Latest News

By Brad Gray

2. Caballus impressed when winning at Randwick two weeks ago, proving a touch too strong late for Estriella, a highly regarded filly in her own right that was sent around favourite. It was a non-event for Caballus on debut at Canterbury never seeing daylight. That wasn’t the case at his second outing on the back of a perfectly executed ride from James McDonald, who sticks here. Adding extra merit to the win was the fact that he was back in trip from 1250m to 1100m. There was three lengths back to third too. Long story short, this Chris Waller-trained colt looks destined to skip through the grades and like the progression straight back out to 1300m. Maps to be close enough to his main dangers to get his chance to win again.

Dangers: 1. The Little Pumper has led all the way in two runs this time back, the latest of those out to 1400m at Randwick. He did manage to back off in the middle stages so was entitled to give a kick but he gave the runner up 6.5kg. Has trialled since last start, bridging the four weeks between runs. The two wildcard runners are 4. Ganbare and 3. Waverley. Ganbare was excellent when winning at Canberra on debut over 1000m before running a big race in the Inglis Millenium from last in the run. His form tapered off in two runs thereafter. Trials have been okay but that might just be him. We perhaps won’t see the best of Waverley once he gets out over further but he teased good ability himself in his first campaign. Some risk he is outsprinted on Saturday.

How To Play It: Caballus WIN

Forget that 1. Super Friendship ever ran last start. He was chopped out for a run in the straight and went to the line untested over the last 150m. That saw him tail off last. The six-year-old, who has hit he ground running for trainer John Sargent since coming across from Hong Kong. That was despite returning after a 73 week spell. Prior to Randwick, which was in BM78 company, he beat Media Starguest who won his subsequent starts. There’s depth to his form lines despite the narrow winning margins. The same can be said regarding his Gosford win first up. The gelding has the perfect platform to tackle 1500m now fourth up. He is untried at the trip but his strength at the end of 1400m when winning at Sha Tin going back a couple of years suggests he’ll run it no problem. The leveller might instead be the 61.5kg.

Dangers: 8. Strait Acer hit the line in sharp time last start at Randwick despite finishing eighth. The race just wasn’t run to suit having been forced back to last from the wide gate. Three subsequent winners have already come through his first up win at Hawkesbury, including the runner up Kangaroo Court. Has lacked for consistency in his short career to date. There has to be question marks over the Midway 9. Electtrica comes through last start given that just a length separated the first eight home, and third and fourth failed to flatter at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, but she should have won. Can atone for that. 3. Dimaggio comes through that same race. The wide gate proved costly there. Unfortunately it could be the same fate that awaits him Saturday. Going well though.

How To Play it: Super Friendship WIN

2. Bazooka could be the big improver. The race wasn’t run to suit two weeks ago and that Tazaral form reference is the strongest here. The six-year-old was four weeks between runs and had to be dragged back to last from the wide gate in a slowly run race. It’s a very different set up on Saturday out to 1800m and from a much kinder draw. He shouldn’t have any problem settling in the first half looking at the make up of the race. He is also back in grade with the extra weight offset by the claim of Amy McLucas. Bazooka’s three runs prior to last start where behind the likes of Cotehele, Democracy Manifest, Steely and Attractable. The last time he raced in this grade he won, that was over 1500m at Rosehill. This race looks much more open than the market suggests.

Dangers: 4. Silent Agenda had his chance last start through the same Tazaral form reference. He settled outside of the leader before being outsprinted in the straight. Looks ready for 1800m now and the eight-year-old has a great record over that trip (6:4-0-0). 5. Wineglass Bay was put into a perfect spot by James McDonald last start, finding Camaguey too good at the finish. Will need another clever ride on Saturday to overcome what looks to be another tricky gate. Gets the blinkers first time and strikes this third up. It was third and fourth up last campaign he started peaking.

