Jamie Lovett wary of the chances of Handsome at Rosehill on Saturday

Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett has very different reasons to be cautious about the chances of his imported stayers Handsome and Worthily when they clash in the TAB Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Lovett is unsure if Handsome can make the quantum leap from a Taree Class 1 win to Sydney Saturday grade while Worthily has disappointed him this summer.

In latest TAB Fixed Odds betting, Worthily is at $6.50 and Handsome out to $7.50 behind Thalassopohile at $3.30 favouritism.

Handsome, trained by Kris Lees, won last start at Taree by nearly eight lengths in his first win at just his third Australian starts.

“I am still a bit guarded about Handsome,” Lovett said.

“This horse is coming off a setback but we always thought a bit of him early.

“He surprised me how well he won the other day. He didn’t rate overly well but all you can do is win and he certainly did that in good style. He’s a progressive horse but I just want to see him measure up to this grade.”

Lovett conceded a few months ago if Handsome and Worthily were contesting the same race “it would have been a knockout to Worthily.”

“But he has let us down a few times, I haven’t been excited by his runs,” Lovett said.

“This race does set up well for him and I think Brenton (Avdulla) suits this horse.”

THE BEST BARRIERS

The best barriers at Rosehill Gardens for the last 3 years (in order of wins)

1100m; 4,1,8,2

1200m: 2,7,5,3

1350m: 3,1,2,6

1500m: 5,1,3,6

2000m: 2,6,1,4

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

Race 1: Epic Ranger $23-$21-$18-$19-$16, Olakau'atu $7-$5.50-$6-$5.50, Indicative $10-$7.50-$7, Agirlsbestfriend $5.50-$4.80 with bets of $500 at $5.50, $600 at $5, $500 at $5

Race 2: King’s Gambit $1.35-$1.40 despite some big bets including $5,000 at $1.40, $2,200 at $1.40, $500 at $1.40 multiple times

Race 3: Cosmic Minerva $4.60-$4.40-$3.80-$3.30-$3.40-$3.10 with bets of $883 at $4.40, $600 at $3.80, $1,072 at $3.80, Wineglass Bay $5-$4.60-$4.20-$4-$3.80-$3.20 after bets of $750 at $5, $625 at $4.20, $660 at $4)

Race 4: Tip Of The Spear $6-$5-$4.40-$4.60 with bets of $600 at $6, $500 at $5, $1,500 at $4.40, $500 at $4.40, Handsome $9-$9.50-$7.50-$7-$6.50-$7 with bets of $400 at $7, $400 at $6.50

Race 5: Learning To Fly $4.80-$4.40-$4-$3.50-$3.60-$3.70 after bets of $589 at $4.40, $1,000 at $4

Race 6: Starboreta $8.50-$7 with a bet of $400 at $8.50, Cheerful Legend $8.50-$6.50 with bets of $400 e/w at $9/$3, $500 at $7 multiple times, $300 at $7, Luvoir $19-$21-$14-$13, La Jolie Fille $12-$8.50 with bets of $400 at $9 twice, $250 at $9 twice

Race 7: Kalino $3.50-$3 after bets of $1,000 at $3.10, $500 at $3.10 twice, Spacewalk $2.60-$2.50-$2.40-$2.20 with bets of $400 at $2.60, $1,000 at $2.50

Race 8: Pizarro $11-$9-$9.50, Golden Mile $2.25-$2.30-$2.15-$2.20 with bets of $3,500 at $2.30, $1,000 at $2.30

Race 9: Major Artie $6-$5.50-$4.60-$4-$3.40 with bets of $1,000 at $6, $500 e/w at $5.50/$2, $550 at $4.60, $500 at $4, Niffler $15-$13-$14-$10

Race 10: Super Pursuit $34-$12 after bets of $1,000 at $19, $400 at $16, Contributingfactor $17-$11, Soami $19-$11, Think About It $2.90-$2.50-$2.60-$2.50-$1.95-$2 with a $600 bet at $2.90

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 4,14,15,19

Race 4: 5,6,9

Race 5: 6,8,9,11

Race 6: 1,2,3,5

QUADDIE

Race 7: 2,4,7,10

Race 8: 4,9

Race 9: 2,3,4,8

Race 10: 4,6,7,11

PRICE CHECK

Super Pursuit (race 10) has been a big shortener from an opening quote of $34 to $12 after bets of $1,000 at $19 and $400 at $16. King’s Gambit (race 2) has been the best backed runner on the program although he has eased slightly in betting from $1.35 to $1.40 after some big bets including $5,000 at $1.40, $2,200 at $1.40 and $500 at $1.40 multiple times

TRIAL POINTERS

King’s Gambit (race 2) is the $5 ruling TAB Fixed Odds favourite to win the Golden Slipper here at Rosehill Gardens. The son of the all-conquering I Am Invincible was set aside after his commanding five length win in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on October 8. The Snowden Racing-trained colt resurfaced in a 1050m trial at Randwick on January 9 and proved to be another league to his rivals, winning with consummate ease.

Learning To Fly (race 5) makes her highly anticipated debut in the Widden Stakes (1100m). The filly is from the first crop of Coolmore’s unbeaten Triple Crown winner, Justify, from a fast and precocious Australian family. In fact, her dam, Ennis Hill, is a stakes-winning daughter of Fastnet Rock out of the Reisling Stakes winner, Hips Don’t Lie. Other notables from the clan include the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond placegetter Lake Geneva and Mark Newnham pair, Splintex and Invictus Salute. Learning To Fly has trialled twice and looked the part in each, turning the tables on reigning Gimcrack and Widden Stakes rival, Perfect Proposal, from one heat to the next.

