We have a cracking day of racing in front of us at Rosehill on Saturday with plenty of quality fields assembled.
Our full 2022 Run To The Rose Day Preview can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – Highway Handicap (1400m)
Zaru is a horse in form having competed in Highway races at his last three in a row.
He was a narrow winner two back and then was only beaten 0.15 of a length last start at this track and distance.
Should be ready to peak now at his fourth start this prep and will get a lovely run in transit from barrier three.
Race 2 – Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m)
This Midway Handicap is a very competitive one as always and I’m happy to sit out and watch.
Race 3 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m)
Impulsar is a very progressive stayer who has won four of his six career race starts including three of four since arriving in Australia.
He beat home Monfelicity last time out by 1.3 lengths but he looked to my eye to be finishing off the race a little stronger on the line.
He meets that horse two kilos worse at the weights for that meeting but I think he has more upside.
Race 4 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m)
Hameron is another middle distance horse with a heap of upside and the lightly raced four year old is yet to finish outside the top two in five career starts.
He started this prep with a dominant win at Randwick on the Kensington track and he is two from two second up.
I love the fact that he has had a trial win in between runs and he again looks well placed in this race.
Race 5 – Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m)
We last saw the Godolphin four year old Bacchanalia finishing third in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes at Morphettville in May.
I’m really keen to see how he can progress this campaign and his two trials leading into this first up assignment were encouraging.
Barrier 12 is a bit tricky but the best hoop in the country, James McDonald will steer.
Race 6 – Group 3 Ming Dynasty (1400m)
Kibou was too good for them in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes a fortnight ago but there was plenty to like about the way Golden Mile finished off the race.
He is a colt that still has a few behavioral issues but once he straightened his head and knuckled down to the task in the concluding stages, he showed a sharp turn of foot.
The extra race experience would have done him the world of good and the extra distance will only benefit.
Race 7 – Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m)
The Run To The Rose is always a cracking race and this year looks no different with an excellent field of three-year-old’s assembled.
Nettuno was excellent when finishing second first up in the San Domenico Stakes behind Sweet Ride.
He was forced to come across heels at the 200m but found the line well when clear.
In Secret also returned a second when resuming behind Zougotcha in the Group 2 Silver Shadow.
He’ll have a fitness edge on a few of these that are having their first up up run and has drawn perfectly in barrier three with Tommy Berry aboard.
Race 8 – Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m)
Ellsberg ticks a lot of boxes for this first up assignment.
The five year old is unbeaten in four starts fresh, is capable on all surfaces and has drawn well in barrier five.
He wasn’t beaten far in three Group 1s during his last prep and has finished outside the top two only once in seven starts at Rosehill.
Race 9 – Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m)
There was a fair amount of hype around Espiona going into her last prep and while she didn’t live up to that hype, she raced consistently.
She closed out her last campaign with a dominant win by over four lengths at Group 3 level and she may just be better suited on top of the ground.
I wouldn’t want to take anything shorter than $3.50 and I will be keen to see how she parades before jumping in.
Race 10 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m)
Tamerlane has been a consistent performer over his 18 start career, placing on 10 occasions.
All three of his runs have been spaced out this prep and he was beaten less than a length in a benchmark 84 at Caulfield last start.
He’s yet to win from four attempts at Rosehill but has been placed three times and he should be nearing peak fitness at this stage in his prep.
