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By Brad Gray

1. Osipenko put a handy field of two-year-olds to the sword on debut at Rosehill and the most impressive part of his win was his strength through the line. His last 200m split of 12.06s was 2.5 lengths faster than the next best. The tempo was genuine in the early stages and he won’t get that here but we saw in his trials that he has tactical speed so expect him to camp on the leaders backs. He’ll eat up the 1400m, and further again in time. The youngsters didn’t smash the clock but happy to trust the form given the likes of Madame Pommery, Backrower and Baroque Road were all well beaten. The son of Pierro finds himself in a race with limited winning chances at his second outing. Beautifully placed to remain unbeaten.

Dangers: The obvious threat is 2. Kibou. He resumed a gelding at Warwick Farm and raced clear to score a dominant victory. The runner up there Ramones ran a narrow second on Wednesday. Kibou has always been in well regarded given he jumped $5 in the Breeders’ Plate on debut. Does leap from 1100m straight out to 1400m but he’s in the right stable, being trained by Waterhouse and Bott, to cope with that. The only debutant here 3. Grange Rock Star was left flatfooted in his most recent 1000m trial but really surged again through the line to finish alongside Tashi, an impressive maiden winner at the midweeks. 8. Allasandra looks the best of the rest, coming off a luckless seventh at Canterbury.

How To Play It: Osipenko WIN

10. Just Strolling is chasing three straight wins and like the depth of form behind him in those previous two victories. After fitness got him beat first up at Scone over 900m, where he was pipped on the post, he was always in control over 1000m at Gunnedah. Boostcooter ran on into third there. He then went to Scone, tackling Class 1 company over 1100m, and got the better of proven city performer King Kapa. That was with Jason Collett in the saddle, who sticks with the three-year-old son of Exceed And Excel in his first Highway Handicap test. Formerly trained by Team Hawkes, being a half brother to Amica, Just Strolling roll forward to put himself in the first couple with the only query being that he needs to stretch to 1200m.

Dangers: There is no such query around 6. Island Press given he has won out to the mile. Wary of him fresh over 1200m. The former Chris Waller trained galloper hit the ground running for his new stable, Dean Mirfin, winning three of his four starts. A couple of those victories were some of the most arrogant you’ll ever see. 2. Pure Fuego really savaged the line first up behind Boom Boom Basil clocking one of the fastest last 600m splits of the meeting. He doesn’t have a lot of early speed so he’ll be allowed to balance up for the last crack. 16. Miss Kirribilli is a lightly raced filly with just the three starts to her name, winning two of those. 11. Summer Glow looks the pick of the proven Highway performers looking at how she maps.

How To Play It: Just Strolling WIN

4. Harvey’s Way gets his chance to turn the tables on French Bonnet from Midway company at Rosehill two weeks ago. He gets a 2.5kg weight swing for being beaten less than a length and French Bonnet doesn’t map to get such a cosy run this time from a tricky gate. Harvey’s Way was five weeks between runs there too. After bursting onto the scene in his first preparation, he was somewhat found out in the Provincial Midway series but he has found his form again now, bouncing back in lesser grade at Newcastle before building on that again to run second last start. This is no harder. Also think the dry track favours him too. Just want the son of Adelaide to hold a prominent spot as suspect you won’t want to be too far away in the run given the rail is out 6m.

Dangers: The race is going to be won or lost for 1. French Bonnet in the first couple of hundred metres. A winner of six of her 15 starts, she’s still largely an underrated mare. 5. Oakfield Prince had to circle the field when third in that same Midway. With a more economical run, he can close that 2.8L margin. 2. Marnix finished midfield at Randwick last Saturday at BM78 level and he found himself in inferior ground close to the inside. He ran third in a Midway prior to that on a heavy track, not his preferred going. Gets the blinkers on too.

How To Play It: Harvey’s Way WIN

7. Willinga Rufio is winning despite still learning on the job. His superior stamina got him home at Hawkesbury on debut over 1500m before he went straight to Rosehill and never looked like losing from in front. Tyler Schiller has ridden him in both of his starts and he sticks. The son of Dundeel trained by Mark Newnham still didn’t really know what he was doing when asked to quicken in the straight and despite wobbling all over the place he still held a commanding margin. He’s certainly in the right hands to continue improving too, a stable with a fantastic record with staying three-year-olds. Willinga Rufio doesn’t map to get it all his own way in front but he’ll roll across into a prominent position once more and as long as he finds his rhythm in the run, he should make it three from three.

