Rosehill Preview – Sunday, 7th December

It’s a wide-open contest to kick things off at Rosehill, with no obvious standout in what looks a very even race.

Gary Portelli’s MISSILE SEEKER (5) showed he can measure up to this level during the autumn and put a Benchmark 64 field away by five lengths at Kembla Grange over 1500m.

With Tyler Schiller drawing barrier three, the $21 on offer looks tempting—he’s definitely worth an each-way play to start the afternoon.

I’m sticking with Tyler Schiller in Race 2 as he partners the promising Dundeel gelding EL PASO (7), an impressive first-up winner at Kembla Grange.

He produced a sustained run to reel in his rivals, and the form has already stacked up with runner-up Doradus scoring at his next outing.

The rise to 1800m looks ideal, and he should only strip fitter for that return win. Plenty to like.

STORMBRINGER (7) is a lightly raced and progressive four-year-old with two wins and four placings from seven starts—he’s done little wrong to this point.

He broke his maiden first-up at Goulburn and followed it with a strong win in open company at Canberra last start.

At double-figure odds, he shapes as terrific each-way value in this Highway.

The Ciaron Maher-trained EDITING (1) wrapped up her Queensland winter prep with an eye-catching fifth in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben, finishing just over a length off Spicy Martini.

She’s returned in good order this campaign, and her runner-up effort in a Benchmark 78 at Kembla Grange last start suggests she’s building nicely.

Now deep enough into her prep to be ready to peak—and at each-way odds—she looks a genuine winning chance.

SANCTIFIED (5) has only the one win beside his name, but he’s been ultra-consistent with six placings from nine starts.

He chased strongly over this track and trip last time but couldn’t quite reel in the winner, though he did comfortably beat Nitro—who somehow opens much shorter here despite carrying a similar weight.

He’s right in the mix again.

CREPE MYRTLE (7) strikes me as a professional, lightly raced four-year-old mare building a tidy résumé early in her career.

The Exceed And Excel daughter has finished top two in five of her six starts and brings back-to-back wins into this Sunday metro assignment.

I loved the way she knuckled down late to chase down the leader over 1100m at Canterbury two weeks back, and the form has stacked up beautifully with Swordplay bolting in by 3.5 lengths at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Plenty to like about her chances again.

MAID OF MOOLAH (6) has been steadily climbing through the grades this prep, putting together three straight wins before finishing four lengths off them in open company last start.

She certainly wasn’t disgraced there, especially after being made to work early to hold the lead.

The drop back in both grade and distance looks ideal, and on what she’s shown this campaign, she simply appears better than this level.

MIDNIGHT OPAL (17) should’ve finished much closer at Newcastle two weeks ago, but a key-check across heels halted his momentum right when he was building into the race.

Even so, he was only a touch over two lengths away, and he’s drawn to enjoy a far kinder run in transit here—if he gains a start, he’s a genuine knockout chance.

Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes winner BELLE DETELLE (2) was far from out of her depth when contesting the Australian Oaks and the Queensland Derby last campaign.

She’s yet to break through in three runs this prep, but with the rise in trip and a much needed drop back in grade, she looks ready to peak now.

Expect sharp improvement.

SHIHAB (4) has put together two nice runs so far this campaign and he came from well back in the field to finish on the heels of the winner at Newcastle second up

That was a benchmark 94 over 1300m so he’ll appreciate the step back in grade for this assignment and the apprentice will use the claim for some weight relief

Let’s finish the day with a big priced winner!