Image – Bradley Photos.
We’re back to Rosehill Gardens this week for a very handy 1200m Class Three Highway Handicap.
With his past two on-top selections finishing runner-up, Thunderbet’s Johnny ‘Highway’ Patton is knocking on the door of a win.
Sydney was expecting some rain in the days leading up to today’s meeting, so I’ve done the form for a soft track.
More than half of the field has raced in a Highway, and the rest are up-and-coming types.
There are few question marks in this race as some of these horses have been nominated to race on Melbourne Cup Day, so a few scratchings wouldn’t be a surprise.
I also expect a genuine speed, and another question mark is how the track will play with the track being in a true position.
My on-top selection is Lisztomania ($4.60).
I have a lot of time for this horse, and during his previous preparation, he was racing in harder races.
The 5YO gelding goes into this first-up with no trial. He usually gets back in his races but has drawn well in barrier four.
Despite having no trial under his belt, I expect trainer Aiden St Vincent will have his galloper wound up for this, and the soft track will suit.
Jockey Dylan Gibbons has ridden him before, and if you can make up ground the day, he will be very hard to beat.
My second selection, Love Shuck, is arguably the best horse in the race, but he is a young 3YO who is still learning his trade.
Trained by Todd Smart ($5), the Canberra galloper won a $200,000 Inglis 2YO race last season, and he returned from a good spell, winning at Wagga last month.
He failed in a Highway last start but had no luck, and Jordan Mallyon takes the ide in town, and connections will be expecting a much better effort.
You can’t leave Matthew Dunn gallopers out of Highways, and the stable sends the ever-consistent Tribeca Star ($2.80) to town, and he is my third selection.
The 4YO has Nash Rawiller in the saddle and is likely to start favourite. The Star Turn gelding has never missed a place in six starts, but he has placed in his only start on a rain-affected surface, suggesting he will handle some give out of the ground.
My each-way play is up-and-coming filly Lyrical Beauty ($11) from the in-form Matthew Dale stable.
While this is a big step up in class, she has done enough, winning back-to-back races at Goulburn and Canberra, and champion hoop Danny Beasley takes the ride.
Thunderbet selections
Each way play: Lyrical Beauty ($11)
