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By Brad Gray

3. Arts hasn’t won for a long time but she has raced without luck in two runs back. It’s been 73 weeks now since she won the Adrian Knox as a three-year-old filly. In her defence, she hasn’t done a lot of racing since. She spent 36 weeks on the sidelines prior to resuming this time in. First up at the midweeks she was attempting to angle towards the outside fence, the better ground, but the gap closed and she was forced to change course. Second up she again was disappointed for a run just as she was starting to build into the straight. She was never going to beat the dominant winner West Of Africa but should have finished much closer. Here she is now third up out to 1800m, back in grade and gets the services of James McDonald. No more excuses.

Dangers: 5. Agita is on the 10 day turnaround second up after finding the line at Warwick Farm first up. It was a strong midweek BM72 won by Yorkshire with Rock Empire and House Of Cards finishing in the minors. That sets up his preperation nicely with David Payne wasting no time in getting the four-year-old out in trip. He ran fifth in the Queensland Derby back in June. 1. Promitto ran second in the same West Of Africa form reference as Arts. He hasn’t won for 130 weeks now! Back out to 1800m looks to suit and keen to see him on a dry track again, albeit his past form suggests he handles wet tracks. 6. Forecaster just has to run out a strong 1800m to be thereabouts again. 11. Koning will roll forward to settle in the first couple and he boxed on well late to hold down second behind Fun Sunday last start.

How To Play It: Arts WIN

7. Vivy Air simply found 1200m too sharp first up. Despite that, there was still market confidence with punters sending her around a firm favourite. The first two at the point of the turn were the first two home. Vivy Air only looked to be making some late inroads through the line. Happy to be forgiving of that performance and respect her SP. She looks much better placed out to 1500m second up. There’s intent to be read into that set up. She is four weeks between runs but has performed well fresh in the past so that could be by design. A new pick up for the Ciaron Maher stable, the four-year-old has proven to be competitive in Group company in her 11 start career. James McDonald sticks. The only knock is the lack of speed on paper given her pattern.

Dangers: That’s a similar concern for 3. Sequestered. She accelerated hard between the 600m and the 200m at Rosehill last start looking set to charge through the line to win well. She couldn’t go on with it, however, peaking on her run. Not sure what to make of that. Perhaps a good track will see her produce her best form again. The margin doesn’t do 8. Zarrose’s last start win justice. She overcame a muddling run race to round up 10. It’s A Knockout from the back of the field. Her last 200m split was the quickest across the entire meeting. In career best form and chasing three straight. It’s A Knockout gets a 1.5kg weight swing and again maps to get on speed favours. 11. Mountain Top maps to be giving away a head start but she has returned in career best form herself.

How To Play It: Vivy Air WIN

2. Super Norwest has been knocking on the door in Highway Handicaps at her past three runs. She’s run a string of placings. All of the form around her reads well for this now. The mare comes back to Class 2 company having run second to Lonhro’s Queen two starts back and then last start proving no match late for Intervarsity. The trade off for coming slightly back in grade is an extra 3kg. The Matt Dale-trained galloper has to stretch out to 1400m for the first time but she ran out a strong 1300m two weeks ago so it shouldn’t stop her. In third a fortnight ago was the well performed Lisztomania. The consistent four-year-old strikes a Highway with a long tail. Tim Clark sticks and she makes her own luck. Not sure where to turn if it isn’t her.

Dangers: 11. Up The Country has run four seconds for Tamworth-based trainer Holly Williams, since being transferred from Queensland. She’s been beaten less than a length in each of those defeats and ran into Winx’s relation Wings Of Desire last start at Newcastle. That sees her deserve plenty of respect here. 13. Due Calzini is a lightly-raced three-year-old that ran in good company at two. He held his own in Listed company at Eagle Farm before spelling. Expect his Snow In May form reference from Wagga to stand up over time too. She looks a smart filly going places. 1. Volcanic Love is well found in early betting but there is enough depth to his Queensland form to give him consideration. Had to get too far back from the wide draw at Doomben first up.

