The fillies and mares take centre stage in our Rosehill preview for Saturday when a strong edition of the Coolmore Classic headlines 10 races.
Jared Timms’ has gone over the entire card to sort the genuine Sydney contenders from the pretenders at the autumn meet!
The Coolmore Classic has been won by some of Australasia’s best throughout a storied existence, from Emancipation to Sunline and Typhoon Tracy, the honour roll is rich with familiar names.
This year, we’re set for a showdown between names like Amelia’s Jewel, Marble Arch and star three-year-olds, Lady Shenandoah and Lady Of Camelot.
Lady Shenandoah is the hot favourite in Coolmore Classic betting and Timms is happy to stick with her for another Group 1 success!
There’s also value to be found as Timms tips a few roughies on the card including Comedy who is at a lucrative $12 starting price at time of publish to win this year’s Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (Race 3).
Now is also the time to get behind his Rosehill Race 9 tip with Pericles firming in Group 2 Ajax Stakes betting on the penultimate event!
You can find all Timms’ Coolmore Classic tips and complete Rosehill Gardens best bets below.
Race 1 - 12:30pm AEDT
Midway Handicap (1200m)
Tenderize is chasing a hat-trick in this week’s Midway Handicap.
Tenderize returned to winning form in BM72 company at Canterbury last month, while he kicked clear to record a dominant win at Warwick Farm at his latest, a career-best performance to date.
He’s hard fit and gets some relief in the weights under Braith Nock.
2 Units Tenderize
Race 2 - 1:05pm AEDT
Bisley Workwear Handicap (1900m)
Hurstville Zagreb puts an unbeaten record on the line in Race 2 on Coolmore Classic Day.
The Divine Prophet gelding was an easy winner on debut at Goulburn last month and made it two with a half-length victory at Canterbury last time out.
This is another rise in class, but he certainly looks to be up to it again, while a decent drop in the weights also doesn’t hinder his chances.
2 Units Hurstville Zagreb
Race 3 - 1:40pm AEDT
Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m)
I’m keen to stick with Comedy third-up from a spell.
He absolutely bottled the start and was never really a factor in the Skyline Stakes a fortnight ago, but I loved the way that Comedy hit the line behind Shaggy in the Pierro Plate the start prior.
Fitter third-up, this does look to be a weaker race, and I thought that the $12 about him in Pago Pago Stakes betting (at publish) was overs.
2 Units E/W Comedy
Race 4 - 2:15pm AEDT
Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m)
The Magic Night Stakes looks to be one of the weaker two-year-old feature races we’ve seen this autumn in my opinion, and a horse like Strada Varenna can capitalise.
She’s only made one appearance at the races so far, but she slipped away stylishly to win at Canterbury and is going to take plenty of improvement for that experience.
Bjorn Baker’s stable is flying, and this girl can return another featured victory.
2 Units Strada Verenna
Race 5 - 2:50pm AEDT
Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m)
Lindermann has opened a clear and justifiable favourite in Sky High Stakes betting.
The Lonhro gelding nearly pulled off the upset of the season when he was just pipped late by Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes first-up from a spell, while he was similarly strong to the line in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Group 1 level last time.
Fitter third-up and out to 2000m, he’s going to be very hard to beat this week.
5 Units Lindermann
Race 6 - 3:25pm AEDT
Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m)
I thought that Declichy Boulevard looked well placed in a Phar Lap Stakes.
The Snitzel filly is yet to strike in two runs back from a break, but there’s no doubt she’ll step out an improved horse this weekend, and her spring preparation certainly suggested she’s up to something of this quality.
The addition of James McDonald this week alone could prove the difference, in my opinion.
2 Units Declichy Boulevard
Race 7 - 4pm AEDT
Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m)
It could be yet another excellent day for the Godolphin blue on Coolmore Classic Day and the resuming Pisanello looks the one to beat in the Maurice McCarten Stakes.
Pisanello hasn’t been seen at the races since November, but he was unbeaten in three starts last time in and blew away his rivals at this point of his preparation.
A couple of recent trial performances add confidence, and he looks ready to pick up where he left off.
3 Units Pisanello
Race 8 - 4:35pm AEDT
Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m)
I said prior to her return that I thought Lady Shenandoah could go through the entire season undefeated, that’s still the case and I think she’s a fitting favourite in 2025 Coolmore Classic betting.
I thought she was tough in the Surround Stakes a fortnight ago, she was there to be beaten but wasn’t.
She’s fit, 1500m suits and as always, James McDonald a big tick.
With luck in running from an awkward barrier, she should be right in the thick of it again.
3 Units Lady Shenandoah
Race 9 - 5:15pm AEDT
Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m)
Race 9 is the Ajax Stakes and in my opinion, an absolutely perfect race for Pericles.
He has been charged with carrying topweight this week, but we know how good this horse is.
Particularly second up from a spell – he’s won three of five at this point of is prep and finished the runner up on the other two occasions.
There’s no doubt that this is a weaker race than the Futurity he contested when resuming, and I think he looks a great bet.
4 Units Pericles
Race 10 - 5:55pm AEDT
Quayclean Handicap (1400m)
Harlem Queen makes her eagerly awaited return to the races in the last on Coolmore Classic Day.
The Brutal filly was excellent throughout her Spring Carnival preparation, finishing second to Lady Shenandoah in a Flight Stakes and ending her prep with consecutive fourth placings in the Spring Champion Stakes and the VRC Oaks.
She was eye-catching behind the undefeated Private Harry in a recent trial and this looks a perfect campaign launchpad.
3 Units Harlem Queen