2025 Hill Stakes Day Preview

This is an open Highway Handicap with plenty of winning chances engaged, including the progressive BUENOS.

Buenos has won three of just four career starts so far, returning from a break to win in Class 2 company before repeating the dose in a Benchmark 60 contest at Canberra last time out.

There’s no doubt that this is another substantial step up in class, but she’s open to further improvement and we can have an each way play at current odds ($8 at publish).

STRAWBERRY IMPACT has only just been denied at each of two runs back this time and can break back into winning form in this Midway Handicap.

The Blake Ryan-trained gelding ran into an impressive Sarrismo at Hawkesbury fresh from a break and was just over half a length behind the winner in a midway last time out.

Fitter third-up and from a good draw, he looks well placed this week.

UNLIMITED is the one for me in the third on Hill Stakes Day.

Unlimited has continued to improve with racing this time in and won in BM78 company down at Caulfield two back before only being denied by an impressive Gilded Water at his latest appearance.

Back up to Sydney this week, with the Waller polish an under Nash Rawiller from a good barrier, he’s well placed to go one better again in my opinion.

MAHROONA is second up into the Roman Consul Stakes and is my best bet on the Hill Stakes Day program.

The Snitzel filly won the Golden Slipper at just her third career start in the autumn, while she picked up where she left off by winning the Heritage Stakes here a fortnight ago.

With natural improvement, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.

Half a million dollars goes on the line in the Tapp-Craig and in my opinion, it’s a perfect feature race for FARNICLE.

Farnicle turned in some fine performances during a debut preparation that peaked with a run in Group 1 company, while he dusted off the cobwebs with a nice effort to finish just over a length behind Marhoona in the Heritage Stakes.

With natural improvement and getting out in trip this week, I’m confident he can fight out the finish of something like this as well.

Fresh off finishing a close-up second in the Flight Stakes, WITHIN THE LAW looks up to going one better in the Group 3 Gloaming this week.

She stamped herself as one to follow during a two-year-old prep that peaked with victory in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, while there is no doubt that Within The Law has continued to improve with each run back this time.

While untested over the 1800m, her last-start performance over the mile suggested it will suit, while there’s no doubting her condition this week.

GANGSTA GRANNY gets a great chance to record some deserved black type in The Nivison.

The Written Tycoon mare was only just denied by the unbeaten Autumn Glow in the Toy Show Quality when resuming, while she was last seen filling the minors of the Sheraco Stakes.

I like that she’s a month between starts and in my opinion, this is clearly the weakest task she’s been set this time.

The lucrative Hill Stakes has drawn a sharp field to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, including LINDERMANN.

The Lonhro gelding was an eye-catching winner of the Chelmsford Stakes second up from a spell, while he was only just denied by multiple Group 1 winner Fangirl at his latest start.

That form is certainly good enough for a race like this one, while getting out to 2000m looks suitable at this point of his preparation.

He has been charged with carrying topweight, but I’m still very keen to side with the Group 1 winner GRINGOTTS second up in this contest.

Gringotts has continued to go from strength-to-strength throughout the last twelve months, winning the Big Dance last November before returning in the autumn for a maiden win at the highest level in the George Ryder here at Rosehill Gardens.

His first-up run for fifth behind Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes back in August was a pass mark, and there’s no doubt that the Alan Brown Stakes on Saturday is a substantial drop in class.

I’m happy to give Polyglot another chance in the last on Hill Stakes Day.

He’s yet to strike in three starts since joining Michael Freedman’s team this season, but Polyglot hasn’t been far away from the winner on any of those occasions, and he has found form around some decent horses.

He’s hard fit this week, Tommy Berry is a bonus and something like this is certainly his level.