There are a few certainties in life: taxes, death and the Highway Handicap being a frustrating betting proposition, and it’s no different in the 1200m Class Three at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Over the last three weeks, Thunderbet’s Andrew Price has gone close to delivering punters a winner, with his second pick emerging victorious on each occasion,but he believes he is on the winner this week.
We have a good track at Rosehill, and the weather looks promising, so I’ll work off a Good 4.
The rail is true, and every horse should get its chance with the dry track. It is a typical big Highway field with a few that lead or run on pace, so I’d expect there to be a good amount of speed in the race.
This week’s edition is one of the stronger Highway’s in recent times, and there are a couple well found in the market.
One of those is UNRAVEL ($3.80), and rightly so.
He’s a 3yo gelding having his fifth start with a terrific record of three wins from four starts.
The only defeat was second up at Rosehill last prep (second career start), where he had a hard enough lead and was only beaten 1.8L in a good quality race.
The first up run at Newcastle was solid, and from gate 4, he should find himself right behind the speed.
He also has the benefit of the ‘Bookies Nightmare’, Aaron Bullock, who could boot home a Shetland pony at the moment.
Unravel looks like a quality horse from an ideal map, and with a bit of improvement from the first-up run, he will be very hard to beat.
The other in this race that has got a lot of ability is GOOMERI ($5.50) for the Matthew Dunn stable.
It has bolted in both runs to date (albeit in a lesser grade) and drops 1.5kg on the last run.
Nash Rawiller steers which is obviously a big plus; however, he does need to contend with gate 16.
I’d expect him to jump and lead, so the first furlong or two is critical.
This is the big test for him as he will also find more pressure up front this time.
Therefore, I think Unravel stalking the speed can peel out and run past him.
It’s likely that off a good tempo and on an even track, we will see a few horses running on, which brings several into contention, particularly out of the Proverbial race.
However, I’m going to put one in for third from a different form line which will be hitting the line very strongly in CROP DUSTER ($26) for Andrew Adkins and the Jeremy Gask yard.
He’s a 3yo gelding with a good record and is one from one second up. The Highway run behind Baledon on August 22 was excellent, where he ran home strongly from last.
The first-up run was very good, signalling he has come back well this time in.
He will need some luck from gate 3 as he will get back and a tempo to suit, but at the $26 on offer, he represents tremendous value.
This week’s ‘Each Way Play’ is ALLGEMEINE ($51/$9) for Matt Dale.
The 1000m run first up was very ordinary, but something must have gone amiss there, and if she wasn’t at her best, I doubt this stable would bring her to town.
The 1200m this week is definitely her go, and second-up, she boasts two starts for a win and a second.
She should get a nice run in transit with Jay Ford to ride to from gate 7 and gets in nicely on the minimum.
Going back through her form, she has put together some good runs in strong grade relative to many others here.
If she can bounce back from the first up run, she’s right in this, and the $51 on offer is massive odds.
Andrew Price’s Selections
1. Unravel $3.80
2. Goomeri $5.50
3. Crop Duster $26
Each Way Play: Allgemeine $51 win $9 place
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