Dangers: 11. Naval Seal is still in his first campaign and was well held in midweek company before being sent to Melbourne but his two runs down there suggests that he continues to improve. Gets in light and maps to get every chance in the run. 12. African Daisy gets a significant weight swing on Willinga Rufio for a 2.6L defeat but she doesn’t have the upside. 14. Kopangi also gets in light but it’s the same scenario for him. 2. The Catch is the wildcard in the race. The former Queenslander has won three from three this preparation and now finds a home with Bjorn Baker. 1. Dhakuri was a month between runs last start at Rosehill and the miler back to 1500m. He is much better placed here. 4. Karlstad rates a mention.

How To Play It: Willinga Rufio WIN

4. King Of Clubs looked disappointing on face value first up at Rosehill two weeks ago. He sat outside of a moderate tempo over 1500m where the leader won. Yet there he was beaten 2.5L, finishing eighth. Perhaps they simply went too slow in front for the four-year-old import. The race turned into a 400m sprint home and he couldn’t match it with genuine miler types possessing a turn of foot. The way he trialled prior to his first run in Australia certainly suggested that he had acclimatised quickly and was going to be winning plenty of races for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Want to give him another chance out to 2000m, stripping fitter and in a race with more pressure that will ensure it’s more a test of stamina and sustained speed as opposed to what he faced last start.

Dangers: 1. Arapaho was a victim of a slow tempo himself last start. He was no match for Surf Dancer who completely dominated the race from in front. He had no answers having sat outside of the leader but he held the rest of his rivals. Prior to that he, of course, gave his rivals a galloping lesson. The query being how flattered he has been recently by the wet tracks. 3. Born A King has made steady improvement each run this time back and looks ready to win now. 13. Cognac is fast approaching two years without a win, finding one better at Eagle Farm last start. Wouldn’t be surprised to see 11. Colour Sergeant produce a peak run here while 12. Black Queen is well set up out to 2000m now.

How To Play It: King Of Clubs WIN

13. Quatenus has built herself a tidy record, working her way through the grades. She has never missed a top three placing in her seven starts. First up last preparation she put a gap on Petulant before measuring up in city class. She bumped into the speedster Authentic Jewel on two occasions and couldn’t reel her in but there is no shame in that. The daughter of Exceed And Excel has never started longer than $4.60 either, and that was way back on debut. She is always cuddled by the market. Like the way she trialled up behind her stablemate Kallos in the quickest of the 800m heats at Hawkesbury that morning and she did is comfortably. Maps to camp in behind a genuine tempo and get her chance.

Dangers: 7. Miracle Day also maps to get a cosy run, which looks significant in an evenly matched field of sprinters. She charged through the grades last campaign and sets up well here tackling the 1100m fresh on the back of two strong trials. 3. Rupertaar was perhaps flattered by the slow tempo at Randwick first up but she has now won four of her six starts, will settle down in the first couple and proved last start she was Saturday city class. 11. Glittery will settle down in the second half of the field but there was a lot to like about her return at the midweeks, where Po Kare Kare ran third. 6. Rubinocchi bumped into Per Inaway last start. Like her back to 1100m too. Just has a very tricky draw to overcome. The same can be said for 14. Petulant. 1. Undeniable will improve on firmer footing.

How To Play It: Quatenus WIN

The free rolling 5. Surf Dancer is a last start winner of a BM94 at Rosehill where he got complete control in front. Despite that, it was the win of a horse that can go right on with it now. The five-year-old import, who took a preparation to acclimatise to Australian conditions, drops 3kg going up to Listed company and keen to see what he can do on top of the ground. Suspect he’ll be even more dynamic. He shouldn’t have any trouble finding the fence first and from there it’ll just come down to how much pressure is applied to him in the early and middle stages. He’s unlikely to get it as easy as a fortnight ago but he still profiles as the horse to beat. Rachel King has ridden the son of Lope De Vega in in his two most recent starts.

