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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting. Selections based on a soft to heavy track.

4. Steplee is probably the best horse in the race and a deserved favourite but his racing style could make for a difficult watch. There’s no doubting a rain affected track is no issue and may be a slight help as he hasn’t raced below 1280m as yet in his three starts. Drops to 56kg and gains James McDonald so he will have every chance.

Dangers: 12. Danzadel is a more than capable mare also resuming without a public trial and she’s adept in wet ground as well. Kicked off last prep with a solid second on a heavy track in a Highway at Randwick and while she’s had her chance in three subsequent runs she wasn’t far away. Read trainer Terry Robinson's comments here. 11. Zoo Station was a dominant winner of a 1400m Highway on a soft track fresh last time in and was competitive after that. Handy trial win at Bathurst and should be running on. 18. Diorissima broke through first-up then did little last week. On the back-up and has proven capable at this level so can improve.

How to play it: Steplee WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Steplee wins at Muswellbrook on July 31

5. One Aye has been a quiet achiever of late and her versatility might be an advantage in what shapes as a very tricky race. Hit the line strongly from the second half of the field at Randwick last start and both starts of late on soft 7 tracks have been excellent out of town. She’s drawn one and in a race with not a lot of speed on paper that might be an advantage for her. Read co-trainer Barbara Joseph's comments here.

Dangers: 7. Fiordland was drifter in betting at his local debut then well supported when scoring second-up at Gosford on a heavy 8. Back up in class but has found a nice race. 3. Overlord made a long run to break through for his first win at Gosford and goes straight to the 1500m. He’s always shown talent, Group 3 placed four starts back, and he could be ready to go on with it. 2. Caesars Palace puts in the occasional ordinary one but a repeat of his last start, on pace, second at Randwick would see him give a sight.

How to play it: One Aye WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

One Aye runs third at Randwick on December 26

2. Arctic Thunder has a much better set up than what faced her at Randwick second-up and with at least a soft track likely she could turn things around. She was brilliant sustaining a long run in her Midway win fresh but prepared to excuse second-up in a slowly run race.

Dangers: 3. Saigon was another victim of the tempo in that race and she wasn’t disgraced in running fourth. Showed she’s come back well with a narrow first-up defeat and some sting out of the ground isn’t against her. 9. And We Danced is the query runner, a lightly raced Kiwi filly who finished midfield in an NZ G1 over a mile in November as a $22 chance. Her first trial was eye-catching, the second she wasn’t asked. Keep safe. 8. She's All In is the likely leader and with the small field might get some control. Won the Nowra Cup on a heavy track so not out of it.

How to play it: Arctic Thunder E/W ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Arctic Thunder’s first-up win at Rosehill on December 4

1. Holy Reign has a get back pattern but perhaps he won’t be quite as far back as he found himself first-up when the field strung right out in a fast run 1200m three weeks ago. He sizzled home into third from an impossible position showing he’s come back well. Second-up form is sound, drawn soft and up in trip. Has to run well.

Dangers: 5. Metro Legend has been largely consistent at this level and did manage a win first-up last time in so can be expected to run well fresh. He’s been gelded this prep and fitter for two trials. Chance in a very winnable Midway this week. 4. Nictock is racing in great form at the moment and what we know about him is he’ll roll forward and give you a good sight. If he gets it easy he can take catching especially if he repeats his effort over 1300m here two starts back. There’s a case for 17. Oakfield Arrow improving quickly on her first-up run at Hawkesbury. Well supported there and conceded ground at the start before making a dash along the fence then knocking up. Fitter and was consistent last time in.

How to play it: Holy Reign E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Holy Reign runs third at Randwick on December 18

5. Yiyi had a breakthrough preparation last time in with four wins and three placings from seven starts. It all started with a romp on a heavy track at Newcastle over 1400m and he held his form up in grade. Trialled as you’d like to see, can race forward if needed and hard to see him not going close.

Dangers: 4. Lackeen is racing very well this time in and while back in distance on his last run at Randwick over a mile a month ago the soft/heavy track probably offsets that a bit. He has led in the past under Tim Clark so it wouldn’t shock if he tries that again in a race with no pace. 3. Opacity took a couple of runs to hit his straps last time in but his recent trial win suggests he’s come back in good order. Any improvement in the track would help his cause and he’s worth respecting. 6. Wairere Falls is yet to miss a place when first-up and can be expected to run well fresh again. Trip suits, JMac and an inside gate, he’s right in it too.

