUT, POWERS OF OPAL & REAL CLASS all have Oaks aspirations & either resume or go around here second up, all may need the run however I wouldn’t be the least surprised to see any of them run into the placings.

Numbers: 12 – 7 – 10 – 8

Suggested Bet: DECLICHY BOULEVARD TO WIN.

RACE 7

Tough race, generally have problems catching these on their day bar the very consistent & first up PISANELLO who has been readied with a couple of lead-up trials winning the latest. The ‘wildcard’ is the Ciaron Maher trained PERSPIRATION who resumes, he’s a 3yo taking on the older horses without an ‘official’ trial however I can’t see him being underdone from this stable. He may prefer it wet however unless a noted drifter I’ll side with him. TIME TO BOOGIE from the inside draw best of the ‘usual suspects’.

Numbers: 11 – 7 – 6 – 4

Suggested Bet: PERSPIRATION EACH-WAY (small bet).

RACE 8

Today’s feature is the Group 1 Coolmore for the fillies & mares, always an extremely competitive race. LADY SHENANDOAH & LADY OF CAMELOT met in the Surround last start where I thought the former would easily account for the latter with the step up in distance the major factor. Well, I was wrong as although LADY SHENANDOAH got the win it was only marginal & she had to fight hard to beat off LADY OF CAMELOT. On paper today she draws poorly however the map has her sliding across comfortably into a prominent spot, I’m sticking solid. ALSPEHINA ran some cracking races in the Melbourne Spring, never in the clear first up she can bounce back big time. AMELIA’S JEWEL led fresh & was handed the race, no knock though. LADY OF CAMELOT was huge in that defeat, additional 100m yes however I’m not underestimating her this time though.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 1 – 6

Suggested Bet: LADY SHENANDOAH TO WIN & box up top 4 selections in exotics.

RACE 9

Open race. PERICLES is the class act in this field & we must forgive him for the subpar run first up where he had valid excuses. His trial leading in was good, everything looked fine with him & the stable haven’t sent him back to the trials since returning to Sydney. Really don’t think the Queenslander FREEDOM RALLY is far away, he gets a big class drop here (same as PERICLES) & strips fitter third-up, it’s the gate I’m concerned about, he could end up posted out in no man’s land however if able to get across or gain some cover he’s a chance. IOWNA MERC is flying, I don’t think 1500m will prove any problem & from that gate he’ll land a perfect trip once again. REDEINER did me no favours last prep however on his fresh run he’s a top four chance.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

RACE 10

LES VAMPIRES was a strange old run first up at Randwick a fortnight back. He led in a softly run affair however once into the straight he was quickly headed & looked like drifting back through the field. Well, that wasn’t the case as he got going again late only missing out by a small margin. Much better placed now up to 1400m he ran a couple of cracking races second & third up last prep in Group 2 then Group 1 company. HARLEM QUEEN gets J. Mac to steer & we know how good she was in the spring without winning, huge chance fresh. RHAPSODY CHIC not hopeless, first up record is a good one, wide gate is the concern.

Numbers: 12 – 9 – 4 – 10

Suggested Bet: LES VAMPIRES TO WIN (Box exacta nos.9 & 12).

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