Winter Challenge at Rosehill betting, form and free tips, July 29
THE Winter Challenge is the headline race at Rosehill this Saturday and we have betting, form and free tips for all nine races on the card.
A field of 11 has accepted for the $150,000 feature which includes last start winners Slightly Sweet and Liapari, but it will be the likes of Shiraz and Centre Pivot which create the most interest with punters.
The quality of thoroughbred on display this Saturday at Rosehill is spring-like and it wouldn’t surprise us to see some of the winners mix it with the best Sydney spring racing has to offer.
The opening race of the day is no exception as some talented juveniles look to continue their stellar two-year-old seasons.
Race 1 – Welcome Rydalmere CBC Handicap (1500m)
Hostwin Meraki has scored two wins from two starts and looks a potential horse for the future. The Gary Moore-trained two-year-old scored by over a length on debut at Newcastle and backed that up at Hawkesbury earlier this month. This is a much harder task and it has drawn wide, but it has the best exposed form in this field and punters might be able to secure a good price with bookmakers.
D’argento is a Chris Waller-trained colt which did the job well on debut at nice odds. The son of So You Think scored narrowly over Smartedge at Newcastle as a $9 chance, but punters should expect to see shorter odds this time around. Hugh Bowman is a key booking in the saddle and it could keep its unbeaten run in tact.
Race 1 tip: Hostwin Meraki to place at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – ATC Owner Benefits Card Handicap (1100m)
Rockafella is a lightly-tried type for the Cummings stable which makes its 2017 debut here. The son of Fastnet Rock hasn’t been seen since running fourth behind Fabrizio at Canterbury, but it won its first two career starts and there’s plenty of upside. It has clearly had its problems, but punters should be on board this Saturday and any late betting moves should be noted.
Cadogan shouldn’t be dropped based on its previous performance where it finished last at Warwick Farm. The run had no merit, but Kings Of Leon is a serious race horse and it should find this more to its liking. It has placed in two of its four starts at Rosehill and it is well-weighted to show something at odds in this.
Race 2 tip: Rockafella to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 3 – Sydney Spring Carnival On Sale (1400m)
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Arbeitsam was only narrowly beaten last start and it will likely be the pace setter again. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained gelding drops back in distance after competing over 1800m last start and the drop should suit nicely. It’s a three-year-old which makes its own luck out front and that’s always dangerous in a small field.
Insensata has won its last two starts with both coming on this track. The Jason Coyle-trained three-year-old has now won five of its 12 starts and it couldn’t have come more easily than its last start. Rising in weight is a deterrent, but it looks to have the measure over most of these.
Race 3 tip: Insensata to win at Bet365.com
Race 4 – Tab Highway Handicap (1500m)
Prada Miss has been considered good enough to mix it with some nice types in the past and this field isn’t overly hard. The Stirling Osland-trained filly finished second at Grafton last start and its form prior came in two $100,000 races. Hugh Bowman will do his best to pilot it from the wide barrier and it should prove tough to beat.
Chadana could offer some cheek down the bottom of the page. The three-year-old finished second last start so comes into this with some form and it was running on in a Highway Handicap earlier this month. A firm track would play right into its hands and it could offer some value at a light weight.
Race 4 tip: Chadana to place at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 5 – Theraces Handicap (1200m)
Feirin was a stylish winner on debut at Gosford and it looks ready made for this. The Cummings-trained three-year-old filly by Fastnet Rock scored by almost two lengths in a maiden which didn’t have the same depth as this, but punters would have been impressed with its turn-of-foot. That will win it a lot of races and the addition of Hugh Bowman instils plenty of confidence.
Second Step didn’t have much peace in front at Warwick Farm last start, but don’t drop off it just yet. The John Steinmetz-trained filly was a stellar 3.5-length winner at Bathurst two starts back and although this is much harder, it has shown city class form in a brief career to date. The weight doesn’t help, but consider on an each way basis.
Race 5 tip: Feirin to win at Topbetta.com.au
Race 6 – Schweppes Handicap (2000m)
Zourkham is rarely far away from the prize and it produced another strong effort at Flemington last start. The Waller-trained runner has experience on this track so going right handed won’t be an issue and it handles all track conditions. It’s third-up for this which suits and it gives Hugh Bowman another stellar ride on the Rosehill card.
Life O’Brien is a five-time winner which finished just in behind the smart Collateral last start. The Cummings-trained gelding has placed in both attempts at Rosehill and another run at this distance looks ideal for it now. It has been an each way runner for punters throughout its career and that shouldn’t change for this.
Race 6 tip: Life O’Brien to place at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 7 – Winter Challenge (1500m)
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Peter Robl lines up Centre Pivot which was doing good work at Rosehill last start in the Winter Stakes. The six-year-old by More Than Ready is a course specialist which looks to be in fit order and its form prior came in races such as the Magic Millions Trophy and Australia Day Stakes. It excels at this distance and should go close.
It’s now or never for Shiraz which was unlucky behind Slightly Sweet in the Winter Stakes. The 10-time winner was held up at a vital stage and never got a crack at them until late in the race. The four-time winner at Rosehill would prefer the cut to be out of the track, but it should be seriously considered regardless of the conditions.
Race 7 tip: Centre Pivot to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 8 – ATC Thanks Our Owners Handicap (1350m)
Most Exalted returned a winner at Kembla Grange last start and it could offer some value for each way punters. The Mack Griffith-trained four-year-old scored narrowly with a big weight on its back and dropping to 54kg for this makes it a contender at odds.
Mogador hasn’t been in the best form, but it hasn’t had the best of luck either. The James Cummings-trained gelding finished close in behind them in the Ramornie last start which is good form for this, but it has lost the faith of many punters. It has won only two of its 16 starts which isn’t a good clip, but it should take advantage of this field.
Race 8 tip: Mogador to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 9 – NSW Racecourse Owners Association Trophy (1500m)
Awoke did just that last start at Canterbury where it won narrowly over The Pharoah. The three-year-old for Chris Waller recovered from a poor effort prior to that, but the heavy track didn’t help on that occasion. All three career wins have come on a soft track so if conditions suit expect to see some firming in the market.
Girl Sunday went close behind Insensata last start and it gets the right barrier for this. The Gerald Ryan-trained mare jumps from barrier one and given that it likes to roll forward, that’s an ideal alley. Carrying 61kg won’t make it easy, but it faces an even field and it could capitalise.
Race 9 tip: Awoke to place at Bet365.com