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By Brad Gray

British import 6. Chorlton Lane steps out for the first time in Australia on Saturday and Ciaron Maher and David Eustace looked to have found the perfect first up assignment. The way the gelding put his rivals away to win his maiden back in September in Newcastle (UK) was exceptional. That was before being touched off at his second start, despite travelling like the winner throughout. The three-year-old has had two jumpouts at Cranbourne to prepare for his return. The first of those was particularly eye catching before flattening off a touch in the second out to 1000m. When trained in the UK by Charlie Fellowes, the stable were of the opinion that he would eventually find himself in stakes company. Market confidence is all important.

Dangers: 1. Plundering is the benchmark all of his rivals have to rise to. Not only is he the highest rated runner in the field coming back in grade, but he is also very consistent. He’s sure to be in the finish again. Well found on the back of that profile, however. The Bjorn Baker-trained 7. Amor Victorious won his maiden at Randwick over the mile before spelling. His defeat at Hawkesbury prior to that reads well too, just touched off by Watch The Clock. Has trialled well ahead of his second campaign and will make his own luck. He is drawn to get first look at finding the fence and the front. 4. Powerful Peg was fair first up at Warwick Farm but she is capable of better and she maps to be much closer in the run.

How To Play It: Chorlton Lane WIN

1. Semana has the best profile coming into this race and should get complete control from in front. That should see her justify the short quote. The filly has had a busy start to her career with just an eight week break in between two campaigns but she is clearly thriving. The daughter of Winning Rupert strode forward to lead at Rosehill over 1400m four weeks ago only for Resonator to grab her right on the line. Won’t have to do any more to go one better in this, back to her own sex. Prior to last start she won with authority at the midweeks and prior to that ran Rediener to less than a length. She is starting to creep up in the weights but Dylan Gibbons claim helps offset that. Looks perfectly placed to win her fifth race.

Dangers: French import 3. Mascaret was great on debut at Rosehill given the energy she exerted prior to the race. It wasn’t the best parade from the mare. She’ll be even better suited out to a mile perhaps next time but she brings Group and Listed form into this. 5. Daralina Belle continues to race well, without luck. It deserted her again two weeks ago with the beaten margin unfair. Lacks early speed so finds herself buried back in fields. 4. One Aye could be a big improver third up. Hasn’t shown much in two runs back but she draws a gate on Saturday that can see her settle much closer. Her best would see her had to beat. 7. Sweet Mercy was slow out in Midway company last start and blew her chances. Ran on well late considering.

How To Play It: Semana WIN

2. Gracilistyla continues to tease but another win has to be close! The grey gelding should have won first up, when a luckless fourth behind Resonator. The four-year-old gets the chance to turn the tables on Saturday. We’ve seen Gracilistyla since, running on late behind Garrison in an on speed dominated meeting at Rosehill. He was 1400m back to 1300m and he couldn’t keep in touch early, only getting warm through the line. No horse was hitting the line harder than him though. That lays a perfect platform for 1500m third up. Would have liked to have seen more speed on paper but he gets his chance regardless. Kerrin McEvoy has ridden him once in the past and was beaten in a photo finish.

Dangers: There looks to be a fair chance of 1. Resonator getting complete control. He was brave last start at Rosehill over 1400m, driving late to get the verdict in a busy finish. The three-year-old is four weeks between runs but has won a trial since, where he was made to find the line. 11. Hell Hath No Fury also found the line behind Resonator two starts ago, only warming up late. The blinkers went on at Canterbury last start and she looked beautifully set up but didn’t pick up when asked to quicken. That was as a well backed favourite. Has the talent. 6. Oakfield Waratah was given a perfect ride over this same track and trip two weeks ago but he ran out a dominant winner. It was Midway company but he can build off that.

