We’ll be treated to another strong ten-race program at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, headlined by the time-honoured Festival Stakes.
The track is rated in the Soft (5) range at publish but with some more inclement weather forecasted in Sydney prior to race day, that figure could be downgraded again.
With the rail staying in the true position around the entire course, I’ve run the rule over every field and delivered my Rosehill best bets below, including my 2025 Festival Stakes tips.
Only three of the 13 confirmed starters in Race 1 on Festival Stakes Day have previous race day experience.
EURIPEDES is not one of those horses, but he has trialled up nicely and looks forward enough to win on debut.
The Street Boss colt has had two public trials, winning one and finishing the runner up on the other occasion.
With options in the run from the rails drawn and under Rachel King, I’m happy to have something on.
| 3. Euripedes (1) J: Rachel King 58kg T: Bjorn Baker |
GEEMES gets a deserved crack at Saturday metro company this week.
The Grunt mare returned to action this time for a dominant victory in Class 1 company at Queanbeyan, while she repeated the dose in BM64 company and over 1800m at Hawkesbury last time.
This is obviously harder, but she steps out a fit horse, the 2000m looks ideal and she’s unbeaten on a soft track.
| 11. Geemes (11) J: Alysha Collett 55kg 0x611T: Mitchell Beer & George Carpenter |
ENNIROC gets a great chance to win in town on Festival Stakes Day.
The Nostradamus gelding worked home well to only just miss in BM58 company at Armidale two runs back, while his first run after joining David Hatch’s stable was excellent, and saw him fill the minors behind Petticoat at Randwick earlier this month.
He has drawn to receive a lovely run in transit this week and this really does look his opportunity to win a Highway race.
| 8. Enniroc (2) J: Rachel King 57kg 14523T: David Hatch |
I’m eager to stick with ROTAGILLA when he steps out in the fourth at Rosehill on Saturday.
Rotagilla has returned to the races in typically sharp form this time in, and after winning in BM78 company over 1500m at Randwick two runs back, he was far from disgraced when a length behind Meridiana at Newcastle on The Hunter Day a fortnight ago.
He meets that horse better at the weights this week, while another rise in trip does look suitable at this point of his preparation.
| 4. Rotagilla (7) J: Tim Clark 59kg 1×412T: Chris Waller |
LYLES is unbeaten this time in and rates as a key winning chance again on Festival Stakes Day 2025.
The Exceed And Excel gelding has missed placing once in seven trips to the races since debuting, but there’s no doubt that he has returned to action a better horse this time in.
After hitting the line to record a relatively comfortable victory in BM72 company at Warwick Farm fresh from a break, he went up to Queensland for a dominant win in Saturday BM78 company, beating home a decent field.
This is another rise in class, but he’s open to further improvement and it does look to be the next logical step for him to take.
| 3. Lyles (3) J: Zac Lloyd 58kg 32×11T: Matthew Smith |
HIBIKI HARMONY is the one for me in the Country Classic field.
Hibiki Harmony has been racing in fine touch this time in, and after recording a couple of dominant victories in BM58 and BM68 company at Muswellbrook two and three runs back, she locked only just denied by Affermato in a thrilling contest up on the speed at Wyong last time out.
She gets into this race really well at the weights and can find her way forward from an inside alley, making her own luck and giving them something to chase.
| 14. Hibiki Harmony (4) J: Braith Nock 55kg 24112T: Brett & Georgie Cavanough |
This is a great edition of the Starlight Stakes with plenty of winning chances engaged, including IMPERIAL FORCE.
Imperial Force has improved steadily with each of his first three runs back this time, and he was far better when fourth, beaten less than a length by the likes of Estadia Mestalla and Accredited over 1100m on Big Dance Day.
He steps out this week a fit horse and has drawn ideally into this field under Tim Clark, and we can have an each way play at current Starlight Stakes odds ($12 at publish).
| 7. Imperial Force (3) J: Tim Clark 53.5kg 9×804T: Bjorn Baker |
We’ve been with ACCREDITED at each of his first two runs back this time and I am going to give him one more chance when he takes his place in the Festival Stakes field.
He looked the winner when resuming on Big Dance Day before only just being nailed on the line by Estadia Mestalla, while he kept on coming to finish just over half a length second in the Group 2 The Hunter last time out.
Fitter third-up and out to the 1500m this week, the Festival Stakes really does look a perfect black type target for him, and the $9 about him in Festival Stakes betting at publish looks a touch of overs in my opinion.
| 4. Accredited (12) J: Andrew Adkins 56kg 32×22T: Joseph Pride |
The ATC Cup looks a lovely race for IMPERIALST.
Imperialist needed his first two runs back this time to tune up, but he looked to be back to his best when he kicked clear to record a popular victory in the Taree Cup in October.
Having since finished second, beaten by the impressive Wootton Verni in the Rosehill Gold Cup most recently, he finds ideal conditions this week, and this does look to be a weaker race.
| 8. Imperialist (2) J: Tommy Berry 55.5kg x9712T: Chris Waller |
FROSTY GIRL is third up into another winnable race on Festival Stakes Day.
Having recorded two wins from as many starts during her debut preparation, the Super Seth mare picked up where she left off when comfortably winning in BM68 company at Warwick Farm first up last month.
She suffered her first career defeat here at Rosehill last time out but was far from disgraced into third, and with further improvement this week, something like this looks a perfect third up target.
| 2. Frosty Girl (9) Scratched: | |||