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By Brad Gray

5. So Good So Cool isn’t really ‘built’ for the Rosehill 1100m given his get-back style, but he’ll love the prospect of a genuinely run race. There is plenty of speed for him to play stalker and ambush late in his customary style. It’s a low percentage play backing a backmarker at the best of times, let alone this track and trip but we’re getting double figure odds to see if he can overcome that. The five-year-old was winless in five runs last preperation but in better company than this. The last time he raced in a BM72 was in a Midway back in June last year, which he won. He resumed over 1000m last time in a fast race behind Time To Boogie and Dollar Magic. The Sara Ryan-trained galloper was entitled to win a recent Muswellbrook trial given his rivals but he did it well at the finish.

Dangers: The weight won’t worry 2. Delexo. He’s a big, strong sprinter. The soft barrier looks significant to his chances. He too is a recent Midway winner, going back to January. He trucked Ash Morgan to the line in a Gosford trial win to tune up for this. 4. Cripps Tonite hit the ground running for Nathan Doyle last campaign, having come down from Queensland. He won three from seven last including a Midway over 1200m, leading throughout. He also caught the eye in a recent trial win. Has won his past two first up. 6. Ningaloo Star put a gap on her rivals at the midweeks last start. She ran the race as she liked from out in front on heavy ground but it was a near five length margin. Has to come back to 1100m. 3. Everyone’s A Star can bounce back from last start.

How To Play It: So Good So Cool WIN

7. Point And Shoot didn’t look comfortable in the heavy conditions at Newcastle last start. That’s a key form reference for this but dangerous to take on face value given the conditions. There is rain forecast for later in the week at this early stage but it shouldn’t be enough to tip into the heavy range. This Bjorn Baker-trained colt charged to the line in debut behind Ikasara over 1100m at Rosehill. He was fast home in what’s proven to be a strong form race. That was on the back of two impressive trial wins prior. The progression from 1100m, to 1200m and now 1300m looks perfect. Sam Clipperton sticks and the early tempo should see the son of Blue Point park a couple of pair’s closer in the run. Double figure odds appeals.

Dangers: 1. Emirate could very well prove to be the best horse in the race. He was heavily backed on debut at Warwick Farm and justified that support with a comprehensive win. There was four lengths back to third. Just mindful that he is jumping from 1000m to 1300m, won’t want to miss the start again from barrier 1 and that second, third and fourth from his debut have all been beaten since. Plenty to consider in the context of taking $2.50, or thereabouts. 3. Sovereign Hill comes through the same Pisces race at Newcastle. Respect that he started shorter in the market than the rivals he’ll be out to turn the tables on here including 5. Omonic and 14. Harlem Queen. Sovereign Hill folded up late in the going. Maps to get control in front and blinkers go on. 10. Concordia Wind offers a different form line.

How To Play It: Point And Shoot EACH WAY

2. Associate is loaded with talent. It’s easy to forget that the four-year-old has only had 10 starts. He raced his way through the Country Championships series through March and April, qualifying on the back of a dominant Wild Card win where he beat Zouatica. Prior to that he was a luckless fifth behind Bandi’s Boy. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the best of Associate come the final. He was buried away in the second half of the field and didn’t get clear until the race was over. That was eight weeks ago now but tackling 1500m shouldn’t be an issue despite the gap between runs. Now let’s talk about the trial since. It wasn’t flash. He looked set to drop out in the straight only to pick up late. Want to be forgiving and judge him off his form on the track. Looks a touch better than a Highway level of galloper.

Dangers: 1. Rematch was set to peak two weeks ago at Scone in a Highway Handicap over the mile. It had been pencilled in as a target on his home track. The race didn’t quite go to plan from barrier 1 but he presented at the same time as the eventual winner Dances With Hooves but was no match for her late. Just needs to find a touch more but he’ll be thereabouts again. 12. One Beat No Beat led that Scone Highway and gave a kick like the winner only to peak on his run late. That was his first try at the mile. Perhaps it just found him out. Like the set up back to 1500m. 11. Kenichi also led a Highway last start when run down by Gentileschi at Hawkesbury. She was only first there. Strips fitter. Danielle Seib has a strong hand in this, with her chances rounded out by 13. Amarantz.

