Rosehill Saturday preview & betting tips | December 2, 2023
| What | Festival Stakes Day |
| Where | Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 |
| When | Saturday, December 2, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:20pm AEDT |
The Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) headlines a massive 10-race program at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The conditions will be testing, with the track listed as a Heavy 8 at the time of writing and more rain forecast in the lead-up. The rail sits in the true position for the entire circuit, while the opening event gets underway at 12:20pm AEDT.
Festival Stakes Pick: Rustic Steel
Rustic Steel is building nicely as he makes his way to Rosehill third-up. The son of Deep Field has been unable to draw a barrier in his two starts back from a spell, copping the widest stall in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) and The Hunter (1300m). He was asked to extend from unwinnable positions in both of those events, and with the six-year-old finally drawing a gate at a more suitable trip, watch for Rustic Steel to be storming over the top in the Festival Stakes.
Festival Stakes
Race 7 – 
#2 Rustic Steel (5)
6yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Sam Clipperton (57.5kg)
Best Bet at Rosehill: Tavi Time
Tavi Time couldn’t have been more impressive second-up when bounding to a comprehensive victory at Newcastle on November 18. The gelding by Tavistock loomed up on the outside of his rivals a long way out and put the race to bed with 200m to travel. He’s dual-accepted for the Mudgee Cup (1600m) on Friday; however, if the Kris Lees camp elects to send Tavi Time to Rosehill, he must be considered one of the better bets on the card.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#7 Tavi Time (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Dylan Gibbons (58.5kg)
Next Best Bet: Legio Ten
Legio Ten will resume from a 119-day spell and should relish the testing conditions on what should be a boggy track by the running of the last. The son of Exosphere has an impressive wet-track record of five starts for two wins and two minor placings, holding him in good stead for this BM78 contest. Nash Rawiller will ride him cold towards the rear of the field from barrier 13, but when the race goes on, watch for Legio Ten to be doing his best work late.
Next Best
Race 10 – 
#8 Legio Ten (13)
4yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Nash Rawiller (58kg)
Best Value Bet: Spirit Queen
Spirit Queen looks set to peak third-up in this BM78 affair. She was sensational when returning at Randwick on the Kensington circuit on October 18, sliding up the inside running rail to secure a runner-up finish. She then went to Rosehill on November 11 and was unable to figure in a slowly run race. We’ve been anticipating a step up in trip ever since, and with the 1400m likely to suit this mare, hopefully Spirit Queen can recapture her best.
Best Value
Race 5 – 
#4 Spirit Queen (5)
4yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Jason Collett (57kg)
Rosehill Saturday quaddie – Festival Stakes Day
Rosehill Gardens quadrella selections
Saturday, December 2, 2023
- 2-5-11-15-17
- 1-2-3
- 1-2-3-6-8
- 1-5-7-8-9