How To Play It: Gracilistyla WIN

1. Dimaggio was luckless in defeat second up behind Strombus having been held up in the straight. That was after finding 1200m too sharp first up in Midway company behind Crafty Eagle. The 59.5kg holds no fears for the six-year-old being such a big, strong gelding. Dimaggio should get the right run from the gate, perhaps just in behind the speed. He has led in the past but there are a few speedy types drawn wide that’ll be stamped urgent in the early stages. The booking of Rory Hutchings appears an astute one too. He has ridden Dimaggio four times for two wins and two minor placings. They click. The latest of those wins was in December, holding off Akasawa. That was over 1550m, however. Runs well in a race with a dozen winning chances.

Dangers: 2. Soami is edging towards two years without a win. That’s no through lack of talent. His lack of early speed doesn’t help. Forget his last start 10th as he was strung up in behind runners when he needed to be on his bike. Ran a fast finishing fifth the start prior to that in Midway company. 18. Miss Faberge was given a peach of a ride last start behind Oakfield Waratah two weeks ago but she is flying at the minute, with three consecutive seconds to her name. Little query coming back to 1400m. 4. Burning Need’s run was better than it reads on paper last start. She was never going to get into the race from that far back. Her sectionals home were deceptively good.

How To Play It: Dimaggio EACH WAY

3. Mogo Magic is three from three to start his career, winning a Highway Handicap last campaign. He was set around an even money favourite and was always in control. Has to stretch that brilliance to 1100m now in Highway company but the untapped three-year-old is even yet to taste defeat in barrier trials. That trend continued at Goulburn back in early June, putting five lengths on his rivals in an 800m heat. It was an impressive piece of work but he is no stranger to trialling like that. Nick Heywood jumps back aboard, a jockey that knows the son of Duporth inside out. A Kosciuszko tilt goes on the line again, and he is already at the pointy end of the market for the rich country feature.

Dangers: 8. Salire’s best Highway runs in the past have been over 1000m and 1100m. Cameron Crockett tinkers with the sprinters gear, taking the blinkers off and adding the winkers. Can be explosive when he gets everything run to suit. 2. Emperor has had a couple of confidence-boosting wins at Doomben in maiden and Class 1 company. Both wins were from in front. The query is where he gets to in the run from the draw. 13. I’m Not Slew can run well at odds.

How To Play It: Mogo Magic WIN

8. Hi Dubai found herself midfield first up over 1000m, not having the speed to cross. It’s a very different prospect for her on Saturday having drawn low out to 1100m. The filly bring midweek form into this but liked how she kept finding the line to run second with 59.5kg on her back. Up in grade and after the claim of Zac Lloyd, the daughter of Highland Reel carries 5.5kg less. She should also find the front. That’s appealing, especially over the Rosehill 1100m. Catch me if you can. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable thought enough of her to run her in the Gosford Guineas at Listed level as just her second career start having won so impressively on debut.

Dangers: 4. Waverider Buoy missed by a nostril over this same track and trip in this same grade first up two weeks ago behind Brudenell. There is no shame in that, with the winner now five from eight. Went into that with one trial under her belt so is sure to improve. 5. Tintookie clocked the fastest closing splits in the race when third behind Waverider Buoy. The knock is again where she’ll be in the run again, spotting her rivals a head start. Looks to have returned well, however. 9. Euros brings the same form reference and didn’t get the clearest passage in the straight. An awkward map awaits her too though given she has lost her early speed. 7. Bubba’s Bay beat Hi Dubai last start, having settled outside of the leader.

How To Play It: Hi Dubai WIN

The margin was only narrow last start but 2. Fawkner Park won with authority at the end. The race was run at a dawdle, turning into a sprint home and after a few dicey moments in the straight, the import shouldered into the clear before dashing home in very sharp closing splits. That’s now four wins from six starts and three from three in Australia. He is a stayer going places, and quickly. The challenge on Saturday is overcoming the draw. He showed early speed last start to settle handy but may have been flattered by the lack of pressure. Not sure where he gets to from the draw this time but he has the turn of foot to overcome that and Dylan Gibbons will ride him accordingly.