How To Play It: Bazooka WIN

5. Wizard Of Oz probably should have won at Randwick last start in Highway Handicap company. The five-year-old was having his first run for Danny Williams and after box seating, the runs simply never appeared in a bunching field. He wasn’t the only hard luck story to come out of the race but given he was beaten less than a length and still had the hand break on for much of the straight, it’s an easy case to make for him to turn the tables on Iron Will. Particularly out to 1300m. Wizard Of Oz ran in the Country Championships Final back in April but failed to handle the heavy track when sent around big odds. You’d think Wizard Of Oz can only improve off that first up showing and he draws a near identical barrier. Jason Collett will be out to give him the same run in transit, just with a lot more luck when he needs it.

Dangers: 8. Tags was the runner charging home into fifth through that same 3. Iron Will race two weeks ago. Don’t be surprised to see more positive tactics now third up, assuming he jumps on terms and isn’t up to his old tricks. Was a year on the sidelines prior to last start so is bound to keep improving into his preparation. Iron Will has to stretch his brilliance to 1300m now but he has drawn soft to bounce out and give another sight from on top of the speed. Just comes down to early pressure. 14. Tayla’s One is a mare riding a crest of a wave at the moment having won three of her past five with the two defeats being seconds. Can settle anywhere in the run and handle all tracks. Brings a different form line into this. As does 1. Overlord coming through BM72 recs where he hasn’t been beaten far.

How To Play It: Wizard Of Oz WIN

5. Olentia has won four of her five career starts, and in two runs last campaign won a BM68 at Hawkesbury first up before two weeks later winning a Group Three. The daughter of Zoustar only beat six rivals but Magic Time and Opal Ridge were among them. The mare maps to see most of these turning for home upon her resumption but her recent Canterbury trial suggests that she has returned as well as ever. She’s better than benchmark company.

Dangers: 6. Devil’s Throat won two in a row over this track and trip back in May and June, albeit in slightly lesser grade. That saw him start in the market in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton but he never got into the race having been forced to settle back in the field from the gate. Has trialled well since. The timing might be right to push the button early on 8. Tristate. His best runs in the past have been when ridden with momentum. He lacks a turn of foot, as seen in his two runs back. On the back up and third up, he looks ready. 3. Vreneli tends to improve with the run but he too races well at Rosehill and has trialled up well on two occasions. Will make his own luck on top of the speed.

How To Play It: Olentia WIN

8. Call Di was sent around favourite in the G3 Kembla Grange Classic last campaign. She was no match for Pavitra in the end but it speaks to this mare’s quality. The gamble is how well she makes the transition from racing her own age group as a three-year-old filly to locking horns with older more seasoned mares but her one trial back behind Alligator Blood alleviates those fears. It was a lovely piece of work. She only had the one trial prior to winning first up last campaign, albeit that was in maiden company. Second up she was luckless at Sandown in Group company. With due respect to her rivals in this race, most of them have found their level now in BM78 company. The same can’t be said for Call Di.

Dangers: 5. Fearnought only has to hold her form to be in the finish again. She’s been fantastic in her past three runs, rewarded for a run of good form with a win at Randwick four weeks ago beating subsequent winner 9. Anagain. Prior to that she ran placings behind Semana and Vienna Princess. 2. Powerful Peg has the benefit of tactical speed compared to many of her key rivals. The form through her Warwick Farm win three weeks ago hasn’t stacked up since but she did it the hard way and was still running right through the line. All honours to Anagain last start coming from last to win what looks to be a key form reference for this, with 1. Bella Rouge running second.

How To Play It: Call Di WIN

5. Freedom Rally was never going to be missed by the early market despite this being the Queenslander’s toughest test yet. The question on Saturday is how short of a price you’re willing to take to see if he can keep improving as he motors through the grades. The Tony Gollan-trained four-year-old made light work of his rivals at Eagle Farm two weeks ago justifying his prohibitive starting price of $1.35. He charged clear at the end and ran good time in making it four straight victories, three this time back. Jockey Ryan Maloney rode the son of Rubick in his first two starts. The barrier should see Freedom Rally park in behind the speed again, just as we’ve seen from him in the past. Shouldn’t have any excuses.

