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By Brad Gray

13. Amarantz is already a Highway Handicap winner over 1800m, at the backend of last campaign running right through the line. That was with Tyler Schiller in the saddle and the pair reunited for the first time since last start at Hawkesbury for the same result. This time over 2000m in BM64 company. She isn’t a mare blessed with gate speed but looking at the make up of this field, there is unlikely to be a lot of early pressure so she should be able to use the gate to at least lob into a midfield spot. Coming back to 1800m from 2000m shouldn’t be an issue with four weeks between runs. Now she has found winning form again can’t see her regressing. That should see her fighting out the finish once more and with Burrandana so short in the market, she is at a very backable each way price.

Dangers: That’s no knock on the talent of 9. Burrandana but the early quote seems extremely short. The five-year-old is knocking on the door though. He was luckless over 1400m in Highway company two starts ago before looming as the winner two weeks ago only for Eaglemont to prove too classy at the finish. Hard to beat but his number isn’t already in the frame, as his price just about suggests. Like Amarantz, the set weight conditions of the race suits. 5. Mr Severino is the knockout. He ran second to Amarantz last preparation as an $8 chance. 6. Radiohead is a talented horse on his day too. He’ll just need a lot to fall into place from the barrier. 1. Holstein rates a mention too, as does 10. Competition and 11. Binkou.

How To Play It: Amarantz WIN

16. Undivided takes on the older horses only having turned three a matter of days ago but respect the placement of the Michael Freedman stable. The son of Rubick trialled well ahead of his debut at Warwick Farm and justified being sent around in the market, slipping up the fence to get home from the fast-finishing Encap. Back in third was Coincide who bolted in on Wednesday at the midweeks to frank the form line. Sure it’s a gamble given the race experience he gives away but the gelding did everything right in the run and the race stacked up well on the clock. The real appeal lies in the price though. The market has completely dismissed his chances of making it two from two. Think that’s a mistake and happy to cash in.

Dangers: 7. Ningaloo Star’s previous form suggests that she improves with the run having yet to fire first up in the past but she has trialled so well ahead of her return, suggesting that she will show up fresh this time back. Maps nicely and Jason Collett sticks having ridden her in her most recent Randwick trial. 14. Super Bright has three Midway placings to her name without winning one, adding to that tally four weeks ago when second to Diamond Diesel.

How To Play It: Undivided WIN

French import 5. Aristonous had his colours lowered at Caulfield last start despite being sent around as a firm favourite. He was forced too far back from the wide gate and couldn’t get into the race. The five-year-old kept finding the line to run fourth despite never threatening. He made a big impression in his two runs prior, winning at Newcastle from a seemingly impossible position before backing that up with a similar win at Randwick. He sizzled home late with the win just as impressive on the clock as it was to the eye. Those victories flagging him as a stayer going places, and quickly. He has the right base to tackle 2400m now fourth up. He ran third over the hurdles when trained overseas out to 3550m so his stamina isn’t a query.

Dangers: 4. So United has had a rival take him on out in front in his past couple of start which has left him vulnerable to being picked off late. He continues to race well and is sure to give another sight. Particularly if he gets control with Adam Hyeronimus riding. 2. United Nations profiles as the big improver. The market has found him with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable wasting no time in getting him straight out to 2400m having found 1800m too sharp three weeks ago. Back in grade and finds J-Mac. He won a Listed race overseas over this trip. 3. Kirkeby beat So United last start so has obvious claims, and he meets him 2.5kg better off with So United not having a claiming apprentice on board this time.

How To Play It: Aristonous WIN

6. Ramones looks set to give a sight at double figure odds. He was ridden to lead last start and that saw him produce the best run of his preparation so far. No coincidence. Josh Parr is booked for Saturday and expect similar tactics from the wide draw, coasting across to find the front. The four-year-old hasn’t quite gone on with it as many thought he might having won his maiden so impressively last campaign but inclined to jump on now that the market is starting to overlook him. The son of Zoustar is untried at 1400m but he strikes this race fifth up so fitness won’t be an issue and the tempo of a 1400m race could play to his strengths, his cruising speed. A good track at Rosehill with the rail in the True won’t hurt either.