SECTIONAL STARS

Agirlsbestfriend (race 1) is a lightly-raced and exciting three-year-old filly trained at Port Macquarie by Marc Quinn who purchased the daughter of Star Turn for $55,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2021. The filly’s dam, Bring Me The Bling, was a handy filly in her day, finishing fourth in the 2016 Fernhill behind Prized Icon, Crown Him and subsequent VRC Oaks winner, Lasqueti Spirit. As for Quinn’s filly, she arrives in Sydney off the back off two barnstorming wins at Coffs Harbour and Muswellbrook.

Think About It (race 10) can count himself unlucky not to be unbeaten in his four career starts. As it stands, the Joe Pride-trained gelding has won three and was third at home at Warwick Farm at the end of his short, sharp first campaign. Granted, this weekend’s assignment is his toughest to date but everything he has done up until now has the hallmarks of a horse that will measure up and is more likely than not bound for better.

BEST BET

Cosmic Minerva (race 3) followed an impressive first-up win at the provincials with a very good effort to beat all but the in-form Ringmaster at Rosehill two weeks ago. Cosmic Minerva unleashed some very impressive closing sectionals to come from well back on the turn to the runner to a neck. Lightly-raced but promising four-year-old drawn to the run of the race.

VALUE BET

Handsome (race 4) absolutely bolted in at Taree last start, winning by nearly eight lengths eased down. He got back in the field early and had to make a long run from the 800m but toyed with his moderate rivals. This is obviously a much harder race but there has been some support for Handsome who has firmed from $9.50 into $7.

THE JUDGEMENT

ROSEHILL GARDENS

R2: Canonbury Stakes (1100m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “Sydney’s first look at Golden Slipper favourite King’s Gambit. He was outstanding on debut and looked the goods in a recent Randwick trial. He’s drawn to settle where he’s comfortable and should justify his place at the top of Golden Slipper betting. Red Resistance will make him work for it through. With race fitness on his side he’ll likely lead here and will take running down. Shinzo is a well bred colt and it will pay to have a look at him in the yard pre-race. Chevron can run a competitive race on debut.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “I’m excited for the return of King’s Gambit who was outstanding on debut when he smashed them by five lengths and could’ve won by further if he wanted to. He won his trial on January 9 in preparation for this and James McDonald takes the ride. He has drawn well and he should be winning.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “King’s Gambit obviously picks himself off exposed form. Trialled up brilliantly recently and could be the real deal. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him remain fairly solid at the $1.40 and over 90% of bets struck on the race with us have been for the Snowden colt.”

Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “Despite the short price, our customers are still keen on Kings Gambit making it two from two. It’s by far the most popular runner since markets opened.”

Verdict: King’s Gambit

R5: Widden Stakes (1100m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “This looks a quality field of juvenile fillies. I’m going with a filly that we’ve seen at the races only once but she looked good, that being Perfect Proposal. She showed her class with a placing in the Gimcrack on debut, and her recent trials say she’s ready to fire first up. From a soft barrier, I’m with her. Learning To Fly is on debut and she certainly looks exciting. She’s displayed a nice turn of foot in her trials and is a big player here. Divine Glory looks nice odds to me, she’s a sharp type and is drawn well. If you like Red Resistance form then Steel City must be in the mix somewhere. It’s a great race.

Grant Palmer (bookie): “There has been a strong push for Perfect Proposal who presents first up since October where she ran second behind Platinum Jubilee in the Gimcrack Stakes. She has a couple of trials in preparation for this and punters quickly snapped up the $5.50 when the market opened. I thought Dipsy Doodle ran well on debut and looks over the odds around the $14 mark.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Great edition of the Widden for the fillies this year. Early money with us has been for Perfect Proposal $5.50-$4.20 with Learning to Fly slightly easy $3.40-$3.80. We’re prepared to lay both. Big chances for mine to Cigar Flick who was great on debut at Canterbury, and Divine Glory who looks a professional type in the right camp. Good race.”

Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “It’s a two-horse race between Learning To Fly and Steel City according to our customers. With race experience on her side, I’m taking Steel City at a price.”

Verdict: Perfect Proposal

R8: Expressway Stakes (1200m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “The Expressway Stakes comes up very quickly into the ‘Autumn’ and the market has two clear picks. I feel that classy mare Forbidden Love is really up for this race. While she wasn’t far away last preparation we probably didn’t see the best of her in those two runs. She’s had a nice break, trialled up in dynamic fashion, and she’ll be hard to beat. Mariamia was among the extended nominations, and with a winning run under her belt she has to be a danger. Golden Mile is a quality three-year-old and while he’s the current TAB favourite I just wonder if he has bigger grand finals down the track. Either way, he’s very good and I’m not about to put you off him. Pizarro rarely runs a poor race and is worthy of a shot in this grade.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Hard to tip against Golden Mile here after his stellar spring carnival. He won the Ming Dynasty and was not far off Jacquinot in the Golden Rose the came out and won the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Group 2 Callander-Presnell to his resume as an added bonus. He looked forward enough in his trial and his class should take him a long way here.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “A race with little betting moves so far. Golden Mile looks tight to us off just the one short course trial. Forbidden Love also not getting her preferred racing surface? Pizarro was heavily backed first up when racing with little luck. Poorly treated at weight for age but a horse with upside and would rather be on him each-way. Market late I think will be telling here.”

Hamish Ferguson (TAB): “Golden Mile is the red-hot favourite in terms of money held. He’s first-up from a spell but many of our customers think he’ll be too strong in this one.”