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By Tony Megahey

Talented mare Offspring ($15 into $10 on TAB) is showing the early traits of her mighty Group I and 2 winning half-sister Single Gaze and is rapidly becoming a major focus and likely firmer into Saturday’s Rosehill Gardens TAB Highway.

The rising three-time winning mare is by Zoustar from Redaluca’s Gaze, the dam of Single Gaze, and Offspring is a striking chestnut similar to the 2016 Vinery Stud Group 1 winner and 2017 Caufield Cup runner-up.

Offspring (Jeff Penza) in winning touch at Canberra. Image by Bradley Photographers

And while Offspring at present is third emergency with 58kg in the Class 3, $120,000 episode, circumstances are rapidly shaping for Keith Dryden’s four-year-old mare to secure a run.

And Keith’s influence has been profound in Highway races since inception.

One withdrawal is already confirmed with Ethan Ensby’s Belle Tycoon ($61) from barrier 13 while other acceptors drawn wide haven’t nominated jockeys.

Invariably Highways have numerous scratchings from runners drawn out in capacity fields.

“No, we won’t be coming, drawn out there, too far to come with no favours, it’s wait another day,” Ballina’s young Ensby explained for his promising three-straight Northern Rivers winner, Belle Tycoon.

“We were in at Canberra tomorrow, so I’ll talk again with the owners, this mare has always shown us plenty of potential and the further the races are the better she’ll be on her breeding,” enthused Dryden.

“We take them along nice and steady while they’re maturing, at this stage of her prep 1500m, third run back this prep is ideal.

“Last time in she won at a ‘mile’ and was placed at 1800m.”

Three weeks ago, and second-up, Offspring was heavily backed from $2.80 into $2.35 and overpowered a capacity field in a Canberra 1300m class 2.

Incidentally, in a photo she beat the Joseph & Jones stable's Belleistic Kids ($41), who is fourth emergency on Saturday.

The $3.90 TAB favourite is Atmospheric Rock with recent Highway placings for Danny Williams and an inside draw again with Tom Sherry.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here