Dangers: Leggy mare 8. Pink Baroque finished too powerfully for her rivals at Canterbury first up despite being sent around as the race outsider. Even better placed out over a touch further second up. A slow getaway saw 9. Dakota Vroom never get into the race at Randwick last start. She is better than that and is well placed to bounce back. 10. Nana’s Wish might be looking for a wet track but she gets in light after the claim and should be peaking third up.

How To Play It: Ramones EACH WAY

9. Lovero has no luck behind 3. Petulant first up this preparation before again luck deserted her at Kembla Grange when an odds on favourite. Everything finally fell into place third up and she put a gap on her rivals over the 1100m. The five-year-old has had a stop-start career up until this campaign and we’re getting an indication of what she is capable of. Steps into Saturday company for the first time and has to stretch her speed back out to 1200m but she drops 5.5kg from last start, Jason Collett sticks and she maps to find a lovely spot in the first couple. Now that she has broken through for win number two, there is every chance that she can go right on with it. That Petulant form line ties in neatly with the early short priced favourite Waverider Buoy too.

Dangers: The market tells you that 2. Waverider Buoy is the obvious threat. She had a hard luck story of her own to tell last start. She would have won had she got into the clear sooner. That was after having run well first and second up. Maps to see them all turning for home. With that in mind, the knock is the price. 7. Smart Little Miss is knocking on the door this time in with a string of placings to her name. There is depth to her form lines too. She ran third behind Omni Man and Insurrection first up while last start wasn’t beaten far by Soami. Comes back slightly in trip but that should be okay. 3. Petulant has the right form lines to warrant plenty of respect again. Do prefer a couple of others, however.

How To Play It: Lovero WIN

It took 5. Regal Pom a dozen starts to break his maiden but he has really gone on with it since. The five-year-old is yet to win first up but that’s a touch deceptive. He was luckless first up last campaign when a narrow third at Randwick, lumping 62kg. The start prior to that he ran well when third behind Pizarro and Arnold, with gaps back through the field. Like the way the son of Press Statement has trialled ahead of his return, particularly his latest hitout at Randwick out to 1050m which says that he’s done the work to be in the finish on Saturday despite giving away a race fitness advantage to his rivals. There doesn’t look to be a lot between the top five or so chances and Regal Pom maps to get the run of the race. That could prove the difference.

Dangers: 3. King Of Naples is chasing three straight and finds James McDonald. That sees him well found in the market but he is obviously hard to beat. Ran good time when winning at Randwick just last Saturday. 6. Wategos dug in for the fight to beat Brudenell at Rosehill a fortnight ago. He’ll roll forward in what looks to be a tactical race and is even better placed out to 1400m third up having won out to 1550m last preparation. That was from in front. 2. Soami has now won two on the bounce himself, both in Midway company.

How To Play It: Regal Pom WIN

Have lost count how many times I’ve rewatched the recent trial of 8. Foujita San. It was an exceptional trial. Seeing is believing. He returns a gelding. Perhaps that’ll be the making of him. On what he has done to date it’s very hard to get a line on him given he has proven competitive over sprint trips while he also ran in a Victorian Derby. Not sure where he fits in exactly but the placement of the four-year-old from Team Hawkes says plenty. Six of Foujita San’s nine starts to date have been in Group and Listed company. Two of them in Group Ones. The son of Maurice lost his way in two runs last campaign hence the gear change. The pace here on paper should suit. Would love to see a confident market push closer to jump.

Dangers: 1. Brudenell draws underneath 7. Time To Boogie which gives him a tactical advantage. Brudenell has won five of his 10 start and comes off two narrow seconds. Only has to hold his form to prove hard to beat again. Was surprised how comfortably Time To Boogie led last start. He zipped home in fast time o put three lengths on his rivals. The presence of Brudenell doesn’t make it as straightforward here. 5. Legio Ten would also appreciate a truly run race. He finds himself in terrific form and three weeks between runs should ensure that he can cope with a drop back from 1400m to 1200m. He placed in a Listed race down the straight two starts ago. 3. Tristate boxed on well behind Omni Man first up to hold down second and the winner has since won again.

