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Tips by Brad Gray

Tips and insights for the nine race card at Rosehill highlighted by the running of the Group One Coolmore Classic.

Godolphin newcomer Spectroscope holds plenty of interest in the opener at Rosehill. This four-year French import has only had the one trial for John O’Shea but like the way he went to the line behind Faith’s Encore. He’ll be nice and fresh for the 1350m and although many of these types need a mile at least to show their best, the latest win of Spectroscope was a 5L thrashing over 1400m. He still holds nominations for the Doncaster and Queen Elizabeth so he must be showing the boys in blue something in his work too. Happy to take the gamble at $4.60.

Danger: Another first-upper in Extensible looks the threat. She is a very sharp mare when it all falls into place for her. She only needs to find cover to finish off hard and has recent form around the likes of Antonio Giuseppe, Dixie Blossoms and Silent Sedition. Extensible is fit and flying but this is his toughest test to date by far.

How to play it: Spectroscope WIN

Spectroscopes’ Randwick trial – 16 Feb

It’s only a field of seven but there looks to be a stack of speed engaged with Ball Of Muscle looking to hold out speedy fillies Zelady’s Night Out and Fickle Folly. That sets up nicely for Palazzo Pubblico. She is an underrated mare and always races well fresh. She’ll get the last crack at this field and looks nicely in with 53.5kg. Has trialled well and gets the services of Kerrin McEvoy. Plenty to like at $10.

Danger: Dothraki has forgotten what it’s like to win but he hasn’t raced in company like this for a while. He was only a length off Le Romain last start and should be at his top now third-up. Has earned his 59kg.

How to play it: Palazzo Pubblico WIN and SAVE on Dothraki

Palazzo Pubblico’s latest trial – 20 Feb

On a drying Rosehill surface, expect to see the turn of foot from Single Bullet that saw him catapulted into Golden Slipper talk. It was his debut at Wyong where he missed the kick before steaming home behind Madeenaty that prompted Gary Portelli to suggest there is nothing between him and She Will Reign. He has struck two heavy tracks since which has dulled his finish. He has still run admirably though, placing on each occasion. Condor Heroes is a speed machine and ran second to Khan on debut in the Breeders but still has to bring his sizzling trial form to the track. He’ll ensure a genuine tempo.

Danger: Coruscate, like Single Bullet, comes out of the Skyline on a heavy track. He look the winner until the final few strides. He was a strong maiden winning prior to that in beating Albumin who subsequently won herself (and lines up here too). Best long shot is the half to Happy Trails All Too Huiying with the winkers going on.

How to play it: Single Bullet WIN

Single Bullet’s charging second on debut

Limbo Soul landed a huge plunge on debut at Rosehill and TAB have taken no such chances at his second outing, posting her favourite. Tim Martin has made no secret of how high he regards this filly and is desperate to sneak her into the Golden Slipper field. However, Sweet Deal is the one with the runs on the board having run a brave second to Frolic in the Inglis Classic as a heavily supported favourite. Frolic, of course, has since taken the prized scalp of She Will Reign. At longer odds than Limbo Soul, she is the play in the Magic Night.

Danger: There are plenty of them perhaps led by Melbourne raider Tulip. Arctic Angle’s brave recent run in Sydney suggested they’ll measure up this year and the Hayes and Dabernig yard can do no wrong when it comes to two-year-olds at the moment. The half-sister to Astern, Alizee has trialled exceptionally well since her luckless debut while La Chica Rosa could sneak into the money at odds.

How to play it: Sweet Deal WIN

Sweet Deal fighting it out with Frolic

Antonio Giuseppe is no spoil at $1.90 but he really should be winning this. He looks destined for Group One glory this autumn and this is the next stepping stone. He was brilliant winning over 1500m first-up and although jumps straight to 2000m off a three-week break, it’s unlikely to stop him. He has a turn of foot none of these genuine staying types can match. It’s worth noting that Gold Symphony, who ran second to him in his return, since won the Listed National Sprint in Canberra in dominant fashion.

Danger: Don’t think there is one. However, keen to see Lasqueti Spirit again after her gutsy second to Winx in the Chipping Norton in awful conditions. Magic Hurricane also ran really well in that race. Expect Tavago and Libran to hit the line and continue trending the right way as they head out to a mile and a half.

How to play it: Antonio Giuseppe WIN

Antonio Giuseppe’s first-up win

Foxplay is a deserving favourite off her Light Fingers return where she motored home behind Global Glamour but it’s hard to come into her at $2.30 for the Phar Lap Stakes. She since laboured in the heavy conditions in the Surround and although it was an honest fourth, you just wonder whether it could flatten her a touch. Achi Baba ran sixth at Warwick Farm in a BM72 first-up but thought he ran really well after being strung up. That should clean him up nicely for this and expect him to be much more prominent in the run. His Rosehill runs last preparation where that of a classy youngster.

Danger: You can make some kind of case for most of these. Achi Baba pulled up with issues after his first-up flop and has since won a trial nicely. Rock And Swing is a likely type and still has enormous upside while Zenalicious is a big improver at monster odds.

How to play it: Achi Baba WIN, Zenalicious WIN and SAVE Foxplay

Achi Baba’s Rosehill romp last prep

Punters let out a collective groan when Omei Sword drew 19 of 19 in the Coolmore Classic but it might just mean we get a better price. She is a Group One winner in waiting and if Brenton Avdulla can find some cover in the three-wide line, she should prove too good with 52.5kg on her back. It was a terrific return first-up in the Surround Stakes splitting La Bella Diosa and Global Glamour, who she meets 2kg and 3kg better off.

Danger: Silent Sedition is trending very nicely this preparation and has only missed the place in one of 14 starts! Sam Clipperton should get a cart across courtesy of Global Glamour from the wide draw. Best of the rest are Dixie Blossoms and Heavens Above.

How to play it: Omei Sword WIN

Omei Sword’s Surround second

Dibayani is near 1400 days between wins yet it’s hard to be too critical of his form. Particularly in Sydney where he has run into Winx on three occasions, including a second in the Group One Chipping Norton last year, while he was beaten a flared nostril in the Epsom by Hauraki who came from the clouds and was just nutted in a Villiers by Sense Of Occasion. It was a strange run first-up in the Apollo as after looking gone, he rallied again to run fourth. There isn’t a great deal of speed on paper and he should box seat from barrier 2. This is the day for Dibayabi.

Danger: Arod probably should have won the Liverpool City Cup after being baulked in the straight. He found the line nicely when ridden quitter after a first-up flop in the CF Orr. He’s Our Rokkii strikes a winnable race after two pass mark runs in Melbourne while No Dount can sneak into the numbers given the lack of speed here.

How to play it: Dibayani WIN

Dibayani’s return in the Apollo Stakes

Chris Waller looks to hold the key to this race with four runners and all of them hard in the market. These middle distance affairs are his bread and butter. Hogmanany is had his first crack at 2000m last start and he was admirable behind subsequent Canberra Cup winner Dark Eyes. He didn’t look to love the heavy conditions and he’ll be better for his first try out in trip. Happy to be in his corner in a tricky close to the meeting.

Danger: Veladerodidn’t fire a shot in the Hobartville but pulled up with a post-race issue. He’ll find the 1900m much more to his liking. At the backend of the spring he was only 1.5L off Yankee Rose and then 2.2L off Sacred Elixir.

How to play it: Hogmanany WIN

Hogmanany’s first try out in trip last start

*All prices quoted are courtesy of TAB Fixed Odds and are correct as of 3pm Friday on 10 March.

All the fields, form and replays for Rosehill on Saturday