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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill Gardens. Selections based on a good track.

We’ll have plenty of insight into just how smart 3. Roheryn is after he takes on a handy bunch with some obstacles in his way. They are a tricky gate and coming back 100m from his easy win at Rosehill two weeks ago. We’re taking a short price about him but he looks the real deal judging on his finishing burst of 33.48 for his last 600m (Punters Intel). Read trainer James Cummings' comments here.

Dangers: 1. Chess Star has some depth to his form from three runs earlier this year in Melbourne and as a Listed winner he’ll be a good measuring stick for Roheryn. He held his own with Redzel in his latest trial and you know he’ll be on the pace. If there’s an upset perhaps it’s him. 9. Colombina had excuses for a costly defeat at Randwick second-up where she stumbled about 600m out and didn’t have any zip from there. She was too good in winning fresh to dismiss on that effort. 2. Ronstar has a 5kg weight turnaround on Roheryn for their meeting here two weeks ago but at the same time he was beaten four lengths. He settled further back than we’re used to seeing in that race and 100m less probably doesn’t help. Hard to see him turning the tables but he’s yet to run a bad race.

How to play it: Roheryn WIN ($1.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Roheryn’s highly impressive win at Rosehill on November 3.

With the scratching of Solo Mission 5. Tamarack gets his chance to atone for his defeat as favourite over this course two weeks ago. He had his chance but he boxed on well to run third behind stablemate Cosmologist who outsprinted them up on the pace. Winner at 2400m two starts ago and I wouldn’t mind seeing him lead and control his own destiny.

Dangers: 4. Noumea was a $31 chance when running a handy fourth in the Kyneton Cup. Placed behind a smart type three runs back at Moe and is well and truly a good tracker. If pressed I’d say he’d surprise me if he won but with only a couple of serious rivals he’s not out of it. 7. The Bandit showed a glimpse of form with a big weight at 2400m at Randwick last start, his first placing in a long time. Closing on 1000 days since his last win and that’s a bit of a worry.

How to play it: Tamarack WIN ($1.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Tamarack’s last start third at Rosehill on November 3

The late scratching of Iamacrumpet has changed this race. 1. I Am Capitan had a year off going into his return at Rosehill two weeks ago and he gave Handle The Truth a decent shake in running second. Can only be fitter, drawn the inside and the claim offsets the weight rise. Strong claims.

Dangers: 10. Yousay Bolt was unlucky first-up at Wagga then had the right run and proved too strong crossing the border at Benalla. Since then she’s had a minor issue but assuming all is in order she has to be respected. Drawn to track the pace and can get her chance. 16. Caccini ran a fair race in a Class 3 Highway two starts ago then stayed at 1000m and ran on well at Canberra into second. Honest enough mare who could run into the placings here. 11. Our Rosemaree gets back and runs on and therefore needs a bit of luck but if the pace goes on here and they're vulnerable up front she'll be charging at them.

How to play it: I Am Capitan WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

I Am Capitan's brave second at Rosehill on November 3

5. Exoteric and Tommy Berry seem to get on famously as the gelding has found a few lengths since they teamed up to win the Port Macquarie Cup. In a striking position on the turn at Randwick last time up to 2400m and was too strong again. Kept ticking over with a trial and given he’s hard fit if he’s looming coming to the turn he will take beating once again.

Dangers: 3. Our Century is the big watch of the race as he’s first-up at 1900m, a suitable trip for him, with two 1200m trials under his belt. He won the Lord Mayors Cup over 2000m here back in May and it would come as no surprise to see him fire fresh at this trip. 2. Red Excitement was always in control despite a small margin at the finish over this course two weeks ago. Heavily backed on that occasion and he did was he does best, sat on the speed and kept going. Up 2kg but will be in this for a long way again. 7. Articus was $101 when he resumed with a super placing at Randwick a month ago, suggesting he’s in for a very good preparation. Obviously didn’t come up last time in and his second-up record is pretty good so he’s well worth including in the chances.

How to play it: Exoteric E/W ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Exoteric proves a bit too strong winning at Randwick on October 20

6. Firsthand is ready to win after two excellent runs back. Outsprinted fresh but still hit the line late behind Tactical Advantage at 1000m then on a soft 7 he charged home to be beaten less than a length a Randwick. He was runner-up in this race last year, drops 4kg, drawn well and so long as he steps away with them should have no excuses.

