TRACK - Rated a Good 4 and we can expect to be racing on a firm deck day. The last meeting held at Rosehill was 2 weeks ago, the rail was out 2m and the pattern was on speed, with horses finding it hard to make up ground. The rail goes out a further 3m to 5m here, which leads me to believe tomorrow will be the same pattern. Due to the rail placement I expect on pace horses and horses drawn inside with a pattern of rolling forward, to be the most advantaged.
BEST BET - R8 #2 STORM BOY What a way to silence the doubters with a huge 1st up performance, winning the San Domenico Stakes by 3L. He had a stack go wrong that day, slightly missing the start and having to use plenty of fuel tickets early to find the front. Adam Hyeronimous dropped the whip at the 300m mark, having to ride him hands and heels home, so he's back and back in a good way. What I like about him here is the track should again suit his on pace racing pattern, he has the fitness edge on many of his key rivals who are 1st up and from the draw, I can't see many others wanting to take him on to find the front.
ROUGHIE ALERT - R9 #7 COASTWATCH $41/7.50 1x3 Geez this horse has been going through a real purple patch of late, having won and placed in 3 Listed races over the QLD carnival back in May and June. This is the time of the year when taking on first up horses off lengthy breaks, where that residual fitness can come right into play and be a huge advantage. He's had two exceptional barrier trials leading in here against good opposition and I loved the way he extended late to win the most recent. He's wound up to run well here fresh and worth a throw at the odds.
TRACK - Rated a Soft 6 with a touch more rain predicted throughout the day. How much we get will be the deciding factor whether it remains a soft 6 or downgrades to a soft 7. Expecting a fair day of racing and riders may edge of the fence as the day goes on, pending that rainfall.
BEST BET - R4 #1 GROWING EMPIRE $1.75 The sky seems to be the ceiling for this 3yo colt by Zoustar who could arguably be 4 wins from 4 starts with a photo finish defeat on debut. He was a dominant Group 3 winner by 4.5L before the break and he won the Breeders Plate Group 3 1st up this preparation, when eased down over the line. Much bigger test here, but his figures and wins visually would suggest he can measure up and win again.
VALUE BET - R6 #14 LAVISH EMPIRE $26/6.50 1x3 I think he's flying under the radar a little bit this horse, having finished 0.5 of a length off Contemporary in a BM94 at Rosehill before placing in the Spring Preview behind Tom Kitten 2nd up. He was very good late last start at Caulfield after being slow out, on a rock hard good 3 deck which was hard to make up ground. Rain on raceday is a positive for this horse who relishes getting his toes into the ground, and from the wide draw I think he can settle in the running line and fly home late at huge odds.