HILL STAKES G2

RACE 8 - 1900m

MASION LOUIS / LIGHT INFANTRY MAN / ATTRITION

The nice SUPER SETH gelding MAISON LOUIS out of the O'Shea/Charlton stable is one with a ton of potential and the Sydney based gelding has shown more then enough in only nine starts, ultimately winning the Queensland Derby (2400m) in fine style to finish his 3YO campaign. Won over the mile at Goulburn before chasing hard to win again over 1900m at Canterbury Park. Didn't score the best of runs in the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben, but may find the step up in trip beneficial after the resuming run in the Gr.2 Shannon Stakes at Rosehill. He's got a nice kick, so just needs to find a soft trail and open up late. Willing to risk it all at these odds.

☆☆☆☆

Ciaron Maher and Ethan Brown combined with LIGHT INFANTRY MAN to win the Gr.1 Australian Cup at Flemington in March after breaking his G1 duck in Perth late last year with a Northerly Stakes victory. The son of FAST COMPANY was purchased off a string of G1 placings in France to win the $10 million Golden Eagle in 2022 and has amassed $4M in earnings. He emigrated permanently to Australia, into the care of Ciaron Maher, with a Northern Hemisphere Group one record of seven starts for five placings. His six starts in the ensuing 12 months didn’t read well on the formguide before striking gold at Ascot. He is the best of three winners from five to race for the 4-time winning Kyllachy mare LIGHTS ON ME (GB). Good race for the gelding to push on with after finishing 6th in the 7 Stakes (1600m) last month.

☆☆☆

ATTRITION had experienced a good spell leading into this preparation which he hadn’t had in a while. He looks super in his condition and his work leading into the P.B Lawrence was very promising. Although the 1400m was a bit short, the CHURCHILL stallion was checked at the 150m when it all got a bit tight, so inconclusive. Fought well to win the Gr.2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill last Nov, then only battled in the Gr.1 Northerly at Ascot. Much better in March when chasing hard between runners for 2nd to MARBLE ARCH in the Gr.2 Blamey before being put away for the winter. The Mitch Freedman trained entire goes well and can pop in a top effort.

☆☆

ROMAN CONSUL STAKES G2

RACE 4 - 1200m

GALLO NERO / MARHOONA / BEADMAN

The Hawkes-trained GALLO NERO experienced a strong intial two-year-old campaign, beating home the classy APOCALYPTIC at Randwick in December, then finishing 3rd to O'OLE in the 2YO Magic Millions on the Goldie. Resumed to win over 900m here at Rosehill in May before finishing 2nd to COOL ARCHIE in the Gr.2 Champagne Stakes two weeks later. The beautifully bred WOOTTON BASSETT colt then went wide and weakened out in the Gr.2 Sires Produce at Eagle Farm before a spell. Beat home IN FLIGHT in a 900m jumpout here so possibly well forward to resume, with the 1200m an ideal starting point.

☆☆☆

Golden Slipper winner MARHOONA is a beautiful SNITZEL filly trained by Michael Freedman, and this race looks right up his alley. Won at Canterbury Park on debut before being hauled in by the talented TEMPTED in the Gr.2 Reisling Stakes at Randwick. Bumped in the Golden Slipper when leaving the gates, but managed to gain a split at the 300m and chased hard to find the front prior to the line, beating home WODETON and TEMPTED. Expect plenty and his class should really see him prevail, but may not have it all her own way this time.

☆☆☆☆

The Peter Snowden-trained BEADMAN, a promising SNITZEL colt, is named in honour of the legendary jockey. He is out of an IFFRAAJ mare and China Horse paid a whopping $900,000 for the colt at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Chased hard to finish 2nd on debut before winning over 1250m at Newcastle. Began well in the Gr.3 Ken Russell Classic on the Gold Coast, then dash away to absolutely destroy them. Can't be messed with here based on that effort as he should return a bigger, stronger beast and looks a good challenger to the favourite.

☆☆

GLOAMING STAKES G3

RACE 6 - 1800m

SHANGRI LA BOY / PROVIDENCE / FLYING ORCHID

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott look to have another fine young galloper in the three-year-old colt, SHANGRI LA BOY. The PIERRO colt, who is out of a FASTNET ROCK mare in PELICANS, trialed up well before running 3rd on debut at Canterbury Park last month. The dam, out of the fine Kiwi champion, SEACHANGE produced the brilliant 2YO in STORM BOY, and wow, could he boogie. Came out and put them away over 1400m here at Rosehill and now steps up to a fairly challenging distance after only two raceday starts. Seems completely untapped and hard to know how good, but bred to be a stunner and lets play it safe.

☆☆☆☆

The WOOTTON BASSETT colt PROVIDENCE is a work in progress for the Waller stable, although he ran on strongly for 4th in the Gr.1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm back in June before being bumped and becoming unbalanced early on in the Ming Dynasty which shut him out. Gets back out past the mile which will suit the colt better, especially with after another jumpout at Rosehill behind him. His dam SOUTHBANK (Fastnet Rock) finished 3rd in the Gr.1 1000 Guineas and 2nd in the Tranquil Star at Caulfield. With ZABEEL in the lineage, further should suit better and look for him getting home late.

☆☆☆

FLYING ORCHID is at a nice price and this John Sargent trained son of FLYING ARTIE secured victories in his initial two provincial races, showcasing impressive margins at Newcastle and Wyong. Subsequently, he experienced challenges in the Ming Dynasty, encountering early interference and being hampered at the 800-metre mark. Passed in as a yearling and retained to race by Rheinwood Pastoral, he is a half-brother to smart Hong Kong winner ORCHID ROAD being the third winner from ORCHID BEACH. Good barn, tough effort for 3rd seven days ago and rated highly by the stable.

