Shayne O’Cass finds the early value at Rosehill Gardens

Shayne O’Cass is keen on a $41 shot in the feature event at Rosehill on Saturday, the Listed WJ McKell Cup.

ROSEHILL GARDENS

RACE 1:

TUTTA LA VITA has finished runner-up in her only two starts but any fair minded person would grant her the honour of being as good as the winner each time. She is by The Autumn Sun so 1400m will not only be ‘no worries’, if anything she is crying out for it. CAP FERRAT has a wide draw but the talent to overcome it – maybe. There was so much to like about the run of STEEL BLAZE first-up when fourth here behind Congregation and Tutta La Vita. Bred to run 2000m when the time comes.

Suggested Bet: Tutta La Vita to win, Steel Blaze to place

RACE 2:

RIPPED has only won three times in 23 starts but had placed seven times and was probably the ‘eye-catcher’ in a dozen or more of his appearances. The Richard Collett-trained former Kiwi is reliant on a number of factors owing to his pattern but when the stars align, he can get himself on the podium. Ditto a fair bit of all that ‘pattern’ and ‘luck’ stuff vi-a-vie BURNING NEED. GENERAL SOHO was doing his best work late first-up at the midweeks.

Suggested Bet: Ripped each-way

RACE 3:

GOOMERI, the grandson of Private Steer, won his maiden at Port Macquarie by four and a half lengths then went to a Class 2 at Murwillumbah and won it by two and a half lengths. He is a big, bold striding type who will no doubt get a mile, probably 2000m, as time goes by. The bright prospects of UNRAVEL went up considerably after he drew barrier 4 and Aaron Bullock signed on to ride him (again). Others to consider include SIR MING, CROP DUSTER and SWEET BISCUIT.

Suggested Bet: Goomeri to win; Box First 4: Nos. 2, 7, 12, 16, 17

Grebeni can continue his hot form and bring up the hat-trick. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 4:

GREBENI was utterly dominant winning here at home two weeks back; thanks in part to a perfect ride from Kerrin McEvoy. Same jockey, same track, same trip all (hopefully) points to the same result. ADJOURN was literally too good for Class 1 provincial horses at Gosford. He is a Doncaster (UK) Rating 100 winner over 2051m and gets some weight relief on the weekend. FULLER has been unlucky not to have won at least once this preparation. FUN SUNDAY is in the mix so too Touristic.

Suggested Bet: Grebeni to win

RACE 5:

FAWKNER PARK has been an instant hit in Australia winning at Kembla (from last) then beating them easily in a Class 3 at Doomben 18-days later. This is the horse’s biggest test of his short career being a good quality Saturday Sydney race but he is obviously still untapped. TONY BE is famously or should that be infamously one-dimensional but to his credit he tries. He’s always hitting the line better than most around him but he is just so reliant on factors beyond his control.

Suggested Bet: Tony Be to place

RACE 6:

BRUDENELL is a stunning type of horse; dark bay with a big white blaze. Kris Lees trained his dam, Knit ‘N’ Purl, and the grand dam, Zingaling, and both were handy mares. Brudenell has done his bit winning four from seven so far. Bad draw, big weight but he has trialled super well. NARITO’s two first-up runs are a huge win on debut and then a rapidly closing second to Passeggiata here which augurs well for his return on Saturday. VEGAS RAIDER could and should charge late.

Suggested Bet: Brudenell each-way, box trifecta 1, 3, 8, 10

RACE 7:

IRISH SEQUEL naturally found the 1400m too short first-up hence why he was $101. The Chris Waller-trained 2022 Brisbane Cup winner caught the eye in a 1030m trial on June 6 here at home. Maybe I am one run too early and 400m under his pet trip but he is worth chancing the arm on at the odds. BOLD MAC was eating up the ground late in that 1800m Benchmark 94 here two weeks ago. BOIS D’ARGENT won the Lord Mayor’s Cup at this track and trip last start.

Suggested Bet: Irish Sequel each-way

Stakes winner Vienna Princess looks well placed to land another win at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 8:

VIENNA PRINCESS should have won the Reginald Allen up here. She went to Melbourne and won the Twilight Glow two starts later. My point being, she is a stakes winner. The daughter of Snitzel was $26 for no good reason first-up yet beat all bar the winner, Mirra View (runs here also). Gun draw again on the weekend for both mares actually. MASCARET was $10 into $5.50 in no time on the TAB Fixed Odds market on Wednesday. Form in France is easily up to Sydney Saturday standard. GRANDE RUMORE goes well fresh and the trials were good.

Suggested Bet: Vienna Princess to win

RACE 9:

CROSS THE RUBICON sets herself some herculean tasks in her races when she is slow away. The Brad Widdup-trained mare balances the scales somewhat given her huge finish. She was, in my humble opinion, the run of the race in the Provincial-Midway Final and probably even to a lesser degree in her two runs since. SPACE TRACKER was backed to run well at his Australian debut and he didn’t disappoint. PHILIPSBURG tries so hard; he races well here and appeals at $6 the place or $26 the win if you’re brave.

Suggested Bet: Cross The Rubicon each-way, Philipsburg to place

RACE 10:

SUPER EFFORT was huge first-up on the Kensington, finishing third with 61.5kg on board. He went even better at Randwick 17-days later when a distant but closing third to Phearson. This race seems no harder on paper, maybe a tad easier even, but one thing we can all agree on; the horse is going well and might peak. Catkins’s son GRACILISTYLA was plainly unlucky not to have been in the medals here first-up. SOAMI gets back but storm homes, usually too late sadly. COSMIC MINERVA looks primed for this.

Suggested Bet: Super Effort to win