| What | Expressway Stakes Day |
| Where | Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 |
| When | Saturday, January 29, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:25pm AEDT |
| Feature Race | R7: Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) |
| Watch Live | |
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Streaming Live at Sportsbet |
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Rosehill Gardens will host a 10-race card on Saturday, headlined by the return of Anamoe in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes. HorseBetting’s NSW racing analyst brings you his best bets and quaddie numbers for the meeting, as well as an in-depth race-by-race analysis. The track is rated a Good 4, the rail is out 6m for the entire course, and the first race is set to jump at 12:25pm AEDT.
Race 1: Class 3 Highway Plate (1500m)
In the opener, a capacity field of country gallopers will contest the Class 3 Highway Plate over 1500m. In what is a tricky race to get a good gauge on, we are siding with a last-start Coffs Harbour winner in Racketeering. The Lisa Sheppard-trained five-year-old has had nine career starts for three wins and three seconds, and he comes into this race off a dominant 1.6-length win over 1315m on a Heavy 10 on December 30. The extra trip will suit this son of Trusting, while barrier four allows Jason Collett to get him into a beautiful position to be threatening.
Selections: 6-4-9-10
Race 2: Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m)
The Canonbury Stakes is a traditional lead up to the Golden Slipper Stakes for colts and geldings. In this year’s edition, a competitive field of eight is expected to take their place, including the exciting debutant Great Barrier Reef. The two-year-old by I Am Invincible impressed in his first trial on November 30 when winning at Canterbury, before being seen at the trials here at Rosehill on January 17 when given a quiet time. James McDonald has been aboard in both trials and has stuck with the Chris Waller-trained colt for his debut run, which is also a big plus.
Selections: 4-6-8-1
Race 3: Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m)
The Group 3 Widden Stakes is the fillies edition of the two-year-old races on Saturday, and again we have a very competitive affair on our hands. At this stage, form around Coolangatta looks pretty handy given her recent success in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, so we are siding with Drisana from the Snowden stable. This daughter of Merchant Navy raced in the Gimcrack Stakes on debut and worked home really nicely to run second to Coolangatta, albeit 3.4 lengths away. She trialled recently and looked good in that 902m hitout, running third behind Troach and Ojai. Kerrin McEvoy has done all of the work on Drisana to date and has opted to stick with her on Saturday, which is a pleasing sign.
Selections: 4-1-2-5
Race 4:3&4YO Benchmark 72 (1500m)
If we could put a red line through this race, we would. James Cummings and Rachel King combine with the lightly raced Kanazawa, who, off his debut win, is good enough to win this. The gelded son of Lonhro ran fourth at his next two starts, but getting out to 1500m for the first time is likely to suit. He should get a nice run from barrier five and take a power of beating.
Selections: 7-4-5-2
Race 5: Benchmark 72 Midway Handicap (1300m)
At the halfway point of the program, we are served up one of the trickier races of the day. Despite having drawn barrier 15, we think Annabel Neasham’s Military Expert should be better than his rivals here, even though he is first-up. The colt by Redoute’s Choice has form around King Of Sparta, Silent Impact and Lightsaber, which is top class for a race of this nature, while his two trials have been solid. Under Tommy Berry from the wide draw, this classy prospect should be able to work across and be handy in the run, which will make him very hard to beat. He can justify favouritism.
Selections: 4-9-14-11
Race 6: Benchmark 78 (2000m)
The staying race of the afternoon is this Benchmark 78 over 2000m, where Crystal Pegasus has opened favourite. In what is a race we aren’t too keen to play in, Chris Waller and Tyler Schiller combine with the top weight, So Wicked, who could potentially lead this field a merry dance. Although the seven-year-old mare has no form at this track, the daughter of Street Cry is likely to get a soft lead from barrier three in a race where nothing really looks set to take her on, with the exception of My Demetra.
Selections: 1-2-5-7
Race 7: Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m)
To open the quaddie, we are presented with a genuine put-in, take-out job. After running second in the Golden Rose, Anamoe got back to his brilliant best to win the Caulfield Guineas during the spring before going down by a lip to State Of Rest in last year’s Cox Plate. The James Cummings-trained colt is first-up following a tedious spring campaign, but he may never race an easier field again than what he lines up against on Saturday fresh off one trial. He will no doubt have improved and developed during his spell, which will make him even more of a weapon, while James McDonald in the saddle adds a length or two. He is a star, and he will win this.
Selections: 6-4-7-3
Race 8: Benchmark 88 (1500m)
Again, the second leg of the quaddie is a touch tricky, but the early market support for Chris Waller’s Yiyi is enough to push us into his corner. Having won four races last campaign, the consistent galloper resumed with a second to Kingsheir on January 8 at this track over 1400m and ran on really well. The son of No Nay Never gets back to his pet trip on Saturday, while James McDonald reunites with the four-year-old. From barrier one, expect to see McDonald box seat before finding the front at the turn.
Selections: 4-3-7-5
Race 9: Benchmark 88 (1200m)
Winning form is good form, and there is no reason to be against Rule Of Law. The Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old has won his past three starts impressively, including a most recent win at this track over 1100m when leading throughout. James McDonald has an incredibly good book of rides on Saturday, and this is one of his leading chances, especially from barrier one. The son of Snitzel will burrow through to lead again, which makes him hard to peg back in the concluding stages. If any horse is to bring him undone, we expect it to be The Bopper, who should find this easier.
Selections: 6-4-9-3
Race 10: Benchmark 78 (1400m)
This is a tough way to finish, but that has become the norm over the past few months in Sydney, so we have to come to expect this. After winning well as an outsider on January 15 at this track, Gary Moore’s Crosscheck can repeat that dose and win again, at much shorter odds. The daughter of Hinchinbrook spoiled the party a fortnight ago as a $41 chance, swooping from the back to ultimately win pretty easily. From barrier 10, Jason Collett will likely get back off a hot speed once again and allow this in-form mare to come with the big bounds late.
Selections: 10-7-6-14
Saturday quaddie picks for Rosehill Gardens
| Rosehill quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 6 |
| Leg 2: | 3-4-5-7 |
| Leg 3: | 4-6 |
| Leg 4: | 6-7-10-14 |
| Investment: | $32 for 100% |
