International Racing: Saturday 25 April 2020 – Rosehill

A very competitive 8 race programme greets punters on Saturday 25th April 2020, with a number of minor features that deserve plenty of consideration. HIGH OPINION is the best bet on the card and he lines up in race 2. A class dropper, he has the form to add another win to his record. ROYAL CELEBRATION should present some useful value for punters, in race 7. He steps up in class for his hat-trick attempt and he could just do it.  See more here. 

Other international racing tips for Saturday:
Ascot
Sunshine Coast
Flemington
Gosford
Kalgoorlie
Rosehill
Alice Springs
Neil Morrice Tips

Best Bet: HIGH OPINION (Race 2)
Value Bet: ROYAL CELEBRATION (Race 7)

Race 1 (04:50)
1400m – 2-Year Old Quality
A tricky opener for punters to analyse with a few of these 2-year olds showing plenty of promise and scope for more. The narrow first selection goes to the filly, ROCK MY WAND, who comes off the back of a decent effort in Grade 2 company last time out. That was over 1200m in heavy going and she will relish stepping back up to the 1400m this time around, having finished second over this trip in her only attempt so far. She lands a plum draw and with Jason Collett retaining the ride, they look the likely victors of the first race. FORMENTERA comes into this race on the back of his maiden victory last time out, at the 3rd time of asking. The son of I Am Invincible was impressive in those heavy conditions and he should have loads more to come. ROUSSEAU made late headway to finish second on his debut run, in the same race as Formentera. With scope for more, he is also 1,5kg’s better off at the weights for a length beating in that run and must be considered here.

Race 2 (05:25)
2000m – BM78 Handicap 
HIGH OPINION has been knocking on the door since returning from a short rest, in March. He was very unlucky not to finish a lot closer last time out when seeing very little daylight in the straight and with this being his peak run back over a bit more ground, he will be looking to make a very big impression as he drops in class. He could present some good value for his followers and is worth including with a record of 2 wins and 3 seconds from his 7 outings over this trip. YONKERS has been in ultra-consistent form this year and he will be looking to make amends for not finishing closer than he did last time. He laid in late when running on in the closing stages and should’ve just about won it. Hugh Bowman takes the mount and he has the credentials to go very close to winning this. LAURE ME IN finished just in front of the top selection last time out and he too will be hoping for a bit more luck in running this time around, having been balked from the 400m-150m mark. James Mcdonald jumps aboard, and they must be included.

Race 3 (06:00)
1500m – BM78 Handicap 
GRAND PIANO should be worth following in the third race on the card. He followed up two good wins in a row with a solid effort in Grade 3 company last time out. The slight drop back in trip should suit and with 3 wins from 8 starts to his name, he should be good enough at this level. OXFORD TYCOON has been in good recent form and he has certainly enjoyed the recent step up in trip. He tries slightly further this time and the son of Written Tycoon should be one of the leading contenders at the business end. Both of WORD FOR WORD and ABOVE AND BEYOND have useful recent form at this level and must be considered in wider perms.


Race 4 (06:35)
1300m – F&M 3-Year Old & Up (Grade 3)
BANGKOK has been in good consistent form since returning this year. With three good runs over the 1200m, her latest was eye-catching when making up a lot of ground in the closing stages in Grade 2 company last time. She possesses an admirable record over this trip and from a plum draw looks like the one to be with here. IN HER TIME has yet to finish outside the top 3 in her three attempts over this trip and she looks ready for the extra ground after campaigning over slightly shorter since returning after a rest. Hugh Bowman takes the mount on the daughter of Time Thief and they must be included. IRITHEA weakened late over the extra ground in her latest effort at Grade 2 level and the drop in trip this time will definitely suit. She has a decent record over this trip and must be included.

Race 5 (07:10)
1100m – Listed Quality
GRAFF returns for his first competitive run this year, on the back of two decent trials. He has already put together some useful performances at Group level and he certainly has the credentials over this course and distance, with 2 wins from 3 attempts. The son of Star Witness has won first-up twice from four different occasions and he looks a major threat in this company. SOOTHING gets the services of James Mcdonald this time, after two modest performances in his last two starts. He is much better than those performances, especially over this trip where he has a record of 5 wins from 14 attempts. On that alone, he deserves respect. TACTICAL ADVANTAGE is one to consider at this level, having been thereabouts in both of his last two starts at Grade 3 level. The son of Bel Esprit has 3 wins and 4 seconds from his 10 attempts over this trip and from a plum draw in this class, he must be included.


Race 6 (07:45)
1400m – Hawkesbury Guineas (Grade 3)
ELEVEN ELEVEN was eye-catching in his last start when running on late from behind midfield. A 3-time winner from his 13 starts so far, he lands a wide barrier draw to overcome but the extra furlong will definitely suit the son of Fastnet Rock. He has placed twice from his two attempts over this trip and with Nash Rawiller retaining the ride, he should give his followers a good run for their money. ICEBATH has only had the 8-starts so far, notching up 2 wins along the way. The 3-year old daughter of Sacred Falls should’ve won in Listed company last time out when finding traffic late, confirming that she is ideally suited to this 1400m trip. With a useful galloping weight to shoulder, she looks a major threat to the top one. BANDERSNATCH is another contender with useful credentials to his name. He won his last start at handicap level, taking his career record to 4 wins from 8 outings, with two of those wins coming over this trip. From a plum draw, the son of Casino Prince must be included.


Race 7 (08:20)
1500m – Hawkesbury Gold Cup (Grade 3)
ROYAL CELEBRATION steps up to this class after two good wins at handicap level. He is ideally suited to this trip and despite finding himself drawn in the ‘cheap seats’, he should be doing his best work late and a smooth passage will definitely help his cause. Sam Clipperton retains the ride and they must be considered. GIRL TUESDAY finds herself in open company once again and the daughter of Street Cry will be looking to make big improvement after that modest comeback run last time. She lands a plum draw for the Chris Waller yard and having won 2nd up before, she rates a big threat here. ALIFEROUS and MASK OF TIME are both in good form and must be included in this wide-open affair.

Race 8 (08:55)
1300m – BM78 Handicap
Back to handicap conditions for the final race on the card and TRUE DETECTIVE should be the right one to follow. He gave a useful account of himself last time out, when finishing 3,2-lengths off the winner at Grade 2 level. That was just his 10th career start and having won his only attempt over this trip, the son of Shamus Award looks like the one to side with. SEGALAS followed up his 4th career win three starts back, with two solid performances recently. Hugh Bowman regains the mount and if overcoming gate 10, he has good enough recent form to be a major factor in the finish. MISS EINSTEIN won her last two starts taking her career record to 3 wins from 6 attempts. The daughter of Dundeel now rises slightly in class, but she should have plenty more scope for improvement and must be considered a threat. TRICKY GAL is a 5-time winner from her 7 outings to date and the daughter of Magic Albert will also have the scope for further progression and over slightly more ground this time, she can feature at the business end.