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By Ray Hickson

An in-depth look at all 18 runners in the inaugural $700,000 Four Pillars Midway (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

1. BAROSSA ROSA (15)
Trainer/Jockey: Tracey Bartley/Jenny Duggan

A genuine, tough, on pace mare who doesn’t often put in a bad one and when she does there’s usually a reason. That’s why you can make a case to dismiss her last start failure at Randwick behind Promise Of Success. Take away the class hike into that BM78, she pulled up 1/5 lame and was found to have some mucous post-race and they could explain why she weakened. Her previous two runs at this level were typically brave, there’s some question mark at a strong 1500m but she can give a sight.

2. DALAALAAT (14)
Nathan Doyle/Lee Magorrian

If Darren Flindell’s voice changes around the 200m mark and this horse is looming up there’s a good reason, our esteemed race caller is in the ownership. His form ties in with Barossa Rosa, he beat her first-up at Kembla Grange then finished a close fourth in a 1300m Midway a month ago. If anything he was warming up there so the distance should be up his alley. Tuned up with an easy trial win at home recently, the map might be a bit tricky for him but the jockey knows him well and he’s an each-way hope.

Tampering (Pic: Steve Hart)

3. TAMPERING (8)
Kerry Parker/Jim Byrne

It’ll be six weeks between runs when this fellow steps out and that’s about the only query you could have about him. This preparation bas been a minor revelation for the front-running gelding. He scored first-up at the provincials on his home track and then defied the challengers to win a Midway over the Randwick mile. Two more Midway runs and he’s been beaten a length or less in both. Will put himself on the pace and if those up front get any favours he’ll be fighting hard.

4. DIFFERENT STROKES (1)
Kim Waugh/Hugh Bowman

It’s been a quick rise for this lightly raced four-year-old who only broke his maiden in early September at his third start. He’s won two more since then and any rival who watched his Midway win at Randwick three weeks ago would have cause for alarm. Sure he enjoyed a perfect run but he stretched away in the last 100m. If he can take advantage of barrier one and put himself in a striking position there’s probably not a horse in the race with his turn of foot or potential upside. Worthy favourite.

5. GRACE BAY (13)
Claire Lever/Josh Parr

Worked her way through the grades last summer to place in a Provincial Championships Qualifier and finished three lengths from the winner in the Final. She was sharp enough to win first-up at 1100m but couldn’t replicate it in a midweek city race last week. That said she was only beaten a couple of lengths and was probably the run she had to have to get to this race. She generally likes to be in the first three or four in running so expect her to push forward initially and probably look to slot in. Best form has her in the mix.

6. HIGHLY DESIRED (7)
Claire Lever/Kathy O’Hara

With seven wins, this seven-year-old has won more races than any of his rivals and is also the most experienced of the top 18 with 32 starts. It was quite an arrogant first-up win at Goulburn, a transferred provincial meeting, where he sat three wide just off the pace and held a solid length on the line. His second-up run last time in was a super third in the Country Cup at Scone in May so his profile is to at least hold his form, if not improve a little, with a run. Drawn ideally for a horse like him and is a chance.

7. REBEL RAMA (2)
Marc Conners/Robbie Dolan

If there’s a sign this mare has returned in super form it’s the fact she was able to win first-up off a Queensland Oaks run having not previously figured in the finish when fresh. It was a 1400m mares race at Warwick Farm on a heavy track, so it may have suited her, but she ran right up to a sharp lead in trial so while she was a $15 chance it wasn’t a huge shock. The big issue is whether she can be as zippy at 1500m on a good track when her previous wins came at 1850m and 2000m. If she can, then she has a realistic hope.

Cream Rises (Pic: Bradley Photos)

8. CREAM RISES (16)
Kylie Gavenlock/Nash Rawiller

Kicked off his career with two very impressive wins on the Central Coast and didn’t do a bad job on his debut in town after that. So it’s a bit of a head scratcher as to why he hasn’t beaten a horse home in two runs this preparation. First-up he was only three lengths away in a BM78 so that’s a pass mark but he had genuine excuse last time with cardiac arrhythmia when $6 in a Midway won by Different Strokes. So that’s a forgive. Since then he was tested out to win a trial. Finds Nash Rawiller but drew 16. The talent is there but some trust required.

9. TOO GOOD TO BE TRU (11)
Damien Lane/Andrew Adkins

There’s a chance he’s something of a sleeper here off an even effort first-up behind Different Strokes. Last time in he won twice then proved competitive as he rose in class culminating with a very close fourth in a Midway over this track and distance, beaten just over half a length. Did enough in that fresh effort to say there is improvement and he is unbeaten second-up. Would need a career best to win but it’s only start 11 so it’s possible, certainly an each-way chance.

