Opinion
The first meeting of winter sends us off to Rosehill for a nice card with surprisingly big fields for this time of year.
The track, as usual it seems, is in the soft range. I have high hopes for a fair track with a mixed bag of where my selections will come from.
The less said about May the better. I am still idling along nicely for the year. Now that the super blood moon has passed us by, I’m thinking things are looking up.
Dixie’s 2021 tally
Outlay: 228 units
Return: 344.3 units
Stats are based on one unit being equal to a $1 win bet, New South Wales dividends. See the comments for any changes based on scratchings or track condition.
Race 3 – 10 Don Arcangelo (one unit)
I am kicking off with the three-year-olds over 1800 metres. Don Arcangelo only broke his maiden last start, but gave them a good beating at Hawkesbury and Team O’Shea think highly of him stepping straight to Saturday grade. He has drawn a terrible alley. I am backing Tommy Berry to get him into an okay spot three or four pairs back.
Race 4 – 16 Born A Warrior (one unit)
Today’s speculator is so speculative at the time of writing they haven’t even found him a jockey (J: Unknown)! He’s won once from 15 starts, but has been all around it earlier this prep before stepping up in distance. He comes back to 1200 metres for this and gets in with a nice weight. I’ll dabble. Of the others, Scream and Shout has won both starts this preparation and is on the up (15-16 quinella anyone?). Rubamos is next best.
Race 5 – 8 Royal Banquet (one unit)
Although he’s having his first run in almost a year, Royal Banquet has a bit on these if he’s near his best, and will love the give in the track. Friday’s rain gives him the tick over He’s a Hotshot, who needs a dry surface. Up Trumpz is a chance at odds.
Race 6 – 13 Altimeter (two units)
I am quite keen on the lightly raced Altimeter. He thrashed them at Kembla last time carrying a big weight and drops to 54 kilos. Some early money for him is a tick for me too. I’m going to leave out Air to Air today and fully expect her to bolt in without my cash on. She’s well due.
Race 7 – 12 Knight’s Order (two units)
Knight’s Order rates nicely on top in the 2400 feature. The Clark/Waterhouse/leader combo is a profitable one and his form out to this sort of distance last prep was good enough for this. Stockman is next best, running for the third week in a row. He’s a happy horse right down in weight.
Race 8 – 14 Welsh Legend (two units)
Yes, it’s a horrendous barrier, and yes, it’s a soft, but Welsh Legend is beautifully placed carrying 52 kilos. Her Rosehill win in March puts her front and centre here and before that she posted one of five seconds on soft going (one win as well). She’s not that bad in the conditions.
Monsieur Sisu is the other end of the scale, probably crying out for more rain. He’s right in it. Mr Dependable will do the Clark/Waterhouse thing I love from in front and Mubariz looks a nice horse. It is interesting that my notes say he’s trained by Chris Waller at Warwick Farm, which is not the usual Rosehill base.
Race 9 – 6 Majestic Shot (one unit)
Majestic Shot steps right down in grade from a fillies stakes race. She’s won four from six and is favoured even more with the apprentice’s weight claim. This horse is very hard to beat. The other horse in the market Exotic Ruby was my next best rater. This horse has been a length or so from saluting at this level in her last two starts and is close to breaking through.
Stay warm and enjoy the big day of racing. Good luck, one and all, and please chip in with your comments throughout the day.
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