How To Play It: Foujita San WIN

If 4. Big Parade repeats what he has produced first up in his past two preparations, he’s the likely winner. In the first of those he smashed the clock to break the track record at Kembla Grange before last campaign he went down narrowly first up in the G1 Galaxy giving away weight to the entire field. The seven-year-old is now trained by Joe Pride and the sprinter looks well adjusted to life at Warwick Farm given his recent 21 length trial win. He has had four trials ahead of his return, steadily bringing him back to full fitness having spent 68 weeks on the sidelines. Big Parade is no stranger to being beaten as favourite, with the reputation of being a touch hot and cold, but he does tend to fly fresh.

Dangers: The tactics on 11. I Am Me will be interesting. Does Tim Clark punch up to lead, holding out Big Parade? That is perhaps her best chance of winning the race. The mare coasted through the grades last campaign starting it in BM78 company against her own sex before ending in in the G1 Oakleigh Plate, jumping single figure odds. 1. Golden Mile improved with the run last campaign but he’s had two trials this time back. He did jump $2.20 in the Expressway Stakes first up last preparation when no match for Mariamia late. Maps well, finds James McDonald. 10. Argentia is another pick up for Joe Pride and wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss her. Classy mare on her day. 8. Wewillrock and 2. Ingratiating rate mentions.

How To Play It: Big Parade WIN

5. Bonny Ezra has caught the eye in both runs back this time in. First up in the Civic Stakes over 1400m where he clocked the fastest closing splits of the entire Randwick meeting. Four weeks later he backed that up with a fast finishing sixth in the Winer Challenge out to 1500m. The eight-year-old stayer looks to have returned as well as ever. He’s perfectly placed out to 1800m now third up with James McDonald booked. Chris Waller has seven runners in the race so that’s a fair lead as to his leading chance. The former Kiwi-trained gelding was a winner third up last campaign to, coming from last at big odds to win the ATC Cup. Everything looks to have fallen into place for Bonny Ezra to produce a similar performance, mapping to settle down midfield.

Dangers: 13. Mach Schnell is a very fit front runner plummeting in weights. That should see him hold his form, even up slightly in grade. He has tackled 1800m at his past three starts resulting in a win and two narrow seconds. Catch me if you can and Tyler Schiller sticks. 11. Fawkner Park has the makings of being the best horse in the race having won four from four in Australia. Just don’t love 2400m back to 1800m with five weeks between runs in the context of him being favourite. Might be good enough to overcome that. 3. Kalapour looks well placed resuming over 1800m and has only had 10 weeks off after a Queensland campaign. 8. Bold Mac fits in well while 10. Born A King tends to improve sharply second up.

How To Play it: Bonny Ezra WIN

3. Ausbred Rising Sun is going to settle down out the back but no horse here will be thundering to the line faster than him. The gamble is whether he runs out of straight. The four-year-old is still untapped. He impressed on debut at Newcastle to knock off his maiden before matching motors with Watch The Clock at Warwick Farm. It was a fast rise through the grades from there going from a Class 1 win at Newcastle into a Group Two placing behind Pericles at Sandown. That was out to 1800m. His form tapered off thereafter but his two subsequent starts were in the G1 Rosehill Guineas and the G2 Tulloch Stakes. Forgive him that. Would be more confident if this was over a mile but we’ll leave it in the capable hands of Jason Collett to time it perfectly. Ausbred Rising Sun has trialled well ahead of his return on two occasions.

Dangers: 6. Gracilistyla would find trouble in an empty bar. Luck again deserted him at Randwick last start, never seeing daylight. It’s a common theme with him. He continues to race well but continues to tease punters. 2. Space Tracker hasn’t show the necessary acceleration to get over the line in three Australian wins but his formlines tie in well for this. Deserves his spot in the market. 14. Amor Victorious gets in light for Jay Ford and will use barrier 1 to be prominent throughout. Looks ready now third up.

How To Play It: Ausbred Rising Sun WIN

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