Rosehill full racing preview & quaddie | Golden Rose Day 2023

Race 1: Class 2 Highway Handicap (1500m)

We kick things off with the Class 2 Highway Handicap, where Take The Kitty looks to be well-found with online bookmakers. It’s a tough race to access; however, you only need to look back at his last start effort at this course over 1400m on August 26 and it’s easy to see why the market is gravitating to the son of Star Witness. He was luckless when chasing home Melody Again on that occasion, leaving Take The Kitty scrambling into second. We like the month between runs to keep him fresh, and with Matthew Dunn having a terrific record in Highway company, we’re happy to lean his way.

• 1
  

  TAKE THE KITTY

• 4
  

  MISSILE LEADER

• 6
  

  ATMOSPHERIC ROCK

• 7
  

  DESERT MIST

Race 2: BM72 Midway Handicap (1300m)

Peace Officer will be searching for back-to-back wins on Saturday after making his return to score in dominant fashion at Wyong on September 1. It was only a small field, but the Clarry Conners-trained four-year-old was ultra-impressive when ambling up to his opposition before putting them away by three lengths. His tick-over trial looks to have kept him up to the mark, and although this race is much tougher, we think Peace Officer has been perfectly placed to bring up his third-career win.

• 7
  

  PEACE OFFICER

• 10
  

  CRACKALACKA

• 2
  

  FLYING DESTINY

• 16
  

  IRON MAN

Race 3: BM88 Handicap (1900m)

Unspoken got the job done for us with the best bet tag when he resumed a fortnight ago, and we see no reason to abandon the progressive four-year-old. It’s never easy resuming over 1500m, but that’s the task he was set by trainer Peter & Paul Snowden. He bounded over the top of his rivals with 200m to travel and was exposed a long way from home, leaving him vulnerable late. He proved too strong late, however, and didn’t seem to be stopping at any stage. He should land a perfect spot from gate once again, and although we’re unsure who takes the reins with Josh Parr suffering an injury mid-week, Unspoken will be a tough nut to crack again.

• 6
  

  UNSPOKEN

• 8
  

  MARQUESS

• 3
  

  LOGAN STREET LION

• 5
  

  MR WATERVILLE

Race 4: Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m)

We’ve been extremely impressed with what we’ve seen from Ozzmosis as he returns after a 105-day spell. He’s only had two starts, both resulting in dominant wins – with the latest on June 10 producing a tough effort to score a 1.2-length victory over race rival Royal Tribute at Randwick. He sat outside the leader as the pair toyed with their opposition, before bolting clear under a positive steer from Dylan Gibbons. It’s now Rachel King who gets the nod, and with rumours circling Bjorn Baker wants Everest (1200m) slot for his Zoustar colt, Ozzmosis needs to be winning a race like this.

• 4
  

  OZZMOSIS

• 8
  

  ROYAL TRIBUTE

• 1
  

  BARBER

• 2
  

  NAMESAKE

Race 5: Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m)

Al Aabir looks ready to peak on the one-week backup after an outstanding effort in last Saturday’s Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m). The four-year-old by Sea The Stars was just left flatfooted in the middle stages, but made up a stack of ground late to finish four lengths away from the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) favourite Just Fine. He produced a very similar preparation last season and won at this course and distance fourth-up into the campaign. Joao Moreira hopping aboard is a massive bonus, and with gate five ensuring Al Aabir gets a soft run in transit, we’re confident he can only run well.

• 7
  

  AL AABIR

• 9
  

  VERONA

• 3
  

  SIR LUCAN

• 12
  

  LITTLE MIX

Race 6: Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m)

The Group 2 Golden Pendant is for the fillies & mares, and we simply must be with Espiona after an incredible return in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m). She turned the corner from last and clocked some scintillating sectionals, only finding one better in the form of Sunshine In Paris. The Chris Waller-trained Group 1 winner should take massive improvement from that effort, and with a perfect stall (3) to get a much more economical run throughout the journey, Espiona will take a power of beating.

• 2
  

  ESPIONA

• 4
  

  SHEEZA BELTER

• 3
  

  ZOUGOTCHA

• 1
  

  ATISHU

Race 7: Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m)

The Group 2 Shannon Stakes is a handicap for open company and the winner will be ballot-exempt for the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) on September 30. Flying Crazy gets the tick of approval for us though after going around at $81 with online bookmakers in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m). Even though he was beaten by four-lengths, the son of Flying Artie closed off beautifully alongside the likes of Kovalica, producing some exceptional closing splits after missing the start. Team Hawkes have booked the services of Zac Lloyd, and if he can get Flying Crazy to ping the lids from barrier three, the five-year-old gelding can outrun his current quote with online betting sites.

• 9
  

  FLYING CRAZY

• 2
  

  NEW MANDATE

• 7
  

  WATERFORD

• 5
  

  CROSS TALK

Race 8: Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m)

The Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) is set to be a stellar edition with quality three-year-olds all over the page. Cylinder (+340) currently heads the market, but the Godolphin galloper is set to have plenty of company with the only filly in the race, Charm Stone (+400) seeing late support. The Chris Waller pair of Militarize (+750) and Shinzo (+500) are sure to have admirers as well.

Click here for our full betting preview & $100 betting strategy for the Group 1 Golden Rose

Race 9: BM88 Handicap (1400m)

Vienna Princess is set to return from a 70-day spell and finds a suitable assignment upon resumption. The four-year-old mare put together some eye-catching performances last campaign – arguably, the best of which came first-up when narrowly defeated by Mirra View on May 27 at Randwick. She then went on to score well over 1300m at this course, before looking the winner at her latest start, just getting nosed out by Brutality on July 15. Vienna Princess has an incredible turn-of-foot at her best, and if she’s turned out to be firing here, look for her to storm down the middle of the track late in the day.

• 8
  

  VIENNA PRINCESS

• 9
  

  CHORLTON LANE

• 11
  

  PEREILLE

• 13
  

  KOKORO

Race 10: BM78 Handicap (1100m)

We save the toughest race for the last and the online betting sites tend to agree with the favourite $5 in this wide-open affair. Ojai is a mare we’ve had plenty of time for that have had zero luck with barriers. She’s drawn 16 and 13 in her last two starts, putting a swift end to any hopes of finding the winner’s enclosure. Despite that, she closed off with a head of steam behind Waverider Buoy at Randwick on September 2 and can finally find a more prominent position in the run from barrier eight on Saturday. Damian Lane takes the reins for the first time, and hopefully with some luck, Ojai can end the day strongly for followers.

• 13
  

  OJAI

• 8
  

  PORTRAY

• 1
  

  CAVALIER CHARLES

• 7
  

  RAINBIEL