Following on from a thrilling Golden Eagle Day, we’re back to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday for the Five Diamonds!
$2 million goes on the line in the feature race, but all ten contests have drawn classy fields and Five Diamonds Day looms as a terrific betting program.
Read on for my complete Rosehill Gardens tips.
Race 1 - 12:25pm AEDT
Midway Handicap (1300m)
It’s an open midway to kick off the day and there’s a case to be made for plenty of them, including Lady Ichikawa.
Lady Ichikawa has been a model of consistency this time in, and she broke her maiden up at Newcastle two back before repeating the dose in a Class 1 last time out.
This is harder again, but she’s hard fit and does look up to it.
1 Unit Lady Ichikawa
Race 2 - 1pm AEDT
Ranvet Handicap (1100m)
I’m going to give Passeggiata one last chance third-up on Five Diamonds Day.
The Winning Rupert mare hasn’t shown her best in two runs back this time, but both were stronger races than this one and were down in Melbourne, and she’s typically been better at this way of going.
With further improvement and under Rachel King this week, she can go forward and give them something to chase.
2 Units Passeggiata
Race 3 - 1:35pm AEDT
Highway Handicap (1200m)
Atmospheric Rock on top for me in this week’s Highway Handicap.
The Your Song gelding was well beaten in the Sydney Stakes last time out, but his form prior to that was competitive, and included a win in one of these Highway races.
He has been charged with carrying topweight, but I think he’s just the best horse in the field.
3 Units Atmospheric Rock
Race 4 - 2:10pm AEDT
Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m)
Misterkipchoge has been knocking on the door of a win since resuming and I think he gets a great chance on Five Diamonds Day.
The Ocean Park gelding has continued to improve with each of his starts back and has filled the minors at his last three, including a nice performance on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day last time out.
In peak order and out to the mile and a half, he’s ready to strike.
2 Units Misterkipchoge
Race 5 - 2:50pm AEDT
James Squire Handicap (1800m)
Naval Commission will take plenty of benefit into his second campaign start at Rosehill this week.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding won three races in succession last time in, while he returned to action to only just miss over 1400m at Warwick Farm.
This is a harder race, but his second up record is excellent, and he’ll relish the rise in trip.
3 Units Naval Commission
Race 6 - 3:30pm AEDT
Group 3 Inglis Golden Gift (1100m)
There isn’t a whole lot form to study ahead of the Golden Gift but boy, didn’t North England give a really nice sight on debut in the Breeders’ Plate last month, and his condition just gave out a little late.
I love that Timmy Clark stays aboard, I think he’s the best front-running rider in the country, the horse will undoubtedly improve for that debut experience and he’s going to take plenty of catching again.
2 Units North England
Race 7 - 4:10pm AEDT
Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m)
Magic Time is third-up into the Hot Danish Stakes and I think it’s an absolute perfect race for her.
She hasn’t been far away from the winner at either of her two runs back this time and of course, she’s a two-time Group 1 winner over 1400m, which she gets again this week – it’s her pet trip.
At point of her prep, she’s ready to win, and I think she’s just the best horse in the field.
4 Units Magic Time
Race 8 - 4:50pm AEDT
Five Diamonds (1800m)
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in the Five Diamonds but I thought Lindermann was one that appealed at nice odds.
I thought he was really good on his way to winning the Craven Plate at this track and trip last time out and given he was second-up there, I think he’ll only improve for it.
He’ll need to, this is a harder race was some real star power engaged, but Lindermann can fight out the finish again.
2 Units E/W Lindermann
Race 9 - 5:25pm AEDT
Petaluma Handicap (1200m)
Fire Star is chasing a hat-trick when he goes around in the penultimate race on Five Diamonds Day.
The well-bred gelding has continued to improve with each run back this time and was a dominant winner in BM72 company at Warwick Farm two back, before franking that performance with another sharp one in BM78 company last time out.
He’s hard fit and this looks a perfect opportunity for a successful transition to Saturday metro company.
2 Units Fire Star
Race 10 - 6:05pm AEDT
Kia Ora Prague Handicap (1400m)
Rock Empire will take beating in the last.
The Deep Field entire dusted off the cobwebs with a fine performance to finish second, beaten less than a length in BM72 company first up from a spell and has since recorded consecutive wins at the midweeks.
I like that he’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since his last appearance and he has a lot of these rivals covered for class.
4 Units Rock Empire