After Saturday’s rain-out, two Group 1 feature races headline the ten-event program at Rosehill Gardens this Tuesday.
Our Rosehill best bets feature several stars of the Australasian turf, and with the rain about in Sydney, horses that have performed on rain-affected going have been incorporated.
Check out our complete Stakes Day preview tips below.
Race 1 - 12:35pm AEDT
Midway Handicap (1300m)
I’m going to stick with Tenderize in the first on Stakes Day.
Tenderize recorded consecutive metro wins at Canterbury and Warwick Farm two and three runs back before a credible performance over 1200m here at Rosehill last time out.
There’s no doubting his fitness and the small rise in trip looks suitable this week.
1 Unit Tenderize
Race 2 - 1:10pm AEDT
Group 3 Rosehill Bowling Club Baillieu (1400m)
There’s a case to be made for many of them in this contest, including Tupakara.
Tupakara raced fairly in two starts last year, but returned to action with an improve performance to finish fourth behind the likes of Tempted and subsequent Golden Slipper winner Marhoona in the Reisling Stakes.
With natural improvement and in what looks to be a weaker race, Tupakara can capitalise.
2 Units Tupakara
Race 3 - 1:40pm AEDT
Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m)
Confetti Garden has hardly put a hoof wrong since debuting and strikes a winnable edition of the Tulloch Stakes.
The Saxon Warrior gelding stamped himself as one to follow by winning each of his first two career starts, while he successfully transitioned into black type company when second in the Group 2 Autumn Classic at his latest appearance.
The form out of that race has been franked with winner Shanwah coming out and winning another Group 2 feature, while this has been freshened.
1 Unit E/W Confetti Garden
Race 4 - 2:15pm AEDT
Group 2 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m)
Ceolwulf is clearly the one to beat in the Neville Sellwood.
The multiple Group 1 winner is yet to strike in three runs back this time, but there’s no doubt that each performance has been an improvement on the one that preceded it, and he was last seen filling the minors, beaten less than a head in last weekend’s Group 1 George Ryder.
Getting out to 2000m at this point of his prep looks ideal and he is just the best horse in the race, in my opinion.
5 Units Ceolwulf
Race 5 - 2:50pm AEDT
Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m)
Lazzura accounted for them pretty easily in the Phar Lap Stakes last time out and can make it two in a row in the Emancipation Stakes.
The Snitzel filly has improved noticeably with each of three runs back this time and hit the line nearly two lengths ahead of Wonder Boy at this track and trip last time.
In peak order, rising only half a kilo in the weights and from a good draw, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
3 Units Lazzura
Race 6 - 3:25pm AEDT
Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m)
Treasurethe Moment has opened a clear and justifiable favourite in 2025 Vinery Stud Stakes betting.
The Alabama Express filly won each of her last four starts during the spring, peaking with a dominant effort in the VRC Oaks, while she is so far unbeaten in two runs back this time, both at Group 2 level.
She’s a fit horse, will only improve out to 2000m and will take a power of beating again, but the $1.55 Vinery Stud Stakes odds available at publish is too short for me.
So I am instead going to select her as the winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Powers Of Opal running into the first three.
Same Race Multi selections:
- No. 1 Treasurethe Moment (Win)
- No. 3 Powers Of Opal (Top 4)
Race 7 - 4pm AEDT
Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m)
All of the rain that hit the greater Sydney metro over the weekend will bring a horse like Mazu right into contention in the Star Kingdom Stakes.
Mazu is yet to strike in two runs back, but there’s no denying that he has stripped fitter for both, and he was doing his best work late here a couple of weeks ago.
Fitter third-up, I think this is a perfect race for him.
2 Units E/W Mazu
Race 8 - 4:35pm AEDT
Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m)
The standout contest on the program in Sydney is the Tancred Stakes and features an outstanding field of fourteen stayers.
Arapaho won this race two years ago and I think he’ll be given every chance to win it again.
Arapaho ended his last preparation with an eye-catching victory in the Group 2 Zipping Classic, and after two midfield performances in the Apollo Stakes and Verry Elleegant Stakes first and second up this time, he only just missed behind Vauban in the Sky High Stakes last time out.
He has reportedly trained the house down in the lead up, he’s arguably never been going better, and is another one that will relish a bit of rain on the track.
3 Units Arapaho
Race 9 - 5:15pm AEDT
Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m)
Amenable is second up and primed to strike in the Doncaster Prelude.
The Lonhro gelding has turned in some fine performances through nineteen career starts so far, and while he has only recorded two race wins, he’s rarely far away from the winner.
Having only just missed behind Sandpaper in the Newcastle Stakes fresh from a break, he strips fitter into this race and is drawn to receive a lovely run in transit.
1 Unit Amenable
Race 10 - 5:55pm AEDT
HKJC World Pool Handicap (1400m)
Well Timed will complete his tune up for the Provincial Championships Final in the last on Stakes Day, and I am confident that he can win.
Well Timed has been a consistent performer for Kerry Parker for a couple of seasons now, and he won a couple of races not dissimilar to this one, last time in.
He was only half a length behind Mahogany Girl in their Provincial Championships Qualifier at Hawkesbury last month, and he’s a horse that tends to enjoy sharp second up improvement.
2 Units E/W Well Timed