Ten races make up 2025 Winter Stakes Day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, July 5th.
Heavy rain and wind has pelted Sydney this week and while the weather does appear to have turned at publish on Thursday morning, we’re still faced with a track rated in the Heavy (9) range.
Read on for this week’s Rosehill best bets.
Raging Force is unbeaten this time in.
After winning up at Muswellbrook early last month, Raging Force was kept up to the mark with a trial before greeting the judge four lengths ahead of his rivals at Randwick-Kensington last time out.
This looks the next logical step for him to take.
3 Units Raging Force
Zouripper takes winning form into this contest.
The son of Zoustar didn’t fire a short during his summer preparation, but he couldn’t have been a lot more impressive at Kembla Grange first up this time.
With natural improvement, this looks a perfect Saturday metro target for him in the second on Winter Stakes Day.
1 Unit Zouripper
Exit Fee is second up and open to plenty of improvement.
The Danny Williams-trained gelding has raced consistently through nine career starts so far, and he was doing his best work through the line when second, beaten half a length at Randwick a fortnight ago.
He’s a winner at this point of his preparation previously and has won a Highway race before as well.
4 Units Exit Fee
Codetta gets a great opportunity to win third up from a spell.
Having only just been denied by King’s Secret here at her first run back, the Nicconi filly finished off well to fill the minors at her last start, and she’ll relish racing on a rain-affected track this week.
2 Units Codetta
Storm The Ramparts has found career-best form this time.
The Headwater gelding hasn’t finished worse than second in four runs back, winning consecutive races at Randwick before only just being denied a fortnight ago.
He’s hard fit, drawn to effect and gets the services of Josh Parr this week.
2 Units Storm The Ramparts
Hi Dubai is third up and primed to strike.
Having filled the minors in BM78 company at Randwick fresh from a break, the Highland Reel mare turned in an improved performance to again finish third, but only a nose behind the winner in a similar race last time.
Fitter third-up and on the heavy going, she’s well placed again.
2 Units Hi Dubai
This looms as one of the more open races on the program and at publish, we’re faced with $6 the field.
One horse tied on the top line of betting at publish is the consistent import Assailant, who looks to get ideal conditions this week.
Assailant ended his UK tenure with a lovely victory over 2212m at Goodwood in August, and he has filled the minors in each of two runs since arriving in Australia.
Fitter third-up and under Timmy Clark this week, this looks his chance to strike.
1 Unit Assailant
It has been a short while since she won a race, but I thought that Cigar Flick had each way claims at Rosehill this week.
Having finished midfield in a couple of races not dissimilar to this one at Randwick first and second up this time, she is a horse that tends to improve a little further into her preparations.
She’s won two from three goes on the heavy and we can have an each way play at the price.
1 Unit E/W Cigar Flick
The Winter Stakes is a lovely race for Welwal.
He’s always hinted at above average talent since first arriving in Australia to contest a Golden Eagle and typically, he’s gone to another level racing on a heavy track, which he’ll likely get again on Saturday.
He’s a fit horse and steps out following a near miss in the Civic Stakes a fortnight ago, and with even luck in running, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
2 Units Welwal
Kerguelen is third up and primed to strike.
The Godolphin gelding returned to action with a fine performance to strike in BM72 company here in May and was last seen finishing on the placegetters’ heels at Randwick.
He gets some relief in the weights with Ben Osmond’s claim, and he’s drawn to receive every chance from an inside alley in the last on Saturday’s Winter Stakes Day card.
2 Units Kerguelen