The Rosebud Day takes centre stage at Rosehill this Saturday.
There are 10 races set down, with the Listed The Rosebud the feature. The race shapes as an important lead-up towards the Group 1 Golden Rose.
The track is rated a Soft 6, and showers are possible. That should keep the track conditions in the soft range for most of the afternoon.
The rail is in the true position. On softer Rosehill surfaces, it can be worth watching whether riders look away from the inside as the meeting develops.
That puts extra focus on the speed map, race shape and early positioning. Finding the right lane in the straight could be just as important.
Our race analysis looks at the key runners, main winning chances and best betting opportunities.
Here is our race-by-race The Rosebud Day preview, tips and best bets.
ATTRACTIVENESS (5) appreciated getting onto a drier surface last start when claiming a similar Midway Handicap over 1400m here.
The Richard & Will Freedman-trained mare settled midfield before barging her way clear and storming home to win by 1.15 lengths.
She has been racing in good form, including a first-up win, and will carry just half a kilogram more than last start courtesy of Siena Grima’s claim.
There looks to be good speed in the race, which should allow Grima to settle just off them before working home strongly in the same manner as last start.
| 5. Attractiveness (2) J: Siena Grima 57.5kg x1351 T: Richard & Will Freedman |
STEEL WILL (3) returned in magnificent order last start over 1100m at Wyong, where he brained his rivals by 6.27 lengths.
The Chris Waller-trained colt showed ability in his opening preparation when racing wide throughout on debut and still fighting gamely to finish third, beaten 1.63 lengths, behind subsequent black-type winner The Next Episode.
He will strip fitter second-up and should appreciate the rise in distance.
James McDonald retains the ride and can settle in a prominent position from the nice draw.
| 3. Steel Will (4) J: James McDonald 56kg 37×1 T: Chris Waller |
VALEDOR (14) comes to town for the first time in this Highway Handicap and arguably should be unbeaten.
The Messara & Gavranich-trained gelding was dominant on debut before having no luck second-up, where he was severely hampered passing the 500m after another runner contacted the inside rail and caused it to bounce back toward him.
He returned to winning form last start at Scone over a mile, where he looked another class in saluting by 1.7 lengths.
James McDonald is a key booking, and this guy gives Avista vibes after she won a similar race for the same trainer and jockey combination last Saturday.
| 14. Valedor (8) J: James McDonald 55kg 151 T: Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich |
LEOVANNI (11) is on the quick back-up after finding the line strongly over a mile at Randwick to finish second, beaten 1.36 lengths, behind The Mona Lisa.
That run showed the Cameron Crockett-trained mare is up to this class, and she only rises 1kg to 53.5kg.
Her prior form was excellent, with back-to-back Highway Handicap wins over 1800m and a mile.
There does not look to be a great deal of speed in the race, which should allow Alysha Collett to settle in a forward position.
| 11. Leovanni (4) J: Alysha Collett 53.5kg 21112 T: Cameron Crockett |
GLISSANDO (5) is only lightly raced but has shown enough ability in her brief career to suggest she is up to metropolitan grade.
The Chris Waller-trained mare was just fair on debut three starts ago but bounced back in a big way second-up when leading all the way for an easy Maiden win at Kembla Grange.
Last start, she went straight to the front at Canterbury and proved too strong late to win over 1550m by just under two lengths.
The wide barrier is not ideal, but she has the early speed to cross and find a prominent position for James McDonald.
| 5. Glissando (9) J: James McDonald 55.5kg 511 T: Chris Waller |
FORMAL (12) never saw daylight last start over this course and distance, going to the line full of running and untested when finishing second last.
The Nathan Doyle-trained gelding had chased strongly in his previous run, closing off to finish third, beaten just over half a length.
He has not won for some time, but he finally gets a senior jockey on for the first time in nine months.
Tyler Schiller can give him a sweet run from the low draw.
| 12. Formal (3) J: Tyler Schiller 55kg 34430 T: Nathan Doyle |
HAWKER HALL (5) returned in fine style last start over 1100m at Randwick with an all-the-way win.
The Kris Lees-trained gelding will have come on nicely and won second-up last preparation here.
He steps up to 1200m, which is a distance he won over on Magic Millions Day at the Gold Coast.
James McDonald has a great relationship with the horse and should be able to dictate the speed, which will make him hard to get past.
| 5. Hawker Hall (2) J: James McDonald 58kg 138×1 T: Kris Lees |
BLUE DOOR (6) returns to the races for the first time since winning the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes on debut.
The Bjorn Baker-trained filly raced outside the lead over this course and distance before finding the line strongly to beat The Next Episode by a head.
She looks ready for a bold first-up showing following a slick trial, where she worked home under her own steam with Gangster Granny.
Rachel King should land on speed and give plenty of cheek.
| 6. Blue Door (4) J: Rachel King 56.5kg 1x T: Bjorn Baker |
ATTICA (1) returns as a gelding, and the procedure appears to have had the desired effect.
The Joe Pride-trained son of Lonhro has looked super in two trials, where he raced on speed on each occasion to finish in the placings with the likes of Jimmysstar and Beiwacht.
He is the class runner in the field, having won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, and he has previously won first-up over this distance.
It will be interesting to see where Adam Hyeronimus settles from the sticky barrier, but regardless, I think his class will shine through.
| 1. Attica (9) J: Adam Hyeronimus 59kg 4380x T: Joseph Pride |
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and looking back, being five weeks between runs and drawing wide did not provide TARZING (10) with an ideal setup last start.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding never looked comfortable behind a hot speed after being caught wide early and finished sixth, beaten 3.32 lengths.
He was excellent two starts ago over this course and distance, settling handy before charging to the line to win by just under a length.
It should be willing up front with several horses going forward, which should deliver him and James McDonald a nice run from a better barrier.
| 10. Tarzing (6) J: James McDonald 58kg 3×316 T: Chris Waller |