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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting. Selections based on a soft track.

Luck deserted 8. Imposant in a similar race two weeks ago where she was hard in the market and travelled up behind the speed but ran into dead ends and was check out of the race. She only beat one home but it’s a case of what might have been. She doesn’t have barrier one this time so perhaps she stays off the fence. She meets the winner 2.5kg better and we’ll give her the chance to atone.

Dangers: 3. Until Valhalla came through the same race, she started $10 and worked home okay into fifth beaten two lengths. She’s very much the type that likes to be smothered up and allowed to make a dash at them, as we saw on the Kensington track a few starts back. Also better off at the weights and might be suited by how this looks to pan out. 2. Mickey’s Medal was the winner of that race, starting $8.50, and his win was solid as he had to fight off the challenge of Headley Grange. Slightly different set up from a wider gate but in a small field there’s plenty of time at the 1500m to offset it. Has to be respected. 4. Lady Boss stays under notice jumping to this trip after a sound third at Randwick four weeks ago. She travelled wide, though did have Invader Zim’s back all the way, and had her chance to run them down. Softer run here and that form has stood up well. Big watch on 5. Captain Maverick, an import from the Waller stable first-up after two quiet trials.

How to play it: Imposant WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Imposant’s last start at Rosehill on July 20

So long as the track stays reasonable then 8. The Extreme Cat should take plenty of beating with a great set up. He was in the market in two runs on heavy tracks around this grade before heading to Hawkesbury on a good track and romping home. Drops 3kg and picks up James McDonald, from barrier one he’ll get every chance to run out the 1400m.

Dangers: 17. Silvanito is a big threat to his stablemate if he gains a start (fifth emergency). McDonald rode him two weeks ago in a 1300m Midway and he jumped too well for his own good so found himself in front, was attacked all the way and went down fighting to a stalker. 6. Satness appeals as a big improver now he’s had two runs back and there was some merit in his second-up effort at Kembla over an unsuitable 1200m. He chased a solid tempo and boxed on well, steps more into his comfort zone here and drops 3.5kg. More than capable. 4. The Great Houdini ran well in a solid form race at Canterbury before dropping in grade and proving far too good at Newcastle. He got into the clear early in the straight and really stretched away. Good chance. 9. Pluckten is the one that’s hard to line up, lightly raced and revelled in heavy ground to score in a Class 1 at Hawkesbury. Different scenario but is the one with the upside.

How to play it: The Extreme Cat WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

The Extreme Cat wins at Hawkesbury on July 21

7. Cosmonova bounced back to her best back to midweek grade under the 59kg and while she had a nice run there she sprinted sharply when she barged her way into the clear and did it quite easily. Big forgive run at Rosehill prior and she’s again landed the inside gate so she’ll be doing no work in behind them again. Think she’s well and truly up to this level and gets her chance to prove it.

Dangers: 2. Vivy Air was due to run last week but came out when the track was downgraded so she turns up seven days later. Both wins have been at 1200m but her last six starts have been at 1400m and above. Going to be popular and if that rescheduling hasn’t worked against her she’ll be in the mix. 5. Kandinsky Abstract is another who was pulled out of last week and it’s D-Day for him on a reasonable surface first-up, where both his wins have come, and first run as a gelding. Holds a win over Celestial Legend from early days. Chance to return to some form. 8. Cinematic Star has mixed it with In Flight in her last two starts and hasn’t been disgraced and beat Llanddwyn before that. Likely she’s dictated to by how the race is run but if it pans out in her favour she can run into the finish.

How to play it: Cosmonova WIN ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Cosmonova wins at Canterbury on July 24

11. Intervarsity holds the key to this race as she comes into her Highway debut on the back of two very easy wins at Muswellbrook late last spring. Came from off the pace to win her lead up trial and lands with gate two and James McDonald in the saddle. Bred to appreciate a bit more ground than 1200m and this does look a Highway with some depth so it’ll be interesting to see how she measures up. Have to go with her.

Dangers: 3. Point Basse has only been beaten once and that was by a narrow margin. Not raced since beating Bakerloo, who has won in town this winter, at Scone in November and fitter for a couple of trials. Blinkers go on and should get his chance from the draw. 5. Consenza is a model of consistency and she’s just found one or two better of late but the form around her looks good. Hit the front here two weeks ago and was run down by Lonhro’s Queen but gets a 2.5kg turnaround in the weights and another kind draw. Sure to run well. Can’t ignore 12. Lonhro’s Queen though, she launched from well back to win that Highway and just has to do it at 1200m at this level now. The other strong winning chance is 6. Melody Again who had no luck last preparation aimed at the Country Championships and resumes in blinkers.

How to play it: Intervarsity WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Intervarsity wins a Scone trial on July 17

1. Hellavadancer has won third-up at her past two preparations and sets up nicely to have a big shot at continuing that trend. Good effort when resuming in a slowly run race here before a superb second behind Defining at Randwick where she travelled nicely into the straight but became held up when the winner made her run. Claim for in-form apprentice gives her every chance.

Dangers: 8. Nanshe might have been a bit unlucky not to win at Kensington, things got quite tight in the last 200m or so there and she came off second best behind Little Cointreau. Done little wrong to date and is a good chance. 10. I Am Famous is the expensive half-sister to Classique Legend and she’s putting it together this time in with wins at Warwick Farm and Hawkesbury. Led all the way in her latest, down 4kg and up in class so we’ll find out a bit more about her. 5. African Daisy has been around the mark in similar races without winning. Sat second and didn’t hit the front at any stage but boxed on to run third behind Defining. Perhaps a bit better surface is what she’s looking for so can’t leave her out.

