First class racing will once again be on show this Saturday for Flinders Lane Rosehill Guineas Day. The $500,000 feature race, run over 2000m, is the second leg of the triple crown for the three-year-olds. A bumper field of 20 has been put together, with the key players being the 2011 VRC Derby winner Sangster, Strike The Stars, Said Com and Laser Hawk. But like last year with Jimmy Choux, the kiwi raiders are here and in a big way with Rock ‘N’ Pop, Ocean Park and glamour filly Silent Achiever all looking to maintain the kiwi dominance.

The two-year-olds get their last chance to qualify for the $3.5 Million Aami Golden Slipper (1200m). The fillies will contest the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) whilst the colts and geldings will battle it out in the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).

Star Sydney sprinter Rain Affair returns from an unsuccessful Newmarket Handicap raid when he steps out in the Challenge Stakes (1100m) where he will take on boom Melbourne youngster Bel Sprinter and the above average filly Elite Falls.

Race One: Magic Night Stakes 1200m

Back Me: What a hot race this is. About seven or eight winning chances for me, which are Doubtfilly, Ichihara, Later Gator, Valerio, Flying Snitzel and Kyria.
Don’t Back Me: Cavalry Rose had every chance I thought in the Black Opal. Improvement is required to win.
Big Danger: Very cautious about Doubtfilly because she is a very good youngster who will lap up the 1200m and the booking of Olly is a huge positive.
Roughie: She is drawn awkwardly, but if they go hard in front, Kyria will be hitting the line better than just about any other.

Race Two: Pago Pago 1200m

Back Me: Going for the upset with Pure Hustle. Trialled like Black Caviar before his first up run where he missed the start and only got warm late. With a clean start, he can sit on the pace and prove a worthy rival for All Too Hard.
Don’t Back Me: Can’t say anything here because it is a three horse race between Pure Hustle, All Too Hard and Collect.
Big Danger: He won’t be as brilliant as his older sister, but gee All Too Hard has got his share of freakish ability. Big test here for him but he is too good to ignore.
Roughie: Collect loomed to win last start but the on-pace bias and the wet track beat him near the line. Firmer surface is the big tick in his favour.

Race Three: Darby Munro Stakes 1200m

Back Me: I’m giving Unpretentious one more chance here. Should have bolted in last start at Flemington but Williams had no luck at all getting a clear run. In form rider in Nikolic takes over, drawn to get cover and judging on that Flemington run, he is back to his best.
Don’t Back Me: African Pulse has contested two of the hardest sprint races recently, but the weight and wide barrier nearly rules him out as a chance.
Danger: Sacred Pins took a while to get going, but he did the job well enough at Gosford to earn a crack in this grade. Very hard to beat.
Roughie: Hallowbell Belle has done well in two starts for Gai and she should overcome the wide barrer by spearing to the front. Definite chance.

Race Four: Parramatta Leagues Club Challenge Stakes 1100m

Back Me: I can’t really see Rain Affair getting beat. Ran a gallant sixth in the Newmarket Handicap at his first run in Melbourne. Back in Sydney, should lead, should win.
Don’t Back Me: Neeson ran a shocker at Warwick Farm due to cardiac arrythmia. Since trialled in slick fashion, but he can’t win this.
Big Danger: Bel Sprinter has been freshened since a luckless run in the Oakleigh Plate. Only query is racing the Sydney way. If he handles that, he can get close to Rain Affair.
Roughie: If it wasn’t for Woorim and his wonderful finishing burst, Elite Falls would be a Group One winner. Looks well weighted at WFA level and has drawn the rails.

Race Five: De Bortoli Wines Epona Stakes 1900m

Back Me: Galizani won this race last year and again is ticking along nicely in preparation for this race. Got caught well back and on the worst part of the track at Randwick. Cassidy jumps back on and has drawn well. Great value bet.
Don’t Back Me: Fibrillation did a remarkable job to win that same race mentioned above, but she has a terrible record second up.
Big Danger: Crafty Irna has got the two runs under her belt now, so she should be at peak fitness. Stable and rider are in form and the mare has plenty of upside.
Roughie: Once Were Wild was run off her legs in the Wiggle. Quickly up to 1900m now and she does have loads of class on these. Just depends if she brings her best form.

Race Six: Hyland Colours Ajax Stakes 1500m

Back Me: Going to declare Niagara a special. Loved the way he attacked the line when finishing second to Nobby Snip. Goes very well second up, should sit on the speed and being on the limit, he’ll roll along and prove awfully hard to run down.
Don’t Back Me: Pied A Terre is on the rise, but I felt he had his chance in the Blamey after getting a soft lead. Wide barrier is a slight worry too.
Big Danger: Hood was very impressive in the National Sprint at Canberra. From the rails barrier, he should get the gun run and once again be right in the finish.
Roughie: All Silent showed a glimpse of his old form with an eye catching first up run behind Ofcourseican. That form held up last week. Tough barrier here, but he is too good to dismiss.

Race Seven: Flinders Lane Rosehill Guineas 2000m

Back Me: Once again, Strike The Stars worked like a bomb earlier this week. Problem is that he can’t turn that in to winning form on raceday. But I’ll back up on him because he didn’t have much luck in the Randwick Guineas.
Don’t Back Me: I am a huge fan of Silent Achiever, she is world class, but it’ll be a big ask for a filly to beat a quality field from barrier 17.
Big Danger: Many, many, many dangers. Sangster, Darci Be Good, Sabrage, Proliferate, Ambidexter, Laser Hawk and Ethipoia fit that bill. Box all of these plus Strike The Stars in a first four.
Roughie: Ethiopia will appreciate the bigger surroundings of Rosehill compared to Moonee Valley. If he gains a start, he’ll be the knockout horse.

Race Eight: N E Manion Cup 2000m

Back Me: It’s only at Listed level, but boy it is a cracking race. Herculian Prince is back to his best form. He’ll lead from the barrier and prove awfully hard to beat.
Don’t Back Me: Older Than Time is ticking along nicely, but this looks a rather hard race for her. Wait until she gets to Randwick.
Big Danger: Precedence finally showed some form with a slashing fourth in the Australian Cup. Form has held up and Rodd sticks.
Roughie: Coliseo is back on a firmer surface, which he was looking for last start behind Maules Creek. Olly is booked to ride and is drawn perfectly.

Race Nine: Ascend Sales Birthday Card Stakes 1200m

Back Me: Going for Phenomenal Lass. Fitness is a slight query, but she has drawn an ideal gate for her as she does prefer to lead. She should prove hard to beat if she gets a cheap furlong.
Don’t Back Me: Curtana has the ability, but she was disappointing at Randwick. I can’t see her winning.
Big Danger: Graceful Anna has done nothing for a long time, but her two barrier trials in preparation for this have been encouraging. On her best form, she’d blow these away.
Roughie: It is a big step up in grade for Next The Universe, but she always runs an honest race. Got an inside gate here, she won’t be too far off the pace. With luck and natural improvement from her first up run, she could surprise at good odds.