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Selections by Neil Evans

The rail is out 3m the entire circumference with the track rated a Good 4. There's a slight chance of showers today with a partly cloudy afternoon forecast for raceday and a top of 28 degrees.

Saturday 1st February – ROSEHILL GARDENS

1. IMATRUESTAR ($4.60 favourite on TAB) is well placed coming back to Class 3 Highway and with a 3kg claim. Has never been far away in a string of BM 78 runs, is naturally hard fit and trialled well eight days ago. Just needs to tuck in from an awkward draw carrying only 56kg in what is now a weakened race. 9. Tapa Kick ($7.50) carried a huge weight but still disappointing first-up in a country BM 58, but has enough quality to improve sharply with that 7kg relief. 12. Rapbidash ($4.80) has continued to find the line in BM 78 grade. Looks to have found an ideal race from a draw where she should obtain cover. Winkers come off and will be finishing hard. 3. The Right Rein ($10) reloads off a six-week break coming back from a fair closing BM 64 run over 2220m. Gets in well at the weights and if they run along up front, he'll be hitting the line. 2. Adolphus ($4.80) is an improver who has been freshened after sticking on okay in a similar line-up.

9. POCKETING ($2.15 fav) is well placed to take the next step coming back 200m in trip a month between runs and with a big weight drop. Finished best to claim a provincial BM 64 which proved a handy form line before chasing home a well-backed winner at Canterbury who just had it too easy. This isn't much tougher and kept ticking over with a nice trial. 7. Spicy Hotpot ($4.40) is a tough and sparingly raced mare who has turned the corner this preparation. Led all the way resuming in a provincial BM 64 before even more impressive running down a couple of handy sprinters in BM 72 mares grade. Drawn to settle just off in a race where there doesn't look to be much speed around. 3. Silentsar ($6) can improve significantly second-up staying at the trip. 6. Roussillon ($9.50) has worked home in three runs this prep and this looms as a peaking trip. 11. Pretty Tavi ($13) is long-priced value down in the weights.

7. TROPIC ($3.90), a colt by Zoustar on debut for the all-conquering Chris Waller-James McDonald combination, is the biggest market watch in the opening two-year-old race at Group 3 level and is the one to beat. Was turned out after a comfortable trial win before trialling smartly a week ago when breezing through the line under a very strong hold. Draws to get the right run behind the speed and can produce superior acceleration. 3. Burma Star ($2.60 fav) is an exciting colt also well placed, resuming for only his second start. Pushed a smart winner on debut back in October before being turned out. Given two progressive trials, letting down nicely to win the latest at Hawkesbury and this shapes a nice starting point. 1. Blitzburg ($3.80) has an edge in residual fitness and significantly with winkers on for the first time. Was only two lengths from the winner in the Listed-Magic Millions at Wyong before running home okay at Eagle Farm. 2. Fermoy ($5.50), also by Zoustar and a resuming stablemate of the top selection, was good through the line trialling on that same morning.

3. TEMPTED ($3.20 fav) is a daughter of Street Boss for Godolphin and is rebooting for the Group 3 fillies edition six weeks after winning on debut as a well-backed favorite. There was so much to like about her recent trial when snagged back to worse than midfield before circling around from the 550m and despite copping a check, still picked up effortlessly and swept over the top late under a good grip. Shapes up way above average and no concern drawn the outside, especially if they're getting away from the inside. 9. Snitzel Miss ($4.40) by Snitzel, debuts for the Waller stable behind two progressive trials, winning the latest after circling from midfield and holding her own when challenged late. 1. The Playwright ($3.50) comes back to Sydney after a brave effort from the front in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on a chopped up track at the Gold Coast. Led all the way to win on debut at this track in late November. Blinkers go on and she's in good juvenile hands. 2. In Limbo ($7.50) rushed home on debut that same day at the Gold Coast when it was hard to make up ground from off speed.

3. LILAC ($3.80) is a lightly raced and smart filly who can strike first-up. Won two from three in a late winter preparation including a Listed feature at Caulfield. Has tactical speed and strength at both ends and comes off two trials, bolting in the latest by six lengths. Gets a little map advantage on her main market rival. 6. Polyglot ($2.10 fav) was dominant when claiming a BM 72 here in soft ground when resuming. Won easily second-up last prep in Victoria and only has to get over from a tricky draw. 2. Storm The Ramparts ($9) has been costly for punters in two runs back but that said, not a lot has gone his way pattern-wise. Suited over a little more ground with blinkers back on and the early double-figure price, appears over the mark. 1. Panic ($10) is another one resuming off two improving trials. Has a smart fresh record so watch for any strong betting push with the apprentice jockey taking 3kg off.

