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By Brad Gray

2. Celestial Legend clocked the fastest closing splits of the meeting at Canterbury on debut and did it against the pattern of the day, which was to be on the fence. It was a terrific performance from the Les Bridge-trained colt behind Kandinsky Abstract. That was off a slow tempo too. He wasn’t entitled to get as close as he did at the finish. Be forgiving of the overall time being slower than the fillies race on the same card. He swaps Canterbury for Rosehill and draws a gate that can see him settle much closer. He jumped well but had no option but to go back from the draw. Being a son of Dundeel, he might be looking for a touch further than 1200m already but he looks to be a youngster worth following.

Dangers: 5. Jagjit was no match for In My Dreams in his latest trial, who we saw at Scone on debut, but like the way he knuckled down to find the line. Scratched from Wednesday at Warwick Farm for this, he looks well placed over 1200m on debut. If he gets the first half of the race right and can take up a prominent spot, he won't be easy to get past. 1. Namesake has done little wrong in his career to date, winning at Warwick Farm on debut before running second at Gosford. 6. Joey D’Or has looked sharp in his two trial wins even though his pedigree suggests that he’ll be better over further in time.

How To Play It: Celestial Legend WIN

11. Uzziah looks well set up to take advantage of a lack of speed in this week’s Midway. The Scott Aspery-trained four-year-old has already built a brilliant overall record of 12:3-4-2. The step out to 1400m looks ideal now and he had excuses at Scone last Saturday. After beginning well, a couple of his rivals punched up on his inside prompting Reece Jones to look for cover. It never came. Thought he boxed on well behind Super Helpful to run third. Expecting to see a more positive ride this time to offset the wide draw. The son of Outreach is certainly fit enough to cope with working early striking this race fifth up and on the seven day back up. Forgive his run prior to that on a heavy track at Rosehill.

Dangers: 1. Kyeema comes through that same Cruel Summer race as Uzziah three weeks ago and beat him home. It was an encouraging Australian debut for the Listed placed import. Should only come on from that and looks well placed out to 1400m. 6. Burning Need savaged the line at the midweeks first up to flag that h has returned well. Has a history of improving second up and would expect the same come Saturday. Has raced forward in the past but typically isn’t the quickest of beginners. 3. Mayrose only has to hold her form from her past two starts to be in the finish again. Doesn’t draw as kindly this time but the form around he keeps being franked. 14. Sweet Mercy has knockout claims.

How To Play It: Uzziah EACH WAY

1. Preemptory is much better suited on a firmer track. The four-year-old got away with it at Randwick two starts ago to win a Highway Handicap on a heavy track but a deteriorating heavy track at Rosehill last start was a bridge too far. He still ran well, travelling like the winner until his wheels started to spin in the going. The track was subsequently downgraded after the race. The gelding has been a constant in Highway company for a while now and is yet to run a bad race. That won’t start now. The low gate can hopefully see Hannah Williams park up a touch closer too. There’s a little query coming back from 1400m to 1200m but the three weeks should ensure he can cope. Convinced that he is better than a Highway level horse.

Dangers: 2. Dollar Magic is another proven Highway performer. She has finished second in her past two assignments in this company and has won either side of that. That includes last start at Dubbo, justifying her $2.20 quote. No knock on her as the early favourite. 20. Sister Moon is three from three to kick off her career, winning at Wagga a couple of weeks ago despite jumping 1000m to 1400m and being five weeks between runs. She’s a line chaser and will continue to be well placed by Keith Dryden.

How To Play It: Preemptory WIN

1. Wewillrock looks well placed coming across from New Zealand. The four-year-old gelding comes here a last start Hastings winner where he led from start to finish over 1200m on a soft track. That’s now four wins from 14 starts. That record sees him lump the topweight but that’s offset by the claim of Dylan Gibbons. The son of El Roca is already twice placed in Group company. One of those was when third behind Sword Of State and Imperatriz. Granted, he was beaten 5.5 lengths on that occasion but even so, it reads well for this. Wewillrock should get the sting out of the track on Saturday and he looks versatile enough to take advantage of a lack of speed on paper. The Kiwi looks the bet in the early market.

Dangers: 4. Conrad did a good job at Canterbury last start given he was six weeks between runs and was forced to work hard early to find the front. It was an advantage to find the fence so he found the right part of the track but he’s well set up with a fitness advantage over a couple of his key rivals. One of those looks to be 6. Devil’s Throat, who was a first up winner last preparation. Has trialled well behind Giga Kick and Quantico ahead of his return. 3. Shalailed returns with a couple of big gear changes, the blinkers go on for the first time and he has been gelded. Just has a tricky gate to overcome. 2. Battleton is back in grade compared to the company he raced in last preparation.

How To Play It: Wewillrock WIN

6. Domingo was beaten nearly five lengths at Canterbury last start but thought the run had a lot of merit. It was a leader dominated race over 1900m and he was four weeks between runs coming back from 2400m in the ATC Derby where he didn’t look comfortable in the conditions. His tilt at a Queensland Derby goes on the line on Saturday but he looks perfectly set up to book a ticket north for the winter carnival. The gelding strips fitter for that, swaps Canterbury for Rosehill and comes back to his own age group. His form line through Yarrawonga at Canberra reads well for a race like this now, before he put a gap on his rivals at Wyong. Promising young stayer.

Dangers: 2. Tradition was a run short when third at Canterbury last start. He struck winning form out to 1900m third up last preparation before beating Whangaehu. He was then four lengths off Kovalica in Queensland. There’s a sense of timing about him on Saturday. 1. Smartawi is airborne for Greg Hickman having won four of his past six starts. He’s on trial at 2000m but the way he attacked the line at the end of a mile to win the Wagga Guineas last start suggests it’ll be no problem. 4. Starianne boxed on well to run fourth in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville last start and it was a Melbourne-trained filly that won this race impressively last year in Aravene.