Dangers: 3. Naval College has to turn the tables on his stablemate from a fortnight ago but he looks desperate for 2400m now. He was simply outsprinted over 2000m. A staying test out to a mile and half looks more his go. Won his only previous run over this trip but 3.8L in the UK and will race handy. 5. Miracle Spin still has to tick the 2400m box but there has been nothing between him and Naval College recently. 6. So United has a big margin to turnaround on Naval College and Miracle Spin from two starts ago but he has gapped his midweek rivals since then. Comes into this with his tail in the air and looks to lead this. 1. Mostly Cloudy brings a different form line but may have been visually flattered last start. The leaders went fast early.

How To Play It: Fawkner Park WIN

3. Attractable kept finding under pressure to win over this same track and trip last start. There was a lot to like about his last 200m split, despite having settled outside of the leader. Runs well again, even up in grade.

Dangers: 6. Super Pursuit produced his customary big finish at Randwick first up, running on into second behind Lady Of Luxury. He ran into Mariamia, Think About It and Lindermann in his three runs before spelling last campaign. Stretches beyond 1400m for the first time here. 13. Vienna Princess came with a rush to quickly put two lengths on her rivals two weeks ago. It was against her own sex and in lesser grade but it was the win of a filly destined to skip through the grades. Suited out to 1500m now. The market will be our best guide with 2. Logan Street Lion.

How To Play It: Attractable WIN

6. Special Envoy looks to have had the work poured into him ahead of his first run in Australia for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. As you would expect resuming over 1800m and now calling Tulloch Lodge home. His two wins in the UK came over 2000m and 2300m. Love the improvement that he has shown in each of his three trials. The son of Frankel was made to find the line in his latest heat over 1200m and responded, to win it going away on the line. Adam Hyeronimus rode him in his two most recent trials. The other element in Special Envoy’s favour is that he can stride forward. He showed good natural speed in his trials and there doesn’t look to be a lot of pressure on paper in Saturday’s race. Monitor for any market confidence.

Dangers: 10. Touristic looks ready now. Wish this was 2000m as opposed to staying at 1800m but he was excellent charging home into third last start over this same track and trip. He was horribly suited by a lack of pressure up front too. Still paraded with improvement so can come on again fourth up. 13. Fuller was having his third run around the mile just last Saturday. He raced like he wants a touch further which he gets here. Maps well and pairs nicely with Jason Collett. 1. Brayden Star’s recent form around Unusual Culture looks a strong reference. Has a wide gate to overcome.

How To Play It: Special Envoy WIN

5. Either Oar can only run well. The mare set a fast pace at Rosehill two weeks ago over this same 1300m journey and stuck on gamely to run second. Vienna Princess went straight past her in the straight but there was another two lengths back to third. Steps out of fillies and mares company but this is winnable all the same. She is also a mare that thrives on racing. She raced well deep into her campaign when last in work and she continues to improve this time back, despite tackling this fifth up. Expect her to improve again. Chad Schofield got a feel for her last start too, and he sticks. She’s fit, racing well, makes her own luck and looks to have found the right race at the right time. Thought she was entitled to be favourite.

Dangers: 9. Lolly Yeats is first up for 54 weeks but liked the way she put a field to the sword at Kembla Grange last campaign, her second run in Australia. The imported mare has trialled well on two occasions and gets in very light in this grade. Has scope to keep improving being so lightly-raced. 6. Cosmic Minerva kept finding the line in a leader dominated race at Rosehill first up. Strips fitter for that and this is no harder. Respect how firm he was in the market there. 8. Windshadow is a one paced style of gelding but when he gets into a controlling position on top of the speed, he isn’t easy to get past. That’s been evident in his two wins, the latest of those at Wyong four weeks ago.

How To Play It: Either Oar WIN

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