Dangers: 7. Just Dreaming ran well first-up then really let the side down with a below par effort, after having every chance in the run, as an odds-on favourite at Randwick three weeks ago. She’s much better than that and Rachel King has won on her in the past. D-Day for her this preparation. 8. Passage Of Time might be back in business if his first-up second when chasing Cradle Mountain home is any guide. He didn’t do a lot last time in but has some good form around Osborne Bulls at his best. Must be respected. 3. Oxford Poet possibly leads them and he’ll be fitter for his first-up effort at Randwick in open company. Yet to win second-up so keep an eye on what he does here for later in the campaign.

How to play it: Firsthand E/W ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Firsthand’s eye-catching fifth at Randwick on October 20

2. Suncraze is the best horse in the race and you have to forgive his failure in Melbourne under trying conditions. Game in the Kosciuszko before that and he’ll appreciate getting back onto a good track and it’ll be interesting to see what he does out to 1500m. Last time on a good track he ran a closing third to Trekking which isn’t bad form for this. Gets back so will need some favours but the one to beat for mine.

Dangers: 12. Watchdog is racing out of his grade but gets in with just 52kg. Thought he had his chance when run over by Danzie at Randwick over a mile last start but he stayed on for second and was well supported there. Blinkers on and with the light weight can’t be ignored. 9. Arraignment also bumped into Danzie last time out, at Canterbury, and he boxed on okay there in an on pacers race. He’ll be in the first couple in running and if he gets some control he can take running down. Each-way chance. 3. Souchez has his first run for the Snowden stable here and his first for six weeks. Ex-Godolphin who was competitive in this grade prior to switching camps and betting will be a good pointer. Note he was scratched at the gates two weeks ago.

How to play it: Suncraze E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Suncraze runs second in The Kosciuszko at Randwick on October 13

11. Nictock has to be a good each-way chance in a wide open race with just 49.5kg on his back. He has performed well in this company previously and didn’t have a lot of luck after blowing the start at Canterbury but still ran on into third behind Deft and Sedition in a good quality raced with 60.5kg, running the second fastest last 600m of 35.19 (0.05 slower than the winner, (Punters Intel). If he jumps with them this time expect him to run a very cheeky race.

Dangers: 7. Isaurian is the logical horse to beat and while he did race wide last time at Randwick he had cover for the most part and was easily accounted for. No worries about being caught wide from gate one, you’d hope, and he’s entitled to another chance. 6. Dissolute contested the same race as Isaurian and worked home well into third place at his first run for the new stable. If he runs up to that effort then he’s sure to be around the mark again. 8. Tango Rain has been disappointing in two runs back from a spell, including that race at Randwick, but he has a couple of gear changes here and could get some on pace favours. An improved showing wouldn’t surprise.

How to play it: Nictock E/W ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Nictock hits the line strongly late for third at Canterbury on October 26

5. Seasons will be one of the shorter priced favourites on the day and it’s hard to go away from her, she’s very promising. Could easily be undefeated with a bit of luck but she showed her talent with a couple of easy wins in the winter. Two trials back have been what you’d expect from her and she was hard to miss finishing off her latest trial on Tuesday. Clearly the horse to beat. Read what trainer Les Bridge has to say here.

Dangers: 4. Deft is another up and coming mare and she looked very good winning first-up at Canterbury over 1100m, which is short of her best trips. The form around her isn’t bad overall and she has that fitness edge on her side. She can do nothing but run well here. 12. Ready To Prophet is an interesting runner we haven’t seen since she gave a bit of cheek in the Silver Shadow Stakes behind Fiesta. No surprise she’s won her two trials and she’ll likely kick through to the lead so she’s worth some respect. 11. Seahampton has plenty of ability on her day, as evidenced by an amazing win at Randwick back in July, but she raced well below par in two runs after that. Given a very quiet trial so keep an eye on the betting and follow it accordingly.

How to play it: Seasons WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds).

Seasons brushes home down the outside in her trial at Canterbury on November 13

1. Newsfan was simply outstanding winning first-up at Rosehill two weeks ago, running the fastest last 600m of the day in 32.88 (Punters Intel) as she sailed past her rivals to a dominant victory. That was her first run since April and she can only be fitter. She’s up in weight but drops in class and the claim offsets it a bit too. Impossible to go past.

Dangers: 11. Southern Lad gave away a big start first-up at Randwick and was charging at the end running a close third over 1200m. Drops in weight but drawn wide again so will need that bit of luck. He does have promise, though, and is one of the main chances. 7. Catesby is ex-Godolphin and there’s nothing wrong with the form around his last start win over Sexy Eyes about seven weeks ago. Looked good in a recent trial and should enjoy a nice run just behind the pace. Worth including. 6. Mapmaker has a handy record at his home track and a repeat of his last start second to Schubert over this course from November 3 would put him somewhere in the finish again.

How to play it: Newsfan WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Newsfan proves far too good first-up at Rosehill on November 3

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