The Group 3 Festival Stakes is this Saturday’s main event at Rosehill Gardens. With the Listed Starlight Stakes also featuring on the stunning racing card, a bumper local crowd is expected in western Sydney! In Victoria, the running of the Group 2 Zipping Classic and Sandown Guineas will have punters flocking to the Caulfield. Find out who our experts are tipping to take home the cash!
Rosehill Gardens Race 7
#1 Front Page
Front Page is knocking on the door. The Magnus gelding has raced incredibly well this campaign, and I suspect he is ready to peak on Saturday. His performance in a hot-form race at Flemington reads well for this event, and the drop back to 1100m is advantageous. The grandstand weight is the primary concern.
Our Kobison looks well placed in this company. The Kobayashi gelding boasts form around the freakish Joliestar, and I feel the handicapper has missed him with a luxurious 55kg on his back. The middle gate will suit, and his record at Rosehill is perfect. Watch for him late!
Suggested Bet: Front Page @ $4.50
Rosehill Gardens Race 8
#2 Mighty Ulysses
Mighty Ulysses was brilliant fresh at Caulfield. The Ulysses gelding stormed home from another suburb to win, and the form out of that race has stood up time and again. He had excuses second-up at Flemington, and I am expecting a sharp improvement on Saturday. The inside draw looks ominous, and he has been specked in early betting at a double-figure quote. Great each-way value.
St Lawrence is winning for fun at present. The Redwood gelding deserves his shot at this level, and I suspect he has the fitness edge on the majority of his rivals. He gets in extremely well at the weights, and if the early market support continues, he will start the race favourite. The awkward barrier is his biggest obstacle.
Suggested Bet: Mighty Ulysses @ $10.00
#2 Naval College
Naval College was good without winning the Beauford at Newcastle. The Dartmouth gelding will appreciate the drop back to 2000m, and I suspect he is ready to explode third-up from a spell. Barrier three will allow the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained six-year-old to roll forward and pilot the field, and if he can control the speed throughout, he will look the winner as they run for the doctor. Hard to toss!
Sky Lab is over the odds. The Real Impact gelding is ready for the longer trip, and I suspect this event has been a long-range target from the camp. From barrier two he will drift back and find his hooves, and if he can stay in touch with the peloton during the middle stages of the race, he can make his presence felt late. Too brilliant on his day to dismiss.
Suggested Bet: Naval College @ $5.00
Caulfield Race 6
#2 Pisces
Pisces looks the good thing of the day on a tricky program. The Frosted gelding is flying at present, and he meets a familiar field on Saturday. The mile looks ideal at this stage of his preparation, and I suspect he will roll forward from the awkward gate. If he can find the bunny uncontested during the early stages of the race, the fat lady could be signing before patrons have returned to their seats. Push the chips in!
Bittercreek is racing extremely well this campaign. The Snitzel colt has form around some serious gallopers, and he has the ability to reel off sizzling late sectionals. The big boy is rock-hard fit, and he is no stranger to the longer trip. From barrier eight he can sit midfield in the running line, and if Ben Allen presses the go button at the right time, he can loom to win. Too classy to dismiss.
Suggested Bet: Pisces @ $2.70
Caulfield Race 7
#4 Apulia
Apulia was game in defeat at his latest outing. The Fiorente entire is edging closer to his next victory, and I suspect he is ready to peak on Saturday. He is well placed at the weights with 54.5kg, and the 1800m suits the talented three-year-old at this stage of his campaign. He possesses a sharp turn of foot, and if he doesn’t get too far out of his ground during the race’s early stages, he will figure in the finish.
Ain’tnodeeldun has produced two ominous performances this preparation. The Dundeel gelding has an outrageous record at the trip, and he traditionally fires at this stage of his spell. The middle gate provides a menagerie of options for Billy Egan, and he has been heavily supported at a price since acceptances. A must for all broader multiples and exotics.
Suggested Bet: Apulia @ $7.00
Caulfield Race 8
#6 Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square is a model of consistency. The Territories gelding has been racing well in some serious races, and he looks well placed here. After a lengthy campaign, the enigmatic five-year-old has the miles in the legs, and the drop back to 2400m looks like a training masterstroke. From barrier eight, he will settle midfield with cover, and if he can produce his customary turn of foot when required, he can greet the judge before his rivals. I fear he may be at the end of his preparation.
Nonconformist is over the odds. The Rebel Raider gelding has form around Buckaroo, and he has been hitting the line nicely all campaign. He is ready for the 2400m, and Harry Coffey already has a winning association with the consistent eight-year-old. I suspect he has been trained to the minute for this event, and his opening double-figure quote has been nibbled at. He will be thereabouts.
Suggested Bet: Berkeley Square @ $10.00
