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By Ray Hickson

Hard luck stories are a given in racing and Racing NSW’s chief steward Marc Van Gestel has highlighted a number of horses engaged at Rosehill on Saturday that had genuine excuses at their last runs.

Vaucluse Bay (Rosehill race 3, $9 TAB Fixed Odds)

He’s been a regular in this column and Van Gestel said the latest of his notable mentions stems from his sixth behind stablemate Alward at Rosehill on August 26 where nothing went right at a vital stage.

“In the straight he was held up for clear running, (Corey Brown) elected to go out searching for runs but was held up to the 200m and couldn’t be tested until that point,’’ Van Gestel said.

“He certainly should have finished closer behind Alward.’’

Euro Angel (Rosehill race 5, $7.50)

The Team Hawkes-trained mare was beaten a head in the Toy Show by Sweet Redemption first-up from a spell on August 19 and Van Gestel suspects the result should have been different.

Euro Angel's luckless second at Randwick - August 19

“After missing the start she never really secured clear running and went to the line without being tested, particularly over the concluding stages. She probably should have won that race,’’ he said.

Omei Sword (Rosehill race 6, $4.60 TAB Fixed Odds)

On the same day Winx missed the start by four lengths her stablemate also had some barrier blues and wasn’t far off not taking part.

Van Gestel said a barrier blanket and ear muffs (a la Winx) will be applied on Saturday.

“She knuckled over very badly and almost dislodged Kerrin McEvoy out of the gates. It was a complete forget after that. I thought her effort only beaten 2.3 lengths by Deploy was pretty good,’’ he said.

Punter's Intel data showed Omei Sword produced the quickest last 200m of the Show County in 11.15 and the second fastest last 600m of 32.55.

Diamond Tathagata (Rosehill race 7, $101 TAB Fixed Odds)

It’s no surprise that this Group 2 winner didn’t stretch out like we know he can when he resumed in the Rosebud given what trainer Mark Newnham reported to stewards.

“On face value he seemed disappointing first-up but Mark Newnham indicated when the horse got back to the stable he had an abscess in the off-fore foot. Having an abscess would explain why he raced so disappointingly,’’ Van Gestel said.

Denpurr (Rosehill race 8, $9, TAB Fixed Odds)

It’s safe to say the Team Snowden-trained mare’s first-up fifth, beaten only 1.3 lengths, behind Badajoz is a lot better than it looks on paper.

“She missed the start and was crowded then at the 200m disappointed for clear running and again near the 100m so she couldn’t be tested over the concluding stages,’’ Van Gestel said.

All the fields, form and replays for Rosehill on Saturday