How to play it: Yiyi WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Yiyi’s trial at Warwick Farm on December 30

6. Astero looks a very good each-way chance. Charged home from the back when resuming at Warwick Farm, drops 4kg on that and gets onto a wet track to some degree which he loves. Parks just off what could be a nice tempo and can take holding out.

Dangers: 3. Never Second is really starting to put things together and was always in control leading all the way at Gosford last week, that was on the back of a heavy track Kembla win. Up in class again but makes her own luck and handles wet ground well. Good chance. 1. Rule Of Law was always in control in leading throughout at Warwick Farm on December 22 (same race as Astero). Goes forward from the wide gate, wet is no worries and has to be respected. 12. Retrieval is coming off a maiden win second-up where he accounted for subsequent winner Trifaccia quite easily. Up in class of course but always shown some talent and a soft track won't harm him. Each-way.

How to play it: Astero E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Astero runs fourth at Warwick Farm on December 22

2. Canasta won’t get a better chance to post a win this preparation you’d think given the picnic he looks to get in front. He was a lot more controlled in the lead last week at Kensington and kept fighting to go down less than a length. Imagine he gets the chance to roll along a bit more here and he should take running down. Read trainer Bjorn Baker's comments here.

Dangers: 6. Loveplanet will be much fitter for a first-up run at Randwick on Boxing Day where he was beaten under two lengths by Animate. Much better suited up in trip and he’ll likely be doing the stalking. Logical threat. 3. Above And Beyond is racing well of late and his best run since a win in October was on a soft 7 at Kembla where he charged into second behind Dynamic Impact. A repeat of that sees him in the finish. 8. O’Mudgee mixes form and he’s certainly better than his failure at Randwick on Boxing Day. Chased Miracle Day on a heavy track at Canterbury second-up so is capable of better.

How to play it: Canasta WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Canasta runs fourth at Kensington on January 1

14. Pecuniary Interest is leaping in class from two Midway wins to a Listed race but he’s flying this prep and this might be a race for a new kid on the block. He certainly handles a rain affected track. Does have a penchant for being slowly away but he looked a horse in the zone winning over this trip last time and is worth an each-way look. Read trainer John Sargent's comments here.

Dangers: 11. Mubariz can be a big improver back onto a wet track after not coming into the race behind Huetor a few weeks ago. He was sound fresh on a heavy track and should be close to a peak now. 4. Order Again finished close up in the Summer Cup and now he’s had three runs back from a break he’s entitled to show something, particularly with the sting out. 3. Attorney can be hit and miss but his last effort in the Summer Cup suggests he's not far off a peak performance and is worth including.

How to play it: Pecuniary Interest E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Pecuniary Interest wins at Randwick on December 26

2. Zegalo had a hard luck story to tell from his last start third behind Dhakuri at Randwick. Just found himself in the worst spot possible coming to the turn and when he finally found a gap the race was all over. Ready to peak, wet no worry, and it might not be so bad drawing off the fence a little given what happened on Boxing Day. Chance to atone.

Dangers: 6. Niffler comes through the same race and she had every chance but measured up well after coming through provincial and midweek company. Has to be given another chance. 12. Casino Kid is a backmarker who did his usual thing and made a late burst at the line to just miss a place at Randwick. Up in class but drops sharply in weight and will be hitting the line again. 7. Nothinsweetaboutme was the winner of that race and she came off the canvas to fight off the challengers. Will roll forward again and hard to fault winning form.

How to play it: Zegalo WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Zegalo runs third at Randwick on December 26

5. Tycoonist is a worthy favourite and has the versatility to give him every chance to go back-to-back after an arrogant win at Randwick three weeks ago. He drew wide and went back there while fresh he drew inside and settled just behind the speed so from a middle gate he can adapt and that will take him a long way to winning again.

2. Matowatakpe enjoyed a nice preparation through the winter and wet tracks don’t bother him. He’s had two trials and while 1200m is a touch short of his best and he’s yet to win first-up he will run well fresh. 11. Ranges just doesn’t run a bad race and while he won’t win out of turn he’s a must to be included in all exotics. Sat handy and just couldn’t hold off Animate who had the drop. Go well. 1. Garibaldi is an interesting runner, he’s a smart Queenslander and has come back well with a dominant second-up win at Eagle Farm. Not sure of his prowess if the track stays heavy but commands respect.

How to play it: Tycoonist WIN ($2.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Tycoonist wins at Randwick on December 18

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