Race-by-race preview and tips for Saturday's meeting at Rosehill

The Age

2 days ago

Bit of a D-Day for 5. Pallaton in some respects. He was brilliant winning on debut in December, but disappointed when he reappeared in the Pierro Plate. Failed again in the Todman and the prep was halted. If there were issues, on the evidence of his two trials, they've been rectified, as he's looked quite good winning both comfortably. Barrier one in the small field can be dicey sometimes, but if the same horse that won on debut turns up, he'll take beating. 1. Skyhook was a revelation in his first campaign, which took him all the way to the Golden Slipper where he started a $7.50 chance. Possibly at the end of his prep having backed up after winning the Pago Pago on a hot day a week earlier. Trialling well and is a logical threat. 2. Blitzburg has had two trials for his return since winning the Canonbury on February 1. Pushed out a little to win the latest. Has had a bone chip removed since his last race. Must be included in the chances. 4. Nashville Jack has race fitness on those colts from his handy win at Randwick three weeks ago. Potentially a different set up for him one barrier from the outside, but difficult to fault.
How to play it: Pallaton to win.
Race 6 – 2.30PM ROSEHILL BOWLING CLUB HANDICAP (1900 METRES)
2. Travolta has shown in his three runs back this time in that he's very comfortable on rain-affected ground, and he strikes suitable conditions again on the back of an easy win at 1800m three weeks ago. Won first up on a heavy 9, and while beaten in between, it was in an on-pace dominated race on a soft 5. Conditions suit him, down slightly in weight after the claim and should be a major player. 14. Amusing enjoyed a nice run and dashed away on a heavy 10 two weeks ago, beating a subsequent midweek winner. She's found her groove now with back-to-back wins, and if she can run out the extra distance, she will be somewhere in the finish. 20. So You Are is worth including if he gains a run despite coming out of Highway grade. He was runner-up over 1800m at Randwick second up in what was an excellent performance from near the tail. Lightly raced and an each-way hope. 7. Nana's Wish is racing consistently and is adept on rain-affected ground. Boxed on OK when placed at Randwick on the back of two midweek wins. Drawn well and is in the mix. 17. Kapakiri is another with some claims at value on the back of a handy first-up run over an unsuitable trip.
How to play it: Travolta to win.
Race 7 – 3.05PM CAPTIVANT @ KIA ORA HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
7. War Eternal looks ideally placed to strike third up on another wet track after he was a touch unlucky in a small field two weeks ago. Looked to be travelling well to the turn, then may have struck a bad patch as he suddenly came under pressure. Picked himself up, and after some ducking and weaving, was closing fast at the end of 1300m. A wet track, but not as deep, suits him, the trip suits him, and he's on the limit. Huge chance for him. 6. Our Gold Hope had a mixed preparation last time in, but did place in the Neville Sellwood on a heavy track behind Ceolwulf on April 1. Plenty to like about the way she's trialling, the trip suits her fresh, and it would be no surprise if she regained some winning form. 4. Birdman is an interesting runner, which looks to have trialled strongly for his first-up run since the Sydney Cup. On the face of it, the 1400m should be short of his best, so wary about getting carried away with his trial, as he hasn't won in Australia, nor below 2414m. Expect him to be closing strongly, and if he gets over the top of these, then he's in for a big prep. 3. Palmetto is often underestimated and is more than capable of showing up fresh. He's trialling well winning both heats, and he has been known to steal a race when nobody's looking. How to play it: War Eternal to win.
Race 8 – 3.45PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
There might be some each-way value in 4. Fully Lit, particularly if he's able to find the front from an inside gate, with really only Puntin likely to provide some opposition for that spot. He just wasn't comfortable in the ground two weeks ago on a heavy 10 with rain falling during the race, so happy to forgive. He's not going badly, and his chances are enhanced if the track continues to improve. 10. Captain Furai loomed to win that race when resuming, but was outpointed by Elson Boy, which is a genuine heavy 10 horse and loves it. He'll be fitter and should be right in the finish. 5. Puntin did not have the best of luck two runs back, then not sure whether it was the 1800m or not being in the right part of the track, or both, that resulted in him weakening to finish fourth at Randwick three weeks back. Did win at this track and over this trip second up, and is entitled to another chance. 1. Yoshinobu is a real head scratcher. You have to conclude he hated the heavy in the race won by The Novelist, as he was beaten 14 lengths as a $1.70 favourite. Won well on a soft 5 first up, so the better the track the better his hopes.
How to play it: Fully Lit each way.
Race 9 – 4.20PM TAB HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
7. Polyglot will need a few things to fall his way from a tricky gate, but there's every chance they could, given the amount of speed, on paper at least, engaged in this race. He was a winner first up last time in at this track and distance on a soft 7, and looked good doing it. First run for new stable and trialled up nicely under J-Mac a couple of weeks ago. Hard to beat if he gets the breaks. 11. Useapin sprinted nicely to win two starts back against the mares, then again ran on OK but not as happy in the heavy 10 behind Stardeel last time. She'll be aided by some good speed, and while back 100m, she could be hard to hold out. 14. Theblade returns as a gelding and has started $3 or less in all three starts, so there have been some raps on him. Easy debut winner on a soft 7, then nowhere near as effective in two subsequent starts on soft and good ground. He did look quite good in an easy trial win and this is a big race for him. 8. Regimental Colours was strong at the finish when winning at this trip at Randwick last time to make it three wins from four starts this prep. Sure to be around the mark again. 1. Bonita Queen will be difficult to beat if she can find the front, and scratchings could be key to that happening.
How to play it: Polyglot to win.
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Race 10 – 4.55PM PETALUMA HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
15. Gatsby's won the Rosebud at this meeting last year and hasn't won since. But he's now a gelding and there's plenty in his favour to suggest he can recapture something like his best right down at the bottom of the weights. He likes the sting out of the track and he has trialled really well on two occasions. This is the right scenario for him to have his chance. 12. Perfumist came a long way last preparation, starting off with defeat in a Bathurst BM58 and ending it with a string of city wins and a trip to New Zealand for a game fifth in their rich $3 million The Kiwi. She was let run in her latest trial, hence the big margin. The 1200m would be at the bottom of her powers, but hard to ignore her. 10. Bunker Hut has not raced since he was brave off a wide run when resuming about six weeks ago running fourth behind Cloudland. He's been scratched a couple of times and had a tick-over trial last week. Drawn well, and if the inside is holding up, he's right in it. 1. Romeo's Choice is difficult to leave out of the chances given he beat open company in the July Sprint second up. Handles all conditions, and while back up in weight, he's a winning chance again.
How to play it: Gatsby's to win.