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By Tony Megahey

Rising trainer and ex-Waller foreman Paul Shailer is the big watch with outsider, impressive dual winner Passionate Rebel into Saturday’s TAB Highway at Rosehill Gardens.

While the bargain buy three-year-old is second emergency, circumstances are in his favour at $18 on TAB (in from $26) to secure a run with 57.5kg for Josh Parr into the set weights $120,000, Class 3, 1500m Plate.

Invariably there are scratchings from wide barriers and Shailer only needs one more as Aimpoint is an early withdrawal.

Port Macquarie trainer Paul Shailer. Image by Bradley Photographers

Significantly some form contenders also have horror barriers.

“Its a strong form race, fingers crossed we get in the way he’s been winning, he’s certainly good enough but we’d nominated for ‘Coffs’ on Sunday in case,” Shailer explained.

The Port Macquarie-based trainer has the super winning strike rate of 17% and 34 season wins.

The New Zealander worked for Waller for 12 years and in the stable’s formative times after originally being an apprentice rider at home.

Passionate Rebel has been impressive winning with 60kg and 58.5kg on his home track and Taree for Paul, a regular series contender who still rides work.

“Always had an opinion of him - he's a big, powerful unit, dominant wins and no favours either last start.

"He overcame track bias, was held up, shuffled back and still got over the top of them. Big win.

“And he led from the extreme outside to win his maiden by a space. Up in grade sure but a really progressive three-year-old.

“We know he’ll be strong at the 1500m off that ‘mile’ win. I’d have preferred a handicap to set weights and we’re not well in compared to Matt Dunn’s topweight (Eaglemont (Ire)).

“A handicap and we’d be getting a good few kilos off it. But this is the logical next step.

"And next prep, with maturity and scope for improvement, better races we think.”

And some bargain is the Dissident protégé with successive wins in just three starts for Shailer since the stable purchased him off the Inglis website.

“I’ve got a good mate working for Chris Waller, he rang my brother and I and said he’d found one.

"Listed originally for $20,000 and we planned to syndicate. But we got him for $11,000 and he’s returned $38,000.”

Meanwhile, most punters will gravitate to Peter Morgan’s Burrandana a $3.90 TAB favourite, desperately unlucky when a close second to Chase My Crown in a Highway on July 8.

Jason Collett retains the ride. At present Rosehill Gardens is a Soft 5 in fine weather.

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