Dangers: 8. Skyman wasn’t suited by the slow tempo set by Surf Dancer last start and did a big job to get as close as he did. It wouldn’t shock in the slightest to see him turn the tables. Particularly if 4. Spirit Ridge is fired forward to eyeball Surf Dancer throughout. The best blowout in the race looks to be the class runner, 1. Southern France. First up last preparation he was only 3.8L off Verry Elleegant in the G1 Chipping Norton over the mile. Like the way he has trialled ahead of his return too. 3. Dr Drill hasn’t won for two years now but his run in the Scone Cup was a beauty. He can settle much closer out to 2000m from a low draw. Big watch on import 7. Youth Spirit.

How To Play It: Surf Dancer WIN

1. Sibaaq had to cart the Wellington Cup field up to the two tearaway leaders yet he pulled out plenty to win eased down at the finish. That was as the heavily backed odds on favourite. Would prefer him getting out slightly in trip now third up as opposes to being 1600m back to 1500m but he’ll put himself on speed from the wide draw to offset that. Apprentice Ellen Hennessy is brilliant at getting her rides up and running out of the gates. The four-year-old import should be improved further from last start and doubt we’ll get too many more opportunities to back him in BM78 company. Trainer Annabel Neasham is forced to claim given the 62kg impost but he is well placed in this grade to go back-to-back. Keen to see what he can do on a firmer track too. Stick with him.

Dangers: 4. Irish Legend is one of the most interesting runners across the Rosehill meeting. He improved sharply from his first trial into his second. He last raced 36 weeks ago and 1500m is on the sharp side for him. He was well beaten by Chalk Stream back in September last year over 2400m. 5. Mach Schnell got control in front at Rosehill last start but liked the way he raised a second effort to win going away on the line. His record in NZ suggests he’ll be better again on a good track. 11. Wicklow was a big drifter first up and ran accordingly. Can only improve off that but staying at 1500m second up suggests he might need one more run. Was encouraged by the return of 7. Easifar over the sprint trip.

How To Play It: Sibaaq WIN

13. Bella Rouge popped down to Melbourne last start for a successful hit-and-run mission at Flemington. The Chris Waller-trained filly was very confidently backed, landing the plunge, and although the margin was only narrow, she overcame a moderate early tempo to get there in the final stride. It was a much better win than the margin suggests. The daughter of I Am Invincible was also six weeks between runs having been freshened up from carrying 60kg on a heavy track over 1300m at the midweeks when second to Mirra View. She can only be improved off that now third up with just a two week turnaround. She has got enough tactical speed to land in the first dozen in this, keeping the obvious danger Per Inaway in her sights. Improving filly that we haven’t seen the best of yet.

Dangers: 10. Per Inaway got the job done well at her first Australian run. She’s beautifully placed here out to 1300m to win again, particularly from the perfect draw and Dylan Gibbons claiming 3kg. The former Kiwi shouldn’t have any excuses. 3. Lady Of Luxury was no match for Niffler at Rosehill last start. Perhaps straight out to 1400m second up caught her half a run short. Either way, she’s better than that. Will need to weave a path to get off the fence at the right time but her first up run flagged that she had returned as well as ever. 8. Zorocat looks the likely leader and wouldn’t be surprised to see her give some cheek on a dry track. She is mixing her form this preparation but her Luskin Star placing reads very well for this. Wary of 1. Invinciano.

How To Play It: Bella Rouge WIN

13. French Marine chased in vein last start but he lost no admirers in defeat. It was a leader dominated race and being crowded at the top of the straight cost him finishing closer to the quinella. He hit the line locked together with Jojo Was A Man who picked up and spat out Cross Talk last Saturday, franking the form. Dylan Gibbons sticks with the four-year-old and he finds a near identical race. The biggest factor in his favour is where he likely finds himself in the run. Many of his obvious dangers have drawn off the track and face tasks either getting across to settle prominently or will be forced back to the tail of the field. French Marine has been up for a while now but he continues to hold his form, even on heavy tracks, which isn’t his preferred going.

Dangers: 6. El Buena is well placed to go one better than first and second up. The knock on Kingsheir is how big of a start he’ll be forced to give away. Tyler Schiller will be looking to offset the wide draw on 12. Lease with a positive ride and like what the three-year-old did first up at Randwick. 5. Titanium Power was much more dynamic last start when being allowed to roll along in front but he ultimately had every possible chance there. 11. Rubamos as trialled well ahead of his return and has won his past two first up runs.

How To Play It: French Marine EACH WAY

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