How To Play It: Associate WIN

6. Franz Josef’s asset is his cruising speed. We saw that in his first two starts, particularly out to the mile at his second run. He assumed control from the outset and ran his rivals into the ground. Once he was crossed in the early stages at the midweeks first up, it was always going to be hard for him to quicken past his rivals late. That was also on heavy ground and with 61.5kg on his back. His first exposure to testing ground. In the end he was no match for Captain Furai but he sets up to turn the tables. Remember, Franz Josef jumped a heavily backed $1.75 chance. Co-trainer Gerald Ryan also suggested that the three-year-old would improve from the run. He is an imposing animal. The middle gate looks perfect for Kerrin McEvoy to slide across into a prominent position.

Dangers: That’s no knock on unassuming gelding 19. Captain Furai. He has now won two from two and has put margins on his rivals late. He may have been flattered by the fact that he has had perfect runs in transit but he has been soft on the line. Beware the unbeaten horse. A horse that can run well at odds in the Pavitra relation 17. Wild Gypsy. She showed good fight to win her maiden at the midweeks last start. This is much deeper but there’s more to come from her. 12. Keep Your Cool knuckled at the start at Eagle Farm last start and did a big job to get as close as she did.

How To Play It: Franz Josef WIN

3. Left Field flashed home behind Commemorative in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone last start. That reads well for his. The filly may finally be starting to deliver on the promise she has always shown. She clocked some of the fastest closing splits across the meeting, rattling home into third from last. The previously unbeaten Martini Mumma held down fourth. That was an ambitious piece of placement from Brad Widdup with the three-year-old having come off a Class 1 win at Newcastle prior, as dominant as she was late. This time back she is being trained as an explosive short course sprinter. Last campaign she was stretched to 1400m. Drawn wide but that suits her style. There will be a few hairy moments in the run but watch her rip late.

Dangers: 10. Pisanello is a well-backed early favourite and he maps to be out the back with Left Field. He finished her last 300m at Scone last start like he had been shot out of a cannon. The son of Ribchester charged clear to put three lengths on his rivals. That was only his sixth career start. Not surprised that he’s been met with early support. 14. In Flight put away a field of nine at Gosford first up suggesting that she has come back better again. Like what she did last campaign which included a second to Spring Lee at Kembla Grange. This is harder again but she looks to be trending upwards. 5. Rush Hour maps to be in front of the aforementioned runners. Accelerated nicely to win a recent Gosford trial. He has only had five starts himself.

How To Play It: Left Field WIN

10. Molly Nails went to the paddock a winner. That counts for plenty. The six-year-old had been running well without winning all preperation so it was good to see her put a field away. Her first up form is excellent (6:3-1-2). That includes last campaign where she savaged the line behind Smashing Eagle and Garza Blanca, running fast time home, despite having spent a year on the sidelines prior. We’ve got no official trials to judge her off but that’s been the case throughout her career. Just have to take her on trust. Of the mare’s five career wins, four have been over 1100m and she has raced with success at Rosehill in the past (5:1-1-2). Expecting The Matthew Dale-trained sprinter to prove hard to hold out late with luck in running. Sets up well in an open race.

Dangers: 6. Dazzling Lucy offers up a completely different form line up from Melbourne. The five-year-old mare hasn’t won for 73 weeks but she raced in stronger races than this last preperation. She was only two lengths off Benedetta and Parisal in the G3 Cockram Stakes in September last year. Trucked to the line in a recent Rosehill trial. 13. Tsarina Sophia has also caught the eye at the trials. She dashed clear of her rivals over 900m recently. She too boasts a fantastic first up record (3:2-1-0). Maps to get the right run. 16. Demiana gets the chance to turn the tables on 4. Southern Chilli from Rosehill last start. Demiana has been scratched a few times since then, dodging wide gates. There’s a case to be made that she would have won with clear running.

How To Play It: Molly Nails EACH WAY

5. Sibaaq hasn’t won for just shy of two years but he looks to set up perfectly on Saturday. The Annabel Neasham-trained six-year-old gets out to 2000m third up and maps to get the run of the race. The Listed feature also looks to have a tail as far as legitimate winning chances go. Having settled outside of the leader at Scone last start in the Cup he assumed control before the home turn. He found the front a long way out and was left to be picked off late. Fight as he might, he was run down in the last 50m by Sky Lab and Waterford. He lost nothing in defeat. Should be able to dive in behind the speed to get some cover on Saturday. No excuses from there. In the 16 starts since his last win, he has finished top four in 12 of them.