Dangers: 9. Chorlton Lane may have looked a touch plain last start given he was sent around a well backed favourite but be forgiving. The speed came out of the race in the middle stages and made it hard for him to make a wide circling run from last. It’s a race that has already produced four subsequent winners too. Has been back to the trials since. 7. Green Shadows has lacked the killer punch to turn seconds into wins most recently. Has always been respected by the market, however. 1. Excelladus had no luck whatsoever last start. Forget that.

How To Play It: Freedom Rally

1. The Instructor looks well set up resuming over 1100m at Rosehill. Don’t think he’ll cross his stablemate 4. Introducing in the early stages, instead, sitting outside of the leader. The son of Russian Revolution won his first two races as a two-year-old in dominant fashion. In the second of those he beat Corniche who went on to beat Shinzo a couple of starts later. On the back of those two wins, The Instructor jumped a single figures odd chance in the G1 Blue Diamond. He knocked up late to be beaten a couple of lengths but under the circumstances it was a terrific run. The pace was on in the early stages which brought the closers into play late and he tackled the race a month between runs jumping from 1000m to 1200m. He has trialled twice ahead of his return and liked what we saw from him on both occasions.

Dangers: 2. Tiz Invincible is the only maiden in the field but is completely untapped. The filly jumped favourite in the Black Opal despite tackling it on debut, before covering ground in the run from the wide gate. She then ran second in the G2 Percy Sykes. Has trialled sweetly herself, draws to camp on the back of the leaders and finds James McDonald. The margin flatters 5. Cigar Flick’s rivals first up. She had plenty on those. Five weeks between runs but she showed in her first preparation that she could match it with the top tier youngsters. Introducing might be a touch vulnerable to be picked off late but he’ll bounce out and give a sight. 3. Fire Lane continues to be underestimated.

How To Play It: The Instructor WIN

Had 2. Pericles pegged as a live chance in a G1 Winx Stakes had trainer James Cummings elected to go that way. That surely makes the four-year-old incredibly hard to hold out in Saturday’s company. In his two previous campaigns he has been prepared for Derby runs. Doubt that’ll be the case this time back with races like the Epsom Handicap on the agenda should he earn his way into such races. He didn’t stay. He got 2000m on his class against his own age group but expect to see a sharper version of Pericles this spring. Loved the way the son of Street Boss ran through the line to win a recent Canterbury trial suggesting that he has returned better than ever. James McDonald has always been gushing in his appraisal for Pericles too.

Dangers: 3. Madame Pommery also has to transition into taking on the older horses but she held her own in a hot group of three-year-old fillies. The best run of her preparation was arguably first up too, when taking ground off In Secret and Sunshine In Paris over 1200m. She too has trialled impressively ahead of her return. 12. Glint Of Silver beat Pericles last campaign before running Zougotcha to a length.

How To Play It: Pericles WIN

2. Troach was three deep the trip first up behind Omni Man. Forget that. This is a much better set up second up over the Rosehill 1100m from a barrier that can see her bounce out and settle in the first couple. All of her best performances in the past have been when riding the speed. She ran in the Rosebud at this meeting 12 months ago and gave a sight, running third to Zoukerino and Spacewalk. That was prior to winning a Listed race at Moonee Valley from outside of the leader. The four-year-old has been back to the trials to bridge the four week freshen and Tim Clark jumps back on. He rode her when she won her maiden. Ideally the daughter of Epaulette would love the some rain around, which she’s unlikely to get, but confident she’ll run much better than her early price suggests.

Dangers: 8. Garza Blanca was a beaten odds on favourite in his two runs in Sydney last campaign. The margins were only narrow and in his second at Rosehill the winner smashed the clock from out in front. Has trialled up well on two occasions and draws a gate. That looks to be significant given the little query over him at 1100m. 13. Smashing Eagle was luckless in defeat when third to Mogo Magic two weeks ago, still clocking the fastest closing splits of the meeting. A repeat of that sees him might hard to hold out. He has struggled for consistency throughout his career, however. 1. Kir Royale is unlikely to get the same charmed run as last start given where she has drawn but she is capable mare on her day.

How To Play It: Troach EACH WAY

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