How To Play It: Super Norwest WIN

Expecting more from 6. Aristonous back on top of the ground. Respect how firm he was in betting first up at the midweeks at a meeting where it was a race to get to the outside fence. He didn’t look comfortable on the heavy track, his first exposure to that going. Can be hard to catch and float in and out of form but he is capable of rattling off a fast close when right.

Dangers: 4. First Light may have only beaten one runner home first up at Rosehill but he was only beaten 2.5 lengths. Predicably, he found the 1400m too sharp after being sent around a friendless $81 chance. It’s a very different set up here straight out to 2000m second up, with a tickover trial keeping him up to the mark, and James McDonald booked. 5. All In The Mind comes into this a last start winner and gives the impression 2000m will suit. Wouldn’t bee surprised to see import 8. Waltham improve sharply.

How To Play It: Aristonous WIN

5. Up And Under probably should have won first up at Rosehill. The import didn’t show up in his first Australian campaign but on the strength of his return, he’s acclimatised now. The five-year-old’s trials had suggested that he could turn his form around. Unfortunately when the field packed up, he didn’t get the chance to angle into the clear. He went to the line hard held with plenty to offer. Typically, hard luck stories are overbet at their next start but he should pay his way if you follow him through the grades. Has been kept fresh since, a month between runs. Creeps out to 1500m and James McDonald is booked. There has to be a query over the depth of the form line given the blanket finish but High Blue Sea has since franked the form in what is another key reference for this.

Dangers: 10. Money From The Sky at least offers up a different angle. The imposing six-year-old has a great fresh record. In his past three first up runs he has finished second to Pavitra and Ka Bling while he came from last at Canterbury to win first up last campaign. No easy task. Profiles as a knockout hope. It’s never an easy watch with him, however. That aforementioned secondary form reference was the race won by Roma Avenue. It too was a blanket finish. Don’t overlook the run of 2. Cadetship who was tightened out of the barriers and tailed off three lengths early. He had to make his run on the inferior ground up the fence and peaked late having worked hard to get into the race. 3. Unusual Legacy has trialled well and can run a race fresh. Has won four from six.

How To Play It: Up And Under WIN

2. Gatsby’s was an explosive first up winner in the Rosebud. The Snitzel colt sprinted too well for his rivals to run out a dominant winner. He clocked the fastest last 600m split of the meeting. It was encouraging to see him build off his two-year-old campaign where he teased good ability. He has gone right on with as a three-year-old. Given the majority of Gatsby’s rivals resume, it’s all guesswork regarding how they’ve returned. He has the runs on the board already. By all reports Gatsby’s has come on again from his resumption. Typically you don’t want to be too far away in the run over the Rosehill 1100m but there has been a recent tendency to get away from the fence. Will be interesting to see if that pattern continues on Saturday with warmer weather starting to hit Sydney.

Dangers: 1. Storm Boy hasn’t looked a genuine 1100m horse in his trials. He has been strong late but you’d expect that given the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable are targeting grand finals over 1400m and the mile third and fourth up. It’s imperative he gets the start right from barrier 1. Like the way 5. Perspiration ended last campaign, albeit with a Mornington win. Always gave the impression that there was more to come. Was held together in his Wyong trial. 6. Mayfair has the benefit of being up and running, bringing winter form to the table. He was beaten by Brave One on debut by a length and he was subsequently beaten three lengths by Gatsby’s in the Rosebud. Mayfair then beat Mawjood out to 1200m. Gets blinkers first time. 8. Extreme Diva can run better than the triple figure odds suggests.

How To Play It: Gatsby’s WIN

How the Rosehill track is playing with have a significant bearing on the chances, and starting price, of 5. Autumn Glow. She maps to be last. If the backmarkers aren’t disadvantaged, it’s game on for the untapped filly. She made a huge impression on debut, winning a BM72, ripping clear at the finish. She made light work of Dawn Service who had the start prior smashed the clock at Hawkesbury. She tackles the same track and trip two weeks later and a repeat of that sees her as the horse to beat. She swaps benchmark company for a Group race at just her second start but the second favourite Axius comes off a midweek maiden win at Canterbury so in the context of her rivals, it’s not a big leap. She’s out to justify the fact she is favourite for the Flight Stakes already.

