The Mail for Saturday

Nuptse just got through to win at Rosehill

SR 2: (3) HAUT NORMANDIE - Leading trainer Peter Snowden made the right move to switch this promising Viscount colt from Melbourne to Sydney last month, dropping him into a suitable 1400m event at Kembla Grange for his second win in five starts. Showed good promise last season when he performed creditably in black type races in Melbourne. He won with a lot of authority at Kembla and looks well placed to go on with it over 1600m after talented apprentice Shaun Guymer takes his claim.

SR 4: (2) NUPTSE - Astute Brisbane trainer Brian Wakefield obviously weighed up his options with this lightly raced dual acceptor. He certainly knew what he was about when he brought this promising mare to Rosehill on 22 October off a first-up win as her performance to steam home over 1100m in class record time was outstanding on a red hot leaders track. The stable must be confident that she will cope with an increase in weight and distance by selecting this race.

SR 6: (8) NEXTANIX - Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker's patience with this promising gelding was repaid when he produced him off a 10 weeks break to score impressively over 1400m on the Kensington track on 12 October. The win vindicated the potential he displayed with some luckless runs against good opposition late last season and he looks the type who will take this rise in class and distance in his stride with a 3kg drop from his last start win. He's knows how to find the line and has lot more upside than most rivals in this field.

ONES TO AVOID

SR 6: (4) SAMUI LAD - Will be popular being a Waterhouse-trained gelding racing at home but his last start third at Rosehill is a suspect form line as he got all the favours by finding the front on a hot leaders track. All his form is at Rosehill – he's never raced at Randwick – and he will be under pressure to get the same soft lead from the outside gate.

MR 4: (5) TONED - Looks a promising young More Than Ready colt who keeps improving. The 1400m is even better than last time and he drops in weight off the Bendigo run. Ordinarily this barrier would be a shocker over this distance but you can now sit wide and roll over them. And with the track playing to swoopers, it's even better.

MR 7: (5) SKYERUSH - Was a fantastic run last week in the Myer Classic and while this is a competitive mares race, it is lengths lower in grade. She was near last turning and yet charged home for fourth behind Hurtle Myrtle. It's not a bad barrier as she will get back and swoop and that is how the carnival has played. If it happened to rain she's even better.

MR 8: (1) BAUER - Given all that has happened this week re the Melbourne Cup scratching, it would be some justice if he picked up a race this campaign. Remember he was charging late in the Geelong Cup behind Dunaden and Tanby who have since won the Melbourne Cup and the Bendigo Cup respectively. International horses have won this race in the past with a similar sort of weight so on that score alone he should be considered. Only 3kg over the limit is another bonus.

ONES TO AVOID

MR 6: (1) JIMMY CHOUX - Ran a cracker in the Cox Plate but hate races which weren't the main focus of a campaign. Topweights do not have a good record in this race and given the likes of Grand Armee and Desert War couldn't win with this sort of weight, one doubts he's as good as them. Also So You Think, while still a 3yo was beaten even though a sensational run. We have managed to lay the favs in the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Derby in last three weekends so keep the trend going of taking on one of the most favoured in the big race. That won't be happening in the Patinack Classic.

BR 6: (9) HAVATRYST - Did a fine job to bob on the line and win first up at Eagle Farm. Will be fitter for that and drops 2kgs for that. Can race on the speed which is always advantageous here and will be strong on the line. His black type form is decent enough to win this.

BR 7: (8) SKATING ON ICE - She comes out of the same races that Havatryst contested back in the Winter. She was close up in the majority of them and loves racing at Doomben. Will handle any track conditions and a good weight won't hold her back.

ONES TO AVOID

BR 7: (1) NIGHT ESCORT - With her consistent form, she will attract plenty of punters attention. But she finds a race with a substantial amount of speed and being one of the leaders, she might get taken on most of the way. It might be a case of last woman standing.

MORPHETTVILLE PARKS - tips by Jason Hickson

AR 3: (4) MAGIC ME - Victorian form good and stable have a great record here when travelling their horses. Hard to hold out with light weight and has won here last month.

AR 7: (5) CONDUCTION - Has run well in two runs from a spell and looks ready. Well placed and drawn well, he gets to his preferred distance. Sire is going well at present too.

ONES TO AVOID

AR 8: (10) THE EIGHTH MAKER - Beaten as short priced favourite last time but up in weight, up in grade, drawn to be buried back on the fence and doubt they'll be flying along here.