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 x1351T: Richard & Will Freedman | |||
| At the latest run favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 1.2 len at this track on August 1 over 1400m in soft going defeating Krasina carrying 55kg at $3.20. Before that eased back early on 5th of 7 at this track on July 18 over 1500m, on a wet track; 5 len behind Arapawa with 55.5kg at $5. Talented mare who can win again. | |||
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 37×1T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; scored a big 6 len win at Wyong on August 2 over 1100m defeating Ghostbuster carrying 58kg at $1.45. Previously second-up 7th of 10 in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick on April 4 over 1100m, slow going 6 len behind Blue Door with 56.5kg at $7.50. Demolished the small field first-up and can go on with it here. | |||
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 (9) J: James McDonald 55kg 151T: Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich | |||
| At the latest run raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.75 len at Scone on July 31 over 1600m defeating Tacitly carrying 58kg at $3.80. The start before that 5th of 9 at Gunnedah on July 20 over 1400m, 1.75 len behind Meddlesome carrying 60.5kg at $1.55. Heading in the right direction and can measure up again. | |||
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 21112T: Cameron Crockett | |||
| At the latest run ran on from midfield; 2nd of 11 at Randwick on August 8 over 1600m, 1.4 len behind The Mona Lisa carrying 52.5kg at $6.50. Before that won by 0.8 len at Randwick on July 25 over 1800m in soft going defeating Maples with 55.5kg at $7. Keeps raising the bar and don’t dismiss. | |||
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 (10) J: James McDonald 55.5kg 511T: Chris Waller | |||
| Racing well recently. At the latest run favourite; won by 2 len at Canterbury on August 5 over 1550m defeating Namaste carrying 58kg at $1.40. The run before that favourite; scored a big 3.5 len win at Kembla Grange on July 16 over 1300m defeating Divine Heights with 55kg at $1.95. | |||
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 34430T: Nathan Doyle | |||
| Last start ran second last of 13 at this track on August 1 over 1100m, on a slow track; 6 len behind Annie’s Rose carrying 53.5kg at $12. The run before that ran on from midfield; 3rd of 11 at this track on July 4 over 1100m, slow going 0.6 len behind Polyglot carrying 53.5kg at $8.50. | |||
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 (3) J: James McDonald 58kg 138×1T: Kris Lees | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months won by a head at Randwick on July 25 over 1100m in soft going defeating Istolea Merc with 58.5kg at $6.50. Previously second-up won by a long-neck at this track on December 7 over 1100m defeating Crepe Myrtle carrying 53kg at $2.35. | |||
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 (5) J: Rachel King 56.5kg 1xT: Bjorn Baker | |||
| Resuming after a break; only one run when won by a head in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick on April 4 over 1100m on a soft track defeating The Next Episode with 54.5kg at $4.40. | |||
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 4380xT: Joseph Pride | |||
| Back from a spell. Finished off last campaign 13th of 16 at Randwick in the G1 Doncaster April 4 over 1600m, soft track; 10 len behind Sheza Alibi with 50kg at $26. First up last campaign fourth of 7 at this track in the G2 Hobartvlle February 21 over 1400m, 2.25 len behind Ninja carrying 56.5kg at $15. | |||
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 3×316T: Chris Waller | |||
| Most recently 6th of 13 at this track on August 1 over 1400m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Steel Strike carrying 58kg at $2.70. The start before that favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.8 len at this track on June 27 over 1400m on a rain affected track defeating Big Papa carrying 56kg at $3.60. Rates highly. Hard to go past in this suitable contest. | |||