Dangers: Take nothing away from 8. Axius. He’s a smart colt. He ran second to Clear Proof on debut on the Kensington, where Dawn Service ran third. That form has been franked. Clear Proof subsequently ran second to Gatsby’s. Thereafter Axius dominated from the front at Canterbury. The runner up Harry’s Bar came out and won on Wednesday herself. 2. Wanaruah is visually a tradesman-like style of horse but he has run time in both wins and can do it at both ends. Has trialled to bridge the seven weeks between runs. Drawn wide but he’ll spear forward and likely lead, which will give Axius a tag across to settle handy. 6. Media World maps to get a soft run in behind the speed and has trialled well. 9. Iron Hawk has a four-length margin to turnaround on Autumn Glow but gets a 4kg weight swing.

How To Play It: Autumn Glow WIN

10. Amor Victorious was heavily backed last start at Rosehill in the Spring Preview. He was no match for a rampant Tom Kitten who proved a class above. To his credit, Amor Victorious kept sticking his neck out despite a wall of rivals chasing to run third. That sets him up well out to 1500m. He improved second up last campaign to score a comprehensive win out to the mile at Randwick. There’s positive signs that he can repeat that. The challenge is the company he now finds himself in. This is a couple of levels above. Josh Parr has ridden the five-year-old with success in the last and he sticks having been aboard him first up. He won’t have it all his own way out in front looking at the map but he should still get his chance.

Dangers: 5. Ceolwulf comes through the same Tom Kitten race as Amor Victorious. That was his first run as a gelding. Didn’t have a flashing light visually but his last 600m split was equal to that of the winner. Some risk he flattens off second up perhaps looking for 2000m. His three-year-old form around Celestial Legend and Riff Rocket is made to look better and better. 9. Land Legend is the big watch. He is a seriously talented stayer. They don’t trial as well as he has and not produce something fresh. Just wish he drew a gate. 2. Berkshire Shadow rates a mention.

How To Play It: Amor Victorious WIN

Bjorn Baker looks well represented with 9. Shezanalister hard to beat coming back from a forward showing in the G2 Missile Stakes three weeks ago. She jumped single figure odds and was only beaten half a length by Schwarz and Arctic Glamour. Maps to camp in behind the speed.

Dangers: 3. Overriding could be a knockout player. Loved her fresh run last campaign when fifth to Chain of Lightning in a Group race. Looked good in a recent Scone trial. 11. Battleton had no luck first up but can be hard to catch. It comes down to early pressure for 4. Felix Majestic and 12. Willaidow.

How To Play It: Shezanalister EACH WAY

2. Headwall may have been flattered first up in midweek company having handled the heavy ground best, also finding the fast lane down the outside. However, he put three lengths on his rivals late. Having been sidelined for 33 weeks prior, it was a reminder of the sprinter’s talent. That took his record to four wins from eight starts. He possesses a brilliant turn of foot. The five-year-old is versatile so a dry track shouldn’t bother him, nor should stepping into Saturday company. Apprentice Zac Wadick gets the nod to stick with the Matt Smith-trained galloper offsetting his 60.5kg. Draws middle which suits as he isn’t blessed with early speed and there looks enough pressure on paper for him to charge home over the top again.

Dangers: 7. Briasa was charging through the grades before spelling, winning three from three in his first campaign. Looked sharp winning a recent trial at Rosehill where he edged out Spacewalk. Perhaps a little query kicking off over 1100m as opposed to 1200m. Huge threat, as the market suggests. His stablemate 4. Sebonack charged to the line first up behind Our Kobison in a sprint home. His late splits were as sharp as the winner. Fresh over 1000m has typically been best for Sebonack. The challenge for him is holding that form now second up. 3. Blanc De Blanc won her maiden on debut at Newcastle before her subsequent seven starts were in black type company. Finds James McDonald and has trialled well.

How To Play It: Headwall WIN

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