5. KAPAKIRI ($3.90 fav) is suited second-up, getting out to a likeable distance. Settled near last a fortnight ago before sneaking runs underneath and driving to the front, only collared late by a closer in superior ground when his condition gave out. Top jockey goes on and he'll eat up the 2000m being by Kermadec and out of a Listed-winning mare, by top class Group 1 Irish stayer Doyen. Has already won at 2400m and naturally any further rain is a huge plus. 10. So Newchee Thinks ($7) again represents value shooting for a third straight win, despite rising to Saturday level. Drops a kilo, is capable in all going and also searching for this journey. 12. Piggyback ($5) can bounce back from a soft draw and four weeks between runs after a poor second-up effort from midfield when coming off the bit a long way from home and only grinding late. Stepping up to this trip is a plus. 1. Our Anchorage ($4.60) is a tough six-year-old shooting for three straight wins on a seven-day turnaround and back in grade. Against that is not well in at the weights. 3. Age Of Sail ($8.50), impeccably bred by unbeaten UK superstar Frankel and out of a Pivotal mare, can improve second-up over further.

14. LADY BOSS ($8) is a sparingly raced mare who despite stepping up a grade second-up, looms as the best value at the weights. Boxed on okay from the front when resuming behind the progressive Headley Grange. Improves further dropping 3kg and naturally any rain makes her an even better on-speed proposition. 11. Step Aside ($4) is a market watch for the Waller-McDonald combination on a seven day back-up after losing the rider when resuming. Blinkers come off and better off over more ground. 6. Infatuation ($3.60 fav) gets her chance to win again deep into the prep. Comfortably run down at the Sunny Coast before a game effort in a Magic Millions Feature against her own sex, finishing a bit over a length from the smart Miss Roumbini. 2. Bunker Hut ($6) beat all bar the winner in three consecutive starts before boxing on in that same race as the previous top selection. Will park handy and the drop back 150m is a big key. 9. Starman ($8.50) is bursting to win again after placing in his last three but may rely on a wider pattern from the outside barrier.

9. ACCREDITED ($3 fav) is high class and can make it four straight wins. Has been bullet-proof for punters and dominant from on-speed. Drops 3kg for the class rise and like the way he's been brought back to this trip off the break. The middle barrier might also prove an asset with any pattern options. 5. Willaidow ($4.20) resumes off two trial wins and is lightly raced with a smart 40% winning strike rate. Handles all ground and draws to get a cheap run on speed so is a big threat. 1. Hard To Say ($6.50) held his ground after a testing run first-up at the Gold Coast but up 2kg in Group 3 company may be too tough an ask. 3. Iowna Merc ($10) comes back to his pet distance deep. Won two straight up to Listed level finishing best from midfield before a fair closing effort when stretched out to 1350m. 2. Brudenell ($9) is over the odds down in the weights from a handy trailing draw. 7. Disneck ($5.50) is a big watch freshened up via a nice trial. Talented four-year-old who stormed home to win three straight before the let-up and gets a 4kg weight drop returning in a Group 3.

6. TIME TO BOOGIE ($5) can make amends for that horror watch at Canterbury on New Year's Day when a certainty denied in the Listed feature, failing to get any room down the straight. Has been given time since via a nice trial win and importantly is drawn to get to the outside. Smart on his day and boasts a 25% win rate from 16 starts. 14. Spring Lee ($3.05 fav) gets weight relief second-up after closing well when resuming in a lesser grade. 4. Inhibitions ($6) comes back from Victoria for Godolphin four weeks between runs. Has plenty of ability and did win at Caulfield before Christmas when coming off a similar break. 12. Eye Of The Fire ($5) is building a nice record. Hasn't been far away in three consecutive runs at BM 78 level and gets much needed weight relief for a rise in grade.

8. YORKSHIRE ($1.50 fav) is a short-priced fancy and a promising galloper shooting for a fifth win from seven starts. Got within a head of the promising Accredited two starts back before dominant at Wyong in lesser grade. Suitably placed at the weights and rates clearly on top. 12. Sandpaper ($10) peaks third-up over 100m further with weight relief. 16. High Blue Sea ($11) is a big improver with weight relief fourth-up. 18. For Victory ($9) is hard fit and on a seven day back-up after closing off well in his last couple of runs.

BEST BET
Race 2, No.9 - POCKETING ($2.15 favourite on TAB)

VALUE
Race 7, No.14 - LADY BOSS ($8)

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