Race by race recap of key performers and ones to watch moving forward from Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill.
The nine race card at Rosehill was an impressive one as far as off season meetings are concerned.
The pair of Open Handicaps played host to winners Cabeza De Vaca and Interlocuter who are bound for stakes races.
Stakes races also potentially beckon Pretty Fast and Glenall who took out the first and last races on the card respectively.
Glenall was one of a few horses resuming at Rosehill on Saturday worth following.
Race 1: Pretty Fast - Benchmark 74 3YO Handicap (1200m)
The Team Snowden-trained filly landed behind the pacesetter in Easy Eddie and proved too strong late.
Pretty Fast produced a Timeform rating of 93+, a new career peak for the three-year-old.
She has improved with each run since resuming with a Newcastle maiden win late last month.
Stakes level now beckons the daughter of Not A Single Doubt with the Listed Mode Plate (1200m) at Doomben her next likely start.
Third placegetter Heliosphere was finding the line well late. He could take beating second up and rising in trip.
Race 2: Sedanzer - Benchmark 82 F+M Handicap (1400m)
It was a fantastic return by Sedanzer who was resuming after contesting both the Schweppes Oaks and SA Derby last autumn.
She was a big drifter late but she got the money right on the line as Sedanzer lunges at Slow Burn to claim Race 2 @rosehillgardens! pic.twitter.com/ZuXcHexQJb
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2017
The daughter of Sebring put the writing on the wall for this assignment with an eye catching 1200m trial win at Randwick on October 31.
Sedanzer ran to a Timeform rating of 96, seven pounds shy of a master figure achieved when fifth in the Schweppes Oaks.
It highlights the mare has substantial scope for improvement deeper into this campaign and likely getting out to a mile.
The runner up Slow Burn performed admirably also in her first start over a longer sprint trip.
Giving Sedanzer 3.5kg, Slow Burn was only narrowly beaten and produced a new master Timeform rating of 104.
Race 3: Lord Kingsley - Benchmark 85 Handicap (2000m)
Only narrowly beaten the start prior when second behind Carzoff, Lord Kingsley has gone one better against a similar field of horses.
A brilliant finish to Race 3 @rosehillgardens as Lord Kingsley hands and heels from @clarkyhk goes home the best to win! pic.twitter.com/haOqHIn6qL
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2017
The win provided trainer Lauri Wray her first victory at Saturday level and Lord Kingsley recorded a new master Timeform rating of 89 in the process.
Imperial Aviator and Lord Kingsley were each solid filling the minor placings.
Race 4: Equal Balance - TAB Highway Handicap (1100m)
The Kurt Goldman-trained gelding put a forgettable day out at the track earlier this month behind him with a 1.3 length success.
A much easier run in transit sees a sharp improvement from Equal Balance who takes out the TAB Highway in dominant fashion @rosehillgardens pic.twitter.com/zwwbZ4SHGe
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2017
The display netted Equal Balance a Timeform rating of 88 and has been enough to book the Hinchinbrook gelding a trip north for the Magic Millions Guineas in January.
Stablemate Eckstein ventured north for the Magic Millions Guineas 12 months ago where she placed behind Flying Jess and Global Glamour.
Race 5: Cabeza De Vaca - November Handicap (1400m)
This six-year-old is flying towards a Villiers tilt in four weeks time, proving too good once again on Saturday and recording a fifth straight success.
Easy as you like for the favourite! @RachelK11 & The @GaiWaterhouse1 team combine for a double as Cabezea De Vaca makes it five on end! pic.twitter.com/5zwatUwwcO
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2017
With added fitness second up and Blinkers being reapplied, there was going to be no catching of Cabeza De Vaca who produced a Timeform rating of 107.
The lightly-raced frontrunner will head to the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in a fortnight before the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) on December 16.
Going into the Festival Stakes and the Villiers Stakes third and fourth up respectively looks a case of perfect timing for the son of Northern Meteor.
Firsthand running second was solid in his first foray into Open company as an older horse while Federal was his usual honest self filling third.
Race 6: Interlocuter - November Topaz (1900m)
Interlocuter was fantastic again in posting a third straight success. This one was assessed at 108.
Interlocuter just keeps stepping up as @TyeAngland coasts him home in the November Topaz @rosehillgardens for a 3rd straight victory! pic.twitter.com/7uVY6V4z8O
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2017
The main talking point is the stable have formed the opinion a mile best suits him for now.
They’ve decided that just in time as well with the Villiers Stakes four weeks away.
Dropping back from 1900m to the Randwick Mile off a four week let up could be a perfect fit.
Race 7: Best Guess - Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m)
Best Guess was again too good on Saturday having now won two of his four starts this campaign and placing in the other two behind some smart mares in White Moss and Pomelo.
Straight to the front for Best Guess and that's where he stayed as @blake_shinn controls the race and comes away for a dominant win! pic.twitter.com/CPVkWleDYe
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2017
The son of Snippetson held form well through his first three runs this prep however improved noticeably on Saturday running to a Timeform rating of 97, five pounds clear of his prior peak.
Pipeline produced a highly encouraging first up display to run second.
Race 8: Redouble - Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m)
After suffering Cardiac Arrythmia as favourite second up, Redouble wasted no time getting his campaign back on tracking, recording two wins in the space of eight days.
Considering the torrid run he endured, posted wide with no cover throughout, Redouble’s latest success was particularly admirable.
What a tough win!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2017
Redouble was never on the track and still kept coming to narrowly beat the well supported Flow for @BBakerRacing in R8! pic.twitter.com/GaFIZxb6Kk
The effort was assessed with a Timeform rating of 99, still four pounds shy of a master figure he achieved as a three-year-old in the Autumn Stakes (1400m).
Runner up Flow was excellent on resuming, only beaten narrowly and returning a Timeform rating of 98.
Race 9: Glenall - Benchmark 96 Handicap (1100m)
Stakes placed as a three-year-old, Glenall has hit the ground running in his stable debut for Team Hawkes.
In his first start for @HawkesRacing Glenall fights back to deny Tactical Advantage and take out the lucky last @rosehillgardens! pic.twitter.com/mvqql7RClo
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2017
The son of Redoute’s Choice was readied for this with a pair of trials where he was fair.
Winkers were applied first up and a narrow victory ensued over Tactical Advantage who was sporting Blinkers for the first time.
Glenall impressed with a display assessed at 103, a new master Timeform rating for the entire who last campaign ran fourth in the Group 1 Galaxy behind Russian Revolution and Redzel.
Tactical Advantage showed sharp improvement second up with the Blinkers applied, running to 105.