How To Play It: Domingo WIN

5. Rediener sizzled home at Gosford last start but it was all in vein. He found himself too far back having drawn nine of nine. To get within half a length was a fantastic performance. He has returned a gelding this time back and it looks to have been the making of him. His win over Semana two starts ago reads even better now with the runner up coming out and winning by a space again since. Prior to that he held his own in Listed company despite not being comfortable in the heavy ground. If there is a little niggle it’s that he is coming back from the mile to 1500m but that is offset by the kinder draw. Jasper Franklin, claiming 3kgs, should be able to park him forward of midfield. If not even a touch closer. Confident he’ll atone for last start.

Dangers: 4. Money From The Sky has been a work in progress for some time now yet despite that he has put together a great record. He added to that last start when winning over this same track and trip. He may have been flattered by the heavy track and perfect ride but he’s well placed to go back-to-back. 3. Peshmerga comes through the same race as Money From The Sky and should have more improvement given the imported mare was first up. Staying at 1500m is the knock given her two wins overseas were over further. 1. Lekvarte has raced well on the quick turnaround in the past. The issue is her pattern and where she has drawn. Will need a lot to go right for her to get home over the top.

How To Play It: Rediener WIN

8. Sir Lamorak has been quickly dismissed after Gosford. Perhaps wrongly so. The five-year-old jumped single figure odds and when the speed slackened, he whipped up around the field. The move backfired but he boxed on well to not be beaten far at the finish. That Hometruths form reference reads well for this. Prior to that Sir Lamorak again bumped into Hometruths when third behind Pretty Amazing. Keen to see the import out to 2400m for the first time in Australia. He ran second to Surefire over 2400m earlier in his career, albeit two years ago. The cherry on top is how well he maps. Dylan Gibbons should be able to park just in behind the speed. No excuses from there.

Dangers: 1. Al Aabir made a wide sweeping run at the Sunshine Coast last start sustaining a sprint a long way from home. That saw him picked off late. That run toughens him up for another 2400m race. 12. Credit Crunch was an eye catcher through the same race as Sir Lamorak last start. She looks ready to win now fourth up out to 2400m. Will drift back from the gate though. No such concern with 6. Union Gap. He’ll stride forward to make his own luck. There’s more depth in this than the two midweek races he has won since coming across from New Zealand but he is a stayer still on the up. Speaking of the Kiwis, don’t underestimate last start Hastings winner 4. Achieve.

How To Play It: Sir Lamorak EACH WAY

12. Substantial chased home a smart one at Eagle Farm last start in Antino. There is no shame in running second there. The third horse from that race has already won, to frank the form line further. Substantial looks ready to strike now fourth up out to 1500m with the winkers going on for the first time. The import has always been well found in the market, with expectations that he’d hit the ground running. He has, just without winning. Chad Schofield is the jockey tasked with steering the gelding to victory on Saturday and having come up with a perfect gate, should land forward of midfield and be given every chance from there. Note that this is a race that will change complexion after scratchings.

Dangers: 19. Tony Be was excellent first up, despite finishing sixth. Love the way he found the line on a deteriorating track, being the last race of the meeting. It was over a trip well short of his best and he isn’t a noted wet tracker. He was a big winner second up last preparation, albeit over a touch further than the mile. Have got a little niggle regarding 6. Cotehele running a strong 1500m. Otherwise, there is a lot in his favour. All four of his career wins have been over 1300m and he had his chance last start when fifth behind Coal Crusher. Should find cover on Saturday which could be key. 8. High Court is flying while throw 11. Niffler into exotics.

How To Play It: Substantial WIN

10. Navajo Peak has now finished top two in his last four starts and wet or dry is doesn’t seem to matter at the moment. Only has to hold his form to be in the finish again.

Dangers: 4. Spirit Ridge kicking off over 2000m gives him the chance to win first up. His trials have been fair but he’ll spear out and race prominently. 6. Bois D’Argent was six weeks between runs so its an easy case to make that he has more improvement in him. He’d love the track to stay in the soft range. The barrier will see 9. Wicklow forced to overcome a similar task to the one that confronted him in the Wagga Cup. 13. Thalassophile and looks well set up back out to 2000m.

How To Play It: Navajo Peak WIN

Love the way 7. Daralina Belle flattened out late to run third behind Flag Of Honour at Gosford last start. The track played fast but she broke 11s her last 200m split, which was the quickest across the meeting. Wet or dry it doesn’t matter with this mare and it’s easy to forget that the five-year-old has still only had 14 starts, winning four of them. Tyler Schiller jumps aboard on Saturday and should be able to park up somewhere midfield, if not a touch worse, before blending into the race. If she reproduces the finish she reeled off two weeks ago, her rivals will be doing well to hold her out. This looks winnable for the Matt Smith-trained galloper.

Dangers: 16. Anagain is frustrating. She won on debut back in March of 2021 but hasn’t added to that tally in 13 runs since. She has placed in her past three, however, including first up when boxing on behind superior wet tracker Cruel Summer. Her strike rate remains her conviction. Would be keen on 4. Winning Verse if this was 1100m. The distance is the knock, especially going straight out from 1000m first up. Will take catching but could be picked off late. 6. California Surreal comes through the same race as Daralina Belle last start and her closing splits were slick too, despite finishing seventh. 9. Either Oar can improve sharply second up with the blinkers back on.

How To Play It: Daralina Belle WIN

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