Metro racing returns to Rosehill this Saturday afternoon with 10 races on the program.
Our full 2023 Winter Challenge Day Preview.
Race 1 - 11:15am AEST
Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300 METRES)
This isn’t the strongest Midway race that I’ve seen and I’m happy to be with the progressive Diamond Diesel who won this race a couple of weeks ago.
The lightly raced six-year-old gelding will be required to carry more weight but the race lacks a heap of depth and he remains the one to beat again.
2 Units Diamond Diesel
Race 2 - 11:50am AEST
2YO Handicap (1200 METRES)
Inhibitions is the most experience race horse in this field of two-year-old’s and is already Group 3 placed.
The daughter of Zoustar has had two trials leading into this first up assignment and she is a nice each way price.
1 Unit E/W Inhibitions
Race 3 - 12:25pm AEST
Highway Handicap (1500 METRES)
Loved the way Spitfire hit the line when resuming with a pretty dominant win at Goulburn which made it back to bac wins either side of a spell.
Drawn very tricky but he’s an enormous price and worth a small play each way.
Burrandana is a progressive type which is the profile usually needed for these Highway events.
Was beaten less than half a length in this race a couple of weeks ago and will strip fitter.
1/4 Unit E/W Spitfire
1 Unit Burrandana
Race 4 - 1:00pm AEST
Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400 METRES)
The Maher and Eustace trained Wahine Toa has been a consistent stayer at this grade for her last couple of preps and in fact has finished inside the top two in seven of her last eight races.
Both starts this prep have been full of merit and she will appreciate the step back in grade for this event.
2 Units Wahine Toa
Race 5 - 1:35pm AEST
Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Brudenell returned from a spell with a win by the barest of margins over 1100m here at Rosehill which was the fifth win of his career from nine starts.
The Kris Lees trained three year old was up for the fight at his next start but was ultimately run over late by the smart Insurrection.
He’ll take benefit out of that run and looks the obvious choice in this event.
2 Units Brudenell
Race 6 - 2:10pm AEST
Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Tashi was only narrowly beaten in a similar grade last start at Warwick Farm and she can go close again at a nice price here.
Principessa is the other I’m happy to have a small play on after an impressive win in this grade last time out.
She’s drawn well and gets in well at the weights.
1/2 Unit Tashi
1/2 Unit Principessa
Race 7 - 2:45pm AEST
Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500 METRES)
Chorlton Lane couldn’t have been much more impressive when making his Australian racing debut with a win at this track a few weeks ago.
He’ll only take improvement out of that run and will appreciate the step up in distance at this stage of the prep.
2 Units Chorlton Lane
Race 8 - 3:25pm AEST
Listed Winter Challenge (1500 METRES)
Lady Of Luxury is going far better than her form on paper suggests.
The daughter of Criterion won a Benchmark 94 second up from a spell before tackling two listed races at her last couple.
She was halted for a run at a vital stage in the Civic Stakes but she rocketed home and it was a similar case in the Winter Stakes.
Fitness won’t be an issue and I think she is incredible value at the double figure odds.
1 Unit E/W Lady Of Luxury
Race 9 - 4:05pm AEST
July Sprint (1100 METRES)
Omni Man has proven himself a talented individual by winning three of four so far this prep including an impressive winner by 2.4 lengths last weekend at Royal Randwick.
That was his sixth win from 12 career starts and he is a very progressive and lightly raced four-year-old.
The Annabel Neasham trained Sweet Ride is another with a fair amount of upside and the colt can improve on his first up effort where he was beaten by 1.6 lengths behind the smart Sigh in the Group 3 Monash Stakes at Caulfield.
2 Units Omni Man
1/2 Unit E/W Sweet Ride
Race 10 - 4:40pm AEST
Benchmark 88 Handicap (1300 METRES)
Chassis had a successful trip north and was excellent when taking out the Listed Gai Waterhouse at Ipswich over 1200m.
The six-year-old followed that up when beaten 1.4 lengths in the Glasshouse at the Sunshine Coast and she will be plenty fit for this assignment.
The wide barrier is a big concern but she represents great value at the double figure odds for a horse dropping considerably in grade.
1 Unit E/W Chassis