3 minute read

Race 1 - 11:00AM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

Something clearly wasn't right with 4. Lisztomania last campaign. He missed the start badly as a $4 chance in a Highway Handicap and was tipped straight out. He has had a trainer change since then, now with Todd Payne. Bar plates off first time has to be a positive. The five-year-old looked sharp winning a recent Tamworth trial. It was only a field of four but he clocked the fastest time of the morning over 950m. He has always been a smart horse, without a lot going his way in his 13 start career. In his three prior Highway runs to last campaign he ran second, two in photo finishes behind Bootscooter and Bianco Vilano. There was a gap to third on both occasions. In the other he split Peremptory and Chase My Crown. Would like a market push being 33 weeks between runs.

Dangers: 12. Ticklebelly was beaten on her merits at Randwick last start by 5. Nipotino and 7. Syrian Star but she gets a 2kg weight swing on the winner and was six weeks between runs. Yet to be tried beyond 1100m but the way she found the line two weeks ago suggests she'll run it out. Maps to get the run of the race. 17. Fuld's Doubt at least brings a different form line. Despite finishing 12th, she ran well in Listed company at Scone two back when racing way out of her grade. Didn't look to love the heavy ground at Wyong subsequently. Wants the track to continue to improve. 1. Tanglewood pulled up two out of five lame after failing at Randwick a month ago. Respect his Highway form prior. The task isn't made easy by the barrier.

How To Play It: Lisztomania WIN

Race 2 - 11:35AM PETALUMA HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

9. Associate was brilliant in defeat at Rosehill last start. On a deteriorating track he got shuffled back in the run, copping kickback yet still kept finding the line. That was despite being seven weeks between runs and trialling ordinarily in between. The challenge for him is stepping into Saturday benchmark company from Highway Handicap company but this isn't a deep race. The winner of that Highway, Rematch, subsequently ran well on Wednesday at Canterbury. Associate's form through the Country Championships series in March and April might prove deep enough for this. He has always been loaded with talent. He ran second to Strait Acer on debut a couple of years ago. Still get the impression there is more to come from him, with only 11 starts to his name.

Dangers: Might be going off a run too soon for 2. Kapakiri but a third to Franz Josef and Captain Furai first up reads well now. Both have subsequently won. So has Strathtay, who finished fifth. Has raced well at Randwick in the past. He is yet to win below 1800m so some chance he flattens off a touch second staying at the mile before proving hard to beat third up. 8. Vanquished was an all-the-way winner at the midweeks last start. He swaps Canterbury for Randwick and steps into Saturday company but he maps to own this race from in front. Don't know if he has a lot of upside but that set up makes him dangerous. 5. Sonofdec doesn't have a conventional set up coming back from the Queensland Derby trip of 2400m to the mile, with a three week freshen but the dominance of his Scone Midway win prior deserves respect. 3. Inquiring Minds pulled up slow to recover last start.

How To Play It: Associate WIN

Race 3 - 12:10PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

9. Charming Legend makes the jump from a midweek maiden win on debut into a Midway in Saturday company. It's a big ask given some of his rivals on Saturday have had upwards of 50 starts but he is completely untapped. The son of Deep Field took a while to stoke up before unleashing a powerful last 200m split. The overall time of the 1400m event was the slowest of the three across the meeting but it was run at a crawl early. He didn't get the chance to run time, other than closing speed. That's where the three-year-old delivered. His last 200m was the quickest across the entire meeting. The next best was two lengths slower and it was over a 1000m race. Should relish getting out to the mile and Les Bridge send the gelding back to the races just 10 days later. That says he is thriving.

Dangers: 8. Barellan Bandit profiles as an interesting blowout chance. He was disqualified from the race first up after weighing in light. A lead bag was left off when saddling. He run was good there and the form through the race has stacked up. That was eight weeks ago now. His last run over the mile was a third in the South Grafton Cup behind Cepheus and Cotehele. 11. November Falls has relished the role of front-runner at her past two starts in Midway company, giving a sight only to find one better. She loves wet tracks and finds James McDonald. The trade off with the set up is the price punters are being asked to take. 5. Dimaggio can settle closer from the draw. He continues to hold his form. 4. Always Sure will be running on late with 14.Pure Hydrogen.

How To Play It: Charming Legend WIN

Race 4 - 12:45PM RACING FOR GOOD ON JULY 13 HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

2. Decadent Tale won well over this track and trip two weeks ago in Midway company. She may have been flattered by a perfect ride but she put a length on November Falls late and there was another three lengths back to third. The interesting thing about Saturday's race is that the majority of the field come through a mile race on the same meeting won by Bright Red but there was just two lengths from first to seventh and the overall time was considerably slower than Decadent Tale. The lead speed had a lot to do with that, turning the race into a sprint home. Decadent Tale looks to have returned particularly well after a six week break as her run prior at Scone was excellent too. Apprentice Bailey Wheeler is given the reigns, taking 2kg off her back.

Dangers: 13. It's A Wonder ran on well behind 8. Bright Red. She was five weeks between runs prior to that so should improve. Wouldn't have to find much more to turn the tables on the three mares that beat her home. Showed a touch more tactical speed last start which is encouraging going forward, and having drawn barrier 3 on Saturday. 5. Nana's Wish knocked up to be beaten two lengths through that same race but she could be the solo leader here. Respect how firm she was in betting relative to her opposition. 4. Mascaret clocked the fastest closing splits home, unsuited by a lack of pressure. It doesn't look great for her on paper again this week but James McDonald booked. 3. Bakerloo and 9. One Aye placed behind Bright Red.