☆☆

THE NIVISON G3

RACE 7 - 1200m

GANGSTA GRANNY / IN FLIGHT / LADY EXTREME

The WRITTEN TYCOON mare GANGSTA GRANNY looks a real ripper sprinter for the Hawkes stable. Slow build up last year before winning at Canterbury Park in Feb, then 3rd in the Darby Munro here at Rosehill. Had to work hard, but earned 2nd place behind AUTUMN GLOW in the Gr.3 Toy Show resuming in September which was a top effort, then scored no favours when 3rd in the Gr.2 Shearco Stakes last start. Only needs a wise steer by Zac Lloyd and should go close to winning this.

☆☆☆☆

IN FLIGHT can certainly make a race of it if Joe Pride opts for Sydney over Melbourne, and this race is well within reach. The FLYING ARTIE mare has offered up some pretty impressive performances since winning over 1110m at Doomben in May. Chased hard to get the job done in the Bob Charley at Randwick, then returned after three weeks to gain the upper hand late in the Gr.3 Sir John Monash at Caulfield. Tough in the Concorde up against top flight sprinters, but has trialled well since and looks a major player.

☆☆☆

The Blake Ryan trained LADY EXTREME has landed a terrible gate in the Nivison, but at this price the EXTREME CHOICE mare could make up multiples. The mare was highly prominent in BM72 grade, runner-up four times in Sydney over the summer before resuming with a nice win over 1110m at Rosehill in May. Got the job done there arriving late over 1200m in the next, then came back to win last start in similar style on this favoured course. Will need a load of luck, but in with an outside shot at placing.

☆☆

ALAN BROWN STAKES

RACE 9 - 1400m

GRINGOTTS / HEADLEY GRANGE / WILLYDOIT

The stunning PER INCANTO gelding GRINGOTTS came of age last prep when winning Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in a thrilling three way dual with FANGIRL and CEOWULF. A brilliant spring campaign delivered feature wins in the Big Dance (1600m) and Gr.3 The Gong (1600m), but Maher always had bigger things in mind. It also ended up being Tommy Berry's redemption ride after various setbacks that saw the ace jockey suspended and returning early from a broken neck. Knocked around in an awkward Doncaster run before a well earned spell. Trialled up soundly at Gosford recently and the gelding has a fairly solid record. Goes alright at this trip, so destined to be a threat after a sound first up effort in the Winx.

☆☆☆☆

HEADLEY GRANGE has been a revelation for trainer Joe Pride over the past 12 months and hadn’t finished worse than second in nearly a year until a 6th placing at Grafton. The EXOSPHERE gelding then came out and chased hard to prevail in Gr.3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle last start, returning to the horse we know. Secured victories at Wyong and Randwick in January, followed by a repeat wins at Randwick in June, including the Civic Stakes, where he offered up a decisive performance. The 1400m is spot on coming back in trip slightly, so there’s seemingly not many chinks in his armour.

☆☆☆

The former Kiwi WILLYDOIT was a standout three-year-old stayer in New Zealand last season, winning the Gr.1 NZ Derby (2400m) and $847,000 for the satisfied Myracehorse syndicators. They scored a steal at only $75,000, as he won 4 from 6 and stamped his mark on the age group alongside star filly LEICA LUCY. The TARZINO gelding joined the Ciaron Maher stables in Melbourne and did well for 4th in the ATC Australian Derby at Randwick before a decent break. Resumed in the Gr.2 Tramway (1400m) with a sound run, chasing hard but never really clear, and at a distance well short of his best. Has an opportunity here to showcase his wares at Caulfield and prove he can foot it with the Australians. Be wary.

☆☆

TAPP-CRAIG (L)

RACE 5 - 1400m

ESTREMO / FERMOY / OHOPE

Chris Waller tried out the colt ESTREMO as a two-year-old late in the season, and he quickened on debut to hit the line strongly for 3rd. Returned as a fresh-faced three-year-old in August and joined in from four lengths off them to prove too good over 1100m at Canterbury Park. Slow out over 1200m at Moonee Valley before running home hard out wide from midfield for 3rd, and in a training manner characteristic of Waller, the colt hasn't been subjected to excessive training, instead depending largely on his innate talent and natural ability to assess his capabilities. Does looks a fairly gifted colt who can progress further here after recent racing.

☆☆☆☆

If your searching for something a bit wider amongst these three-year-olds, then maybe FERMOY could be one to upset the apple cart. The Chris Waller-trained ZOUSTAR colt is one we have kept a close eye on from debut and he was desperately unlucky in the Gr.3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill. Bumped, then restrained back in the field, losing an off-shore plate in the process in a quick sprint home by the leaders. Ran on well at debut also at Rosehill, but if ridden more forward we could see an improved performance. He is out of a well performed mare in FUNDAMENTALIST (Not A Single Doubt) who was multiple times Group placed and ran 2nd to THE AUTUMN SUN in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas.

☆☆☆

Tommy Berry will jump aboard the I AM INVINCIBLE colt OHOPE trained by Michael Freedman, and he could be one to keep onside here despite hos inexperience. Stepped it up this prep when breaking his maiden at Hawkesbury, then run down when 3rd at Warwick Farm. Kept chasing NAPOLEONIC on the same course after settling at the rear and appears to have learned plenty in recent runs. Good gate, highly progressive and doesn't look too badly placed here.

☆☆

BEST BET: GRINGOTTS

NEXT BEST: GANGSTA GRANNY

BEST VALUE: FLYING ORCHID

LONGSHOT: MAISON LOUIS