Rosehill serves up a huge card of Group 1 racing on Saturday, highlighted by the Golden Slipper and well supported by both the George Ryder and Galaxy.  

The track conditions are sure to be a big talking point, with plenty of rain predicted over the next few days in Sydney and on Saturday. Lets hope the meeting does go ahead for one of the nation's premier race days. 

In the George Ryder Stakes, I am with one who will appreciate the give in the ground now considering he is getting older.

Whilst in the Galaxy, I expect the residual fitness of a Melbourne raider to be a significant factor in the testing wet conditions.

Track Conditions 

The Rosehill track is currently rated a Soft 7, with the rail out 3m for the entire circuit.

Wet conditions are predicted for the remainder of the week and on Saturday at Rosehill, which almost certainly ensures we will be racing on a Heavy track. 

I expect wider barriers to hold an advantage later in the day, as those horses will be able to scout wider looking for the better ground when the inside chops out. 

As always, refer to the early races for a good guide on track bias.  

Rosehill Race 6 - George Ryder Stakes 1500m (G1 WFA)

The Map

There looks to be good speed here from Dreamforce (4) and Samdoubt (5) who both love to roll along in the lead.  Expect them to cross and race as the first pair in running.

Kolding (3) and Arcadia Queen (2) should find the ideal trailing position just in behind the leaders and from there, should have plenty to offer from the top of the straight.

Expect Funstar (8) to race in the moving line midfield with cover, and if they are scouting wider to better ground she looks suited. 

The Favourite 

Funstar ($4.60) looks to be building nicely this prep and comes via the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes, where she ran well to place 4 of 9 when finishing only 0.6 lengths off the winner. 

She loves the wet (12:5-2-0) and appears likely to receive those conditions here with plenty of rain predicted. 

With a Heavy track it may be an advantage to be coming wider at this stage of the day and she draws perfectly to be in a outside moving line position.

Certainly has plenty of ticks in this. 

 Best Racing Tips

I'm with Kolding here who although has not won on a Heavy to date, may improve in this type of going now that he is getting older.

He has done everything right in the lead up events and fought very hard last start, when only just being collared late. Fitter now, he looks a great chance. 

Funstar is another with plenty of quality and does have the good record on heavy tracks (4:2-1-0).

She will also be well suited if the track favours those racing in the wider lanes.

Dreamforce will roll along near the lead for most of this race and will look the winner at some point.

If he can handle the rain-affected conditions and gets it all his own way out in front, expect he can win.  

Gem Song is an interesting runner and is less exposed and more lightly raced than most of these.

He won the Group 2 Newcastle Newmarket last start and deserves his chance against the "A Graders" here.

He should be peaking for this third-up and the stable/connections are known to pull off some big coups in these races. Watch betting late. 

1^st  Kolding 

2^nd  Funstar

3^rd  Dreamforce

4^th  Gem Song