Dangers: 6. Sir Lucan shot clear himself last start at Newcastle and it was very nearly a masterstroke. Hezashocka came out of the pack to launch a late challenge, getting the better of him on the line. He isn’t a sit sprint style of horse. He’s all about momentum which makes tactics critical. Especially having drawn barrier 2. Sky Lab carries an extra 2kg after his Scone Cup win. He was big odds so reluctant to now dive in second up but a repeat of that sees him in the finish again. The 2000m is no drama. 3. Waterford was luckless in defeat. He still has to tick off the 2000m box and the wide gate doesn’t help his cause. Williamsburg has chased home Lindermann, Osipenko and Sharp ‘n’ Smart in his three previous runs over 2000m. He too draws awkwardly.

How To Play It: Sibaaq WIN

3. Unusual Legacy took some time to work through his gears at Scone but proved dominant on the line. Perhaps a wide gate isn’t a disadvantage with that in mind. Once Rory Hutchings got to work the four-year-old kept finding to win going away. Out to 2000m looks a perfect progression.

Dangers:There was only 1.5L from first to sixth in that Scone race with 7. Perfect Play nabbing third. He had 8. Vincenzo, a big horse, laying all over him in the straight. The import sets up much better himself out to 2000m now. He was 1800m back to 1700m last start. 4. For Victory ran second in that race. He had his chance but has found a purple patch of form. Concede a sneaky hope to 6. Olympic Gaze at odds.

How To Play It: Unusual Legacy WIN

1. Hollywood Hero comes back in grade from The Coast at Newcastle last start. The trade off is a hike in the weights. The gelding settled out the back three weeks ago in testing conditions before working home strongly into fourth. Prior to that he bolted in at Canterbury. His first up run behind Gringotts and Iknowastar also reads well now too. Long story short, he has come back well. The son of Sacred Falls has raced 19 times and this is only his third campaign. He has already shown that he holds his form deep into preparations. Doubt that changes this time in. His 62kg impost is offset after the claim of Bailey Wheeler. Apprentice jockeys have ridden him with success in the past. Well placed in a race with limited winning chances on paper.

Dangers: 5. Xidaki jumps from 1200m to 1500m with three weeks between runs but he wasn’t long off prior to that Queensland run so had some residual fitness. He tried hard in the heavy conditions at the Sunshine Coast in Group Three company but was no match for the likes of Corniche late. Wary of any late market support for import 8. King Of Florida. Wasn’t asked to do much in his two trials but liked how he ran through the line, particularly in the first of those hitouts. Has only had seven starts and was a winner over 1400m in the UK so should be sharp enough for this. 12. The Dramatist landed good bets at Scone last start, to the cheers of the locals. He has raced well at Rosehill in the past, albeit in Highway Handicap company.

How To Play It: Hollywood Hero WIN

8. Jedibeel kept trying in defeat behind Dollar Magic at Scone last start. He held off third comfortably on the line. That was on the back of a dominant win at the midweeks over 1000m. The Savabeel gelding looks well set up for 1200m now third up. He is yet to win beyond 1100m but has had limited exposure over anything further with both previous attempts coming in his first campaign. This is a deep race with a number of winning hopes but he looks to have returned better than ever and maps to get the right run in transit. That could prove the difference. The Brad Widdup-trained sprinter has improved each preperation and he profiles like there is still more to come, with just 11 starts to his name.

Dangers: 16. Step Aside was scratched from a winnable race last Saturday with Chris Waller electing to trial the four-year-old a second time before heading to the races. He looked sharp in both hitouts. The 1200m might be on thae short side but he presents fresh and has a good first up record (3:2-1-0). Thought 19. Ostraka had every possible chance at Scone second up when second to 10. Elson Boy. He loomed like the winner but couldn’t get past the leader. The prospect of a drier track may help. Still convinced he is a smart horse but thought he was entitled to win last start. Back in trip a slight query too. 13. Heman returns a gelding. He has been well beaten in his most recent starts but they’ve all been in better company than this. Plenty of respect for 3. Legio Ten.

How To Play It: Jedibeel WIN

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