Australian Racing: Saturday 22 May 2021 – Rosehill Gardens

Race 6

MARANOA has only had the three runs to date, winning two of them and finishing a short-head second in the other. His latest victory was over a mile, where he went from jump to wire, putting nearly two lengths between himself and the opposition. He accelerated smartly as the field entered the home straight and was geared down approaching the finishing post. On that performance, he should have little issue with the step up in distance. From gate five, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

LE VIZIR jumped awkwardly when missing out on his hat-trick last time out over nine furlongs, ending up in third place, just over two lengths behind the winner. He also had to be steadied off the heels of other runners at the 150M mark, as well as hanging out in the latter stages. He is drawn one outside the top choice and gets the services of ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

MY DELIGHT is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name and stayed on well when finishing second in her last outing over 1900M, 1.3L adrift of the victor. She will have to deal with a wide draw twelve, but she should be involved in the finish.

Race 7

PARRY SOUND has finished closer to the winner in his last three starts, the latest when second over 2100M, just a head behind the winner. He finished well that day and if he has continued down that same path of improvement, he could be the one that they all have to beat. His handy draw three will do him no harm.

GREY LION was denied a clear run at the 250M pole, before finishing strongly to end up in fifth place last time out over this ten-furlong journey, 2.2L back from the winner. His jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight that day, so all in all, the effort was encouraging. He jumps from gate five and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.

POLLY GREY is a 6yr old mare taking on males, but she has won two of her last three runs and finished close up in the other. Her latest victory came over 2100M, where she won by 0.8L, despite coming three-wide into the straight. From her gate eight, she seems likely to turn in another honest effort today.

Race 8

This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners with realistic chances of claiming victory, so some caution is advised. The narrow top choice goes to ELLSBERG who followed up his penultimate run win over seven furlongs with a fourth-place finish next time out over the same trip, one and a half lengths behind the winner. He was bumped at the 75M mark that day, so should have finished closer to the winner than he officially did. He is drawn in gate four and has his peak outing since returning from a 16-week break.

ARCHANNA is a 4yr old filly taking on boys, but she jumped awkwardly before ending up in third spot last time out over today’s distance, just under a length and a half back from the winner. She also had to be switched at the 300M mark that day and the form of that race has stood up well, with five runners from that contest have subsequently won. In addition, she has had two barrier trial since then, finishing third in the latest. She has a wideish draw seven, but she should give the males a good run for their money.

GONE BYE has consistent form over further, having won his penultimate start over ten furlongs and then finishing sixth next time out over the same c&d, 2.8L back from the winner. He returns from a 19-week rest but has had the benefit of two barrier trial, winning the latest. He is drawn one inside the latter and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

Race 9

The day’s value bet, TRAVEST had his consistency rewarded with a half-length win last time out over a mile. He hit the front at the 180M mark that day and then fought off all the late challengers over the latter stages. He will have to negotiate draw eighteen, but he should be doing his best work late.

STEELY goes for his hat-trick after posting wins over seven furlongs and the latest over 1500M by 1.8L. He jumped awkwardly and was then hampered shortly after the start that day, but recovered well to stay on strongly to record his fifth career win. He has a cozy draw three and could emerge as the biggest threat to the former.

APPROACH DISCREET is seldom far off the action and battled all the way down to the wire before finishing third in his latest outing over 1700M, 2.3L behind the winner. He has a wide draw twelve to overcome, but on the plus side will have 3kg removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. He should be included in all bets.