How to play it: Hellavadancer WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hellavadancer runs second at Randwick on July 13

4. Unanimous won’t get a better chance to collect another win in town than this race if he continues his improvement through the preparation. Found the line with plenty of purpose when running into third behind Aramco at Randwick three weeks ago, plummets in class and while he’s up in weight he has the draw and the rider (who has this race named after him) to be very dangerous in a race with a lot of mixed form.

Dangers: 12. Matusalem looks to be getting back to form if his handy effort at Caulfield third-up is a guide, found the line from well back there and returns to Sydney with blinkers on and a 6.5kg weight drop. Always shown ability and every hope here. 9. Blackcomb gets away from a heavy track and that could be significant as her past two runs on that surface have been promising. Ran on for third behind Bear On The Loose here before last week’s fourth to One Aye over the 1800m. Ran fourth in the Albury Cup at this trip in March and has to be considered. 3. Father’s Day was game in defeat at 2400m two runs back then just didn’t go for a stride and pulled up lame beaten 100m in the Stayers Cup five weeks ago. He’s been back to the trials and did give a big sight at 2000m behind Golden Path three runs ago so if he’s in the mood he could take running down.

How to play it: Unanimous WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Unanimous runs third at Randwick on July 13

All eyes on 4. Compelling Truth who comes back to town a different horse to the one who last raced at Rosehill in April in a Highway. He’s put four wins on end by an average of five lengths and made a mess of his rivals in the Kirby at the Grafton carnival. He won by seven lengths at Dubbo over 1100m two weeks ago so the trip is no concern. He’ll look to lead and on what he’s showing of late will be hard to run down.

Dangers: 9. Spring Lee is a promising mare resuming and she trialled in a strong heat recently won by Joliestar at Rosehill. She notched a stakes placing at the Scone carnival before a spell and from a soft draw will get the run of the race. 1. With Your Blessing could be a big improver on last start where he just didn’t settle at all in the race won by Robusto two weeks ago. Back in class, claim a plus, and this should be a strongly run race so he’ll be able to settle. More than capable of surprising. 3. Stromboli started his last preparation with a win then raced honestly without notching another. He’s back from running in 88 grade for the bulk of that prep and fitter for two trials. He’s a take on trust type though so if he’s on song he’s capable of winning.

How to play it: Compelling Truth WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

Compelling Truth wins at Grafton on July 18

The weights give 14. Testator Silens a very good chance to post the win he’s been threatening all preparation. Big forgive run two starts back at Randwick then on speed and went down fighting beaten a length in the Winter Challenge. Drops to 50kg after the claim, draws to trail what should be a genuine tempo and can’t see him getting a better set up.

Dangers: 1. Cepheus was tough as always winning the South Grafton Cup for the second year running and he did it with 62kg off a wide gate. If anything the Rosehill 1500m start is kinder to wide draws and being a go forward horse he will roll onto the speed or take it up. When the tracks are on the dry side he’s always hard to beat. 10. Estadio Mestalla was forced into leading that race at Grafton and he certainly offered plenty of resistance when challenged by Cepheus. Same weight scale here so he’s going to be around the mark again. 6. Jojo Was A Man won the Winter Challenge in what was a return to form for this usually honest galloper. He relished sitting in the one-one and chimed in at the right time before holding off the chasers. Up 4kg here but in the past when he’s found form he has held onto it.

How to play it: Testator Silens EACH-WAY ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Testator Silens runs fourth at Rosehill on July 20

6. Gravina appreciated getting back onto a soft track when narrowly beaten by Robusto here two weeks ago and the way this race should be run it looks to suit his style. Drops 2.5kg and if you take out his two heavy track runs recently his form reads very well. Will get into the second half of the field but with a number of genuine front-runners engaged he should have his chance to hit the line.

Dangers: 13. Danaustar also sets up to get the stalking run here after improving second-up into third in the same race. He did have his chance hitting the lead early in the straight but now close to peak fitness and down 3kg in the weights. Go well. 3. Contemporary can never be left out but he just has to run out a strong 1300m in what shapes a fast run race. Had his chance behind Jedibeel at 1100m here two weeks ago but the way he’s been racing in 2024 he’s proven genuine. 10. Kazou was able to lead and control her destiny when winning first-up five weeks ago. Won’t get that control here unless there’s some big scratchings but she has drawn well and is yet to run a race where she wasn’t competitive.

How to play it: Gravina EACH-WAY ($10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Gravina runs second at Rosehill on July 20

5. Russian Roni should be a big improver on his second-up run at Randwick where he just couldn’t find a spot on speed and basically spat the dummy out when checked early in the straight. That’s a major forgive run and if you go on his first-up effort here when a close third behind Kazou at 1200m plus the likelihood that he leads or sits right on it he’s entitled to be in the finish.

Dangers: 11. Little Cointreau is enjoying a strong preparation with two wins and two thirds and was just a touch too strong scoring on the Kensington track at this trip under 60kg. Only down the 2kg here but drawn soft and you know he’s going to put in. 1. Kayobi finished midfield in the Ramornie Handicap in a decent effort considering he had to do some weaving from the second half of the field. Aside from his heavy track run two starts back his form is pretty good for a Benchmark 78 and if he can stay in touch he’s a decent threat. 12. Silvanito is bursting to win a race and that did look to be the Midway two weeks ago but he jumped too well and was attacked before boxing on to be run down late. Will need some luck from the draw here but he’s hard to leave out. 13. Nails Murphy has a case that he can run well back to 1400m after having his chance at a mile.

How to play it: Russian Roni WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Russian Roni’s first-up run at Rosehill on June 29

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting