There are plenty of quality horses accepted for Saturday’s card at Rosehill including star colt Anamoe in the feature.
Our full 2022 Expressway Stakes Day Tips 7 Preview can be read below.
Preview brought to you by Neds. Learn more about Neds HERE.
Race 1: Highway Plate (1500m) – 12:25pm
Tip: No. 14 Markievicz
This is a really sharp rise in grade for four year old Markievicz but there’s no denying he has some ability.
He’s been placed in five of his 13 career starts and is shooting for three wins in a row after dominant wins at Coffs Harbour and Taree by a combined 5.5 lengths.
He represents good value at his current quote of $27.
Race 2: Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) – 1:00pm
Tip: No. 8 Zambezi River
Chris Waller unveils the $1.4 million colt Great Barrier Reef for the first time in this event and plenty of punters will have their eye on the expensive son of I Am Invincible.
It’s Waller’s other colt that is the betting play in this race in my opinion.
Another son of I Am Invincible, Zambezi River was not far away when making his racing debut back in October in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate at Randwick.
He’s had two solid hit outs at the trials and with the experience and fitness advantage, I’d rather be with him at the better quote.
Race 3: Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) – 1:35pm
Tip: No. 2 Ojai
The Snwoden team will return with their exciting filly Ebhaar who tops the betting in the Widden Stakes but I’m taking on the $1 million (almost) yearling purchase.
The home bred Godolphin filly Ojai has impressed in both her runs during her short racing career, a win in the Kirkham Plate and a third in the Golden Gift.
The daughter of Exceed and Excel was well held together in her only trial leading into this first up assignment and represents good each way value.
Race 4: Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) – 2:10pm
Tip: No. 2 Centimental
The Chris Waller trained Centimental has been excellent in both runs so far this prep, beaten less than two lengths in both efforts.
The daughter of Snitzel has been consistent right throughout her 20 starts career, placing 11 times including twice from two starts at this distance.
The $6.50 available looks value.
Race 5: Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) – 2:45pm
Tip: No. 14 More Sundays
He certainly hasn’t reached the heights that many thought he may, but More Sundays has proven he is capable on his day.
The son of Fastnet Rock and champion mare More Joyous was excellent when coming from the tail of the field and scoring by over two lengths at Newcastle two back.
He was disappointing last week but he really needs clear room on the outside to fully wind up in his races.
Should he get a start, he can run a cheeky race at big odds.
Race 6: Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m) – 3:20pm
Tip: No. 2 Crystal Pegasus
Chris Waller’s progressive gelding Crystal Pegasus looks well placed in the sixth event of the afternoon at Rosehill.
He returned to the races first up with a nice second behind Monegal over 1500m and will appreciate the step up in distance where he has three wins from six starts.
James McDonald steers from barrier seven.
Race 7: Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) – 4:00pm
Tip: No. 4 Forbidden Love
All eyes will be on the return of the most exciting colt in the country Anamoe and he is very much a deserving favourite in a fairly weak Group 2 event.
He is at his best over 1200m or 1400m which is a testament to his talent after finishing second in the Cox Plate over 2040m.
I am not keen to take the short quote and recommend watching on the see how he returns but a small each way or place bet on Forbidden Love is the betting play.
She has been an unlucky mare during her career but she always performs well first up and her trial leading into this was very good.
Race 8: Benchmark 88 Handicap (1500m) – 4:40pm
Tip: No. 7 Canasta
He’s a beauty Canasta and is currently racing really consistently without winning.
Josh Parr rode the six year old gelding a kilo over last Saturday and considering he was beaten a pixel, it probably cost him the race.
He meets Kingsheir half a kilo better at the weights in this contest and the step back to 1500m will benefit him.
He’ll be in it for a long way.
Race 9: Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) – 5:20pm
Tip: No. 4 The Bopper
I have a bit of an opinion about the Kris Lees trained The Bopper and he may just measure up in black type company in time.
They were off and gone when rounding the turn last week but this guy chased gamely and was doing his best work late.
He can return to the winners stall and looks well placed in this.
Race 10: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) – 6:00pm
Tip: Boxed Trifecta 8/10/12/14
