The Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes headlines a cracking ten-race program at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.
Along with the Group 1 three-year-old feature, there will be four other black-type races on the menu.
We’ve completed a deep dive into the form and provided our top picks for each race below.
Race 1 - 11:50am AEST
CLASS 2 HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1500 METRES)
Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn has reclaimed his title as the Highway King with horses like Derry Grove dominantly winning them recently.
He has a strong hand in this race with three acceptors and I’m going with one of them, Desert Mist (7).
The four-year-old gelding found the line powerfully last start over 1550m at Murwillumbah but just failed to run down the tearaway leader and stablemate, Al Ash Lad.
He’s a month between runs but had plenty of races before that so he’ll appreciate the freshen-up.
He’ll be aided by a strong tempo and it’s a positive sign that Nash Rawiller has been booked to ride.
1 Unit – Desert Mist (7)
Race 2 - 12:25pm AEST
BENCHMARK 72 MIDWAY HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
Flying Destiny (2) has come back this preparation in super form.
The Michael Freedman-trained Flying Artie gelding opened his campaign with a strong win first-up before running on powerfully to arrogantly win last start over 1100m at Wyong in a Benchmark 68 Handicap.
He looks ready to step up to metropolitan Midway races now and will strip fitter third-up.
With Keegan Latham in the saddle, he maps to get the run of the race from barrier 1.
1 Unit – Flying Destiny (2)
Race 3 - 1:00pm AEST
BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP (1900 METRES)
Howgoodareyou (9) has got her career off to a flying start with four wins from five starts.
The daughter of So You Think keeps rising to every challenge that the Waterhouse Bott team throw at her.
She led from barrier to box last start when winning by half a length over 1800m here and given she was rising from 1500m, there was plenty of merit in the run.
She’s rock hard fit and gets the services of noted front running jockey Tim Clark.
1 Unit – Howgoodareyou (9)
Race 4 - 1:35pm AEST
LISTED HERITAGE STAKES (1100 METRES)
Ozzmosis (4) returns to racing looking to keep his unbeaten record intact.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Zoustar colt created an impression when easily winning on debut at Gosford.
He then came to town for a Saturday 1100m race at Randwick and after racing outside leader Royal Tribute, he dashed clear in the final 100m to win by 1.17 lengths.
A recent sharp trial where he easily won with his ears pricked suggests that he’s ready to fire first-up.
1 Unit – Ozzmosis (4)
Race 5 - 2:10pm AEST
GROUP 3 COLIN STEPHEN QUALITY (2400 METRES)
Last start Athabascan (6) recorded his first win since arriving in Australia just under a year ago, but going by the sheer dominance of his victory, it won’t be his last.
The John O’Shea-trained four-year-old gelding settled midfield in the Listed Tatts Cup over 2400m at Randwick before rounding the field up and shooting clear at the top of the straight to win by 2.44 lengths.
He’ll be at peak fitness fourth-up and the Colin Stephen Quality looks no harder than last start.
1 Unit – Athabascan (6)
Race 6 - 2:45pm AEST
GROUP 2 GOLDEN PENDANT (1400 METRES)
Espiona (2) resumed in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes in fine order.
Nash Rawiller elected to go back from the outside gate in the 1200m contest and that proved the difference in challenging for the win as she had far too much ground to make up.
The Chris Waller-trained mare did let down powerfully to finish just under a length second to Sunshine In Paris and signalled the rise to 1400m second-up would be ideal.
She has an excellent second-up record and maps to enjoy a great run in this year’s Golden Pendant.
2 Units – Espiona (2)
Race 7 - 3:20pm AEST
GROUP 2 SHANNON STAKES (1500 METRES)
Waterford (7) impressed in his return to racing when finishing third in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes last start.
The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old gelding finished strongly to get within 0.68 of a length of Golden Mile.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and has a super record of three wins from five starts over this course and distance.
Cross Talk should ensure a genuine tempo which will help him to hopefully run over the top of them in the Shannon Stakes.
2 Units – Waterford (7)
Race 8 - 4:00pm AEST
GROUP 1 GOLDEN ROSE (1400 METRES)
Shinzo (2) makes his highly anticipated return following his Golden Slipper win to end last preparation.
Chris Waller has made sure his star three-year-old is fit enough to fire fresh thanks to two trials, a jump out and an exhibition gallop.
The Snitzel colt impressed in his most recent trial when defeating seasoned galloper Zaaki under a hold.
He’s a special talent and should be running on strongly.
Talented UK jockey Ryan Moore, who was aboard in the Golden Slipper, has made the trip to Sydney to ride this guy.
1 Unit – Shinzo (2)
Race 9 - 4:40pm AEST
BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Chorlton Lane (9) has been racing in great form since arriving at the Maher and Eustace stable from the UK.
He was an impressive winner first-up before running on strongly to win over this course and distance two starts back.
The lightly raced gelding was sent to Caulfield last start where he attacked the line hard to miss by a nose of running down the talented Rheinberg.
He loves racing here at Rosehill and will appreciate dropping from 60kg to 55.5kg.
2 Units – Chorlton Lane (9)
Race 10 - 5:15pm AEST
BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
It’s been a year since Tristate (6) demolished his rivals at Gosford when last tasting success.
In that time, the Anthony Cummings-trained gelding has been contesting harder races and will appreciate the drop in class.
Last start he led over 1200m here before being run down to finish second to the talened Olentia. First-up he ran into the flying Omni Man when again finishing second.
He’ll be at peak fitness now and gets his best chance to break through.
1 Unit – Tristate (6)