10. SUNBORN (12)
Edward Cummings/Glyn Schofield

Enjoying a terrific preparation after being in the wars as a younger horse. Both wins this time in have been on her home track but between them she was gutsy in third in a mares BM72 in town. Can’t find an excuse for last start in a BM78 other than the winner kept them running, which can put some horses on back foot when the pressure goes on. She stuck on well to run third and that was five weeks ago. Her best is good enough to be competitive, though she may not have had an ideal build up.

11. DARALINA BELLE (6)
Matthew Smith/Tim Clark

A booming four length win at Scone to make it three from three served notice this mare is above average but her winning run came to an end at the hands of Rebel Rama a couple of weeks ago. She was a $1.45 chance and it looked a formality but she was only nabbed in the last couple of strides and it was on a heavy track with six weeks between runs. She’ll be a lot fitter for that and back into a good track, with an ideal draw, you can expect her to be a lot more comfortable and she is dangerous.

12. CONRAD (9)
Kim Waugh/Alysha Collett

This lightly raced three-year-old was an early favourite for this race and a mix of his absence and other performances saw him lose that standing. Won at Hawkesbury in August then didn’t resurface until last week when beaten into third place at Kensington in a BM68. He was 1100m to 1400m there, wore bar plates on front, and had 60.5kg so it’s not a shock that he found it tough late. Expect he’ll have come on significantly. The bar plates are still there so that’s a small concern. Will be a big performance but he’s a player here.

All Machiavellian (Pic: Bradley Photos)

13. ALL MACHIAVELLIAN (17)
Greg Hickman/Jay Ford

Dipped his toe into Group 3 company last month and didn’t measure up but at the same time drew 13 and settled last so had a task. Won twice before that and once since so it can’t be held against him. There was plenty to like about how he went about it to win at Newcastle two weeks ago, ducking back to the fence before edging away. He’s going to need plenty of luck but is flying and looks a horse that can win plenty more races.

14. KOBESTAR (18)
Robert & Luke Price/Tommy Berry

Only had two runs for the Price camp but both have been excellent and he’s a horse going the right way. Bumped into a slick one first-up at 1000m the stepped to 1200m at Gosford and was able to reel them in. He was placed at 1550m in town in April and has won up to 1600m so the extra distance is going to be in his favour. It’s going to take a perfect ride, aided by some luck, from Tommy to get him home from barrier 18 so take that into account if you like him.

15. DUFRESNE (5)
Anthony Cummings/Tyler Schiller

On the back up since a solid enough effort in the Bondi Stakes last week so he has recent form over a similar distance which will stand him in good stead. Broke his maiden leading all the way over this track and distance earlier in the month and being so lightly raced we can’t be sure of where his ceiling is. He will go forward, and could lead them, from an inside gate and with 51.5kg after the claim you’d imagine they won’t die wondering.

16. KISS SUM (4)
Tracey Bartley/Jason Collett

After his awesome first-up win over 1000m it looked like this gelding was going to charge through the grades. He’s found a couple of road blocks since then with a luckless sixth at this track earlier in the month and an even effort at Kensington last week beaten under three lengths. The blinkers go on him this time around and they could be the key to him producing the dash he has in the locker. Draws pretty well and he wouldn’t shock if he puts himself in the first four or five home.

17. DIVINE BREATH (10)
Theresa Bateup/Brock Ryan

Under the radar comes to mind when thinking about this mare, though it does remain a concern she’s won just once in her eight starts. Hit the line nicely first-up at Kembla Grange then chased home Different Strokes at Randwick three weeks ago. Received 4kg from the winner last start and is now getting 8kg so she has a case to say she can finish closer and if he’s one of the main chances then she’s not to be discounted.

18. VERBEK (3)
Robert & Luke Price/Jean Van Overmeire

The only maiden in the field but he has actually been first past the post once, losing it on protest, and he’s also been Listed placed. It’s amazing he hasn’t broken through this prep, he was nailed in the last stride when resuming and had pattern against him second-up. Boxed on okay after being forced to lead at Kensington last week. He will need to do absolutely everything right but there’s no doubt he has some ability.

EMERGENCIES (take the barrier of the horse they replace):

19. Canyonero – Backmarker racing in arguably career best form with a Midway win two runs back and a fast finishing third in a BM78 two weeks ago. Will be running on.

20. Caesars Palace – Popular winner of a Hawkesbury BM64 last week having chased home Highly Desired first-up. Should produce his best run third-up.

21. Dom Tycoon – Back-to-back provincial BM64 winner before rising in class and beaten in a blanket finish. Honest on-pacer.

22. Heza Gentleman – Game effort off a freshen up at Warwick Farm and only beaten four lengths last time in a strong field. Down a notch but may need it wet to produce his best.

TIPS:
4. DIFFERENT STROKES
11. DARALINA BELLE
17. DIVINE BREATH
6. HIGHLY DESIRED

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