Rosehill Gardens is the place to be this Saturday for the running of the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes. With the Group 2 Golden Pendant and Shannon Stakes also featuring on the stunning program, a bumper local crowd is expected in the west! In Melbourne, we head to Sandown for an exciting edition of the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude. The Group 3 Sandown Stakes will ensure it’s a Grand Final day to remember!
Rosehill Gardens Race 6
#4 Marhoona
Marhoona resumes with an air of expectation. The Snitzel filly was ultra-impressive during her debut campaign, and her recent barrier trials were ominous. The 1100m looks like an ideal starting point for her preparation, and I expect her to pilot the field with a clean break from the barriers. The Golden Slipper winner has progression and upside for days, and the form around her is elite. Hard to toss!
Beadman hardly put a foot wrong during his maiden preparation. The talented colt oozes class and deserves his shot at this level. His win in the Ken Russell was first-class, and a recent barrier trial victory should give his key rivals sleepless nights leading into Saturday’s event. James McDonald sticks with the enigmatic three-year-old, and he has been well supported since acceptances. Jumping from a different suburb may decide his fate during the race’s early stages.
Suggested Bet: Marhoona @ $3.50
Rosehill Gardens Race 7
#8 Snow In May
Snow In May caught the eyes of punters fresh in the Mona Lisa at Wyong. The Autumn Sun mare broke the on-course clocks with her sizzling late sectionals, and I suspect she can improve second-up after her pleasing return to racing. The inside draw will allow her to sit closer than usual to the speed, and the 54kg could prove the winning difference. She may need some luck getting off the dulex as they run for the doctor. Over the odds!
Manaal was a brilliant second-up victor at the track over 1200m. She lowered the colours of a smart one, and with even luck in transit, she can continue on her winning ways on Saturday. The perfect inside draw will allow her to occupy the box-seat throughout, and I suspect she still has further improvement to come for her current preparation. Carrying 58kg on top of the ground is her biggest challenge.
Suggested Bet: Snow In May @ $9.00
#4 Wodeton
Wodeton is ready for his moment in the sun. The Wootton Bassett colt was edged out in a busy edition of the Golden Slipper during the autumn, and his performances this campaign have been full of merit. He was luckless first-up over an unsuitable distance and was good late from the tail against a track bias at his latest outing. The step-out in the trip is ideal at this stage of his preparation, and I suspect this event has been the long-range target of the astute Chris Waller and powerful Coolmore camp. The teasing three-year-old finally draws a barrier wearing the red rug, and I expect him to peak third-up from a spell on the big stage. His winning record is the primary concern.
Tempted was ultra-impressive first-up in the traditional lead-up race. The flighty three-year-old filly put her rivals to the sword a long way from home, and she strips fitter due to her fresh heroics. The step out in trip suits, and the 2kg advantage under set weights and penalties could prove decisive. Her versatility alone puts her into all winning conversations, and she has been met with heavy support in most all-in markets. The tricky gate is her biggest obstacle.
Suggested Bet: Wodeton @ $5.00
Rosehill Gardens Race 9
#1 Gringotts
Gringotts looks like one of the better bets on a tricky and competitive program. The Per Incanto gelding was good without threatening on a bottomless track first-up, and he has trialled super since. He finds a very winnable assignment second-up, and the step out to 1500m plays into his favour. The Group 1 winner looks a class above, and I suspect several of his rivals may need a run under their belt and a longer trip. The grandstand weight is the only deterrent.
Rise At Dawn is the obvious danger to the favourite. The Almanzor gelding was brave on speed at Flemington, and the talented five-year-old boasts serious Group 1 form second-up. The step out in trip is ideal at this stage of his campaign, and he looks well weighted under the handicap conditions. The wide gate and his recent winning record are among the primary concerns.
Sandown Hillside Race 6
#8 Custom
Custom is racing well at present. The Street Boss filly was an impressive first-up winner at Randwick, and her form since has been rock-solid. The consistent three-year-old deserves her shot at this level, and I expect her to eat up every inch of the 1400m journey. Barrier one is advantageous, and Mark Zahra’s key appointment should fill her supporters with plenty of confidence. She represents great each-way value.
Ole Dancer will start race favourite after producing an impressive career record to date. The Ole Kirk filly has won two out of her first three starts, and she was game in defeat with genuine excuses at her latest outing. She strips fitter after covering more ground than the early settlers and looks well placed in this company. Blake Shinn has a winning association with the progressive galloper, and the Moody camp are now training winners for fun. The awkward barrier is her biggest obstacle.
Suggested Bet: Custom @ $6.00
Sandown Hillside Race 7
#8 Cote Atlantique
Cote Atlantique was ok without threatening first-up at Caulfield. The form around Group 1 winner Sepals reads extremely well for this event, and his prior jumpouts were first-class. The Kodiac gelding will be suited by the longer trip, and his second-up form is honest. The inside draw is advantageous, and the 54kg is luxurious. His racing pattern and style always requires an element of good fortune.
Evaporate was no match in the P.B. Lawrence on resumption. The Per Incanto gelding never looked comfortable, and it may pay dividends to forgive and forget that the big boy went around. The 1500m is ideal at this stage of his campaign, and his form during the autumn was delicious and is still fresh in the memory bank. He tends to find one or two better at the pointy end of a contest.
Suggested Bet: Cote Atlantique @ $13.00