How To Play It: Decadent Tale WIN

Race 5 - 1:20PM JAMES SQUIRE HANDICAP (1300 METRES)

8. Kerguelen is the most interesting horse across the entire Randwick meeting. The Godolphin gelding won by 9.5 lengths on debut at Kembla Grange. Yes, 9.5 lengths. And he did it eased down. It was the fastest of the four 1200m races across the meeting. Some way to announce yourself. It was a field of seven and four of his rivals have raced in the five weeks since. All four were beaten 10 lengths at their subsequent start. He didn't beat much but he annihilated them. James Cummings finds a three-year-old Saturday race to find out where Kerguelen fits in and books James McDonald. The 1300m start at Randwick is awkward for horses drawn wide so the map does him no favours. However, he looks to possess good natural speed.

Dangers: Chautauqua's half-brother 4. Need Some Luck looks destined to skip through the grades himself. Ran as well as he could first up in a hot race at Scone behind Elson Boy from a wide gate before a perfect ride saw him score at Canterbury second up. May have been flattered by Tommy Berry's steer but he sticks and should get a similar run on Saturday. 6. Shehasattitude has returned a better filly and chases three straight. She beat a rather unlucky Know Thyself at Canterbury last start but he has franked that form line in a big way subsequently. 1. Flying Trapeze looks big odds given the depth of his form and he won a recent Warwick Farm trial. 10. Wild Gypsy is doing a great job in her first campaign and there is still more to come.

How To Play It: Kerguelen WIN

Race 6 - 1:55PM MACQUARIE ST SOCIAL HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

4. Akasawa looks to be flying. He lined up in the Gunnedah Cup last start, out to defend his title from 12 months earlier and was only denied by bad luck. He should have won despite lumping a whopping 65.5kg. Prior to that the six-year-old hit the line to run third in the Tamworth Cup behind in form galloper Gringotts. He'll want the track to continue to improve given his recent best form is on top of the ground but like the progression out to 1800m now third up. Isn't blessed with early speed so the soft gate mightn't be of much benefit but the 1800m start at Randwick isn't one where you want to draw wide. By the time you drift back for cover, the race can be as good as over. Akasawa already has an impressive strike rate of eight wins from 18 starts and looks well set up to add to that on Saturday.

Dangers: Annabel Neasham-trained import 8. Fortune has been a real eye-catcher in his two trials. If he brings that to his first Australian start he'll run well. The barrier does him no favour but Tyler Schiller got a feel for the former French-based gelding in his heats. Was Group Three placed over 2100m at Longchamp. 13. Amberite was edged out by Foujita San at Caulfield last start. The former Kiwi has been excellent in his two runs for Matt Laurie. The knock is how well found he is in early betting. James McDonald rides. 1. Super Strike has a win over this track and trip to his name from the backend of last preparation. Don't be surprised to see him improve sharply. 3. Golden Path ran out a strong 2000m last start to win at Randwick.

How To Play It: Akasawa WIN

Race 7 - 2:30PM TAB HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

15. Cosmonova had no excuses first up at Warwick Farm. Suspect her condition gave out late first up at the end of 1100m with 59.5kg on a heavy track. The lack of market support in the final minutes of betting may have suggested that'd be the case. Respect the placement of Joe Pride that he now opts to run the half sister to Magic Time in a BM78 in Saturday company second up. That sees her drop 7.5kg and Tyler Schiller has been booked to ride. Dropping back to 1000m shouldn't worry her and drawn barrier 1, she won't have to do any early work to hold a prominent position in behind the leaders. There is still more to come from this lightly-raced filly given she has just four starts to her name. She won two from two last campaign and looked good on both occasions. Each way.

Dangers: 10. Dipsy Doodle went way too fast in front first up last campaign when third to Our Kobison at Rosehill. She set up a track record time. To be beaten just 3.5 lengths was brave. Second up she wanted to bolt again, overracing early which saw her with nothing left late. Spell and start again. She can bounce back but she's very well found. 2. Dollar Magic finished outside of the top three for the first time in 13 runs last start. She is such a genuine mare. Wasn't as explosive second up at Canterbury having won so well at Scone fresh. Ran well 1100m back to 1000m last campaign. 8. Gitalong started putting it all together last campaign winning three of his four starts. All over 1000m. His trials have been sharp. Maps well. Respect the record of 12. Blue Grotto.

How To Play It: Cosmonova EACH WAY

Race 8 - 3:05PM THE AGENCY CIVIC STAKES (1400 METRES)

1. Tamerlane was disappointing first up in the Luskin Star Stakes at Scone. However, there is a pattern developing with this six-year-old. In his past two campaigns he has needed the run fresh before jumping out of the ground to win impressively second up. Last time in, that was at Flemington where he did get on speed favours but he put a margin on Just Folk in second, quickening impressively from in front. His record over 1400m also jumps out when assessing his chances here. It reads 14:5-4-1. He is starting to pay the price for his record, carrying 59.5kg but he draws to get a soft run from barrier 1, James McDonald is booked and Tamerlane won a recent Rosehill trial to keep him ticking over, bridging the five weeks between runs.

Dangers: 12. Diamond Diesel had his first exposure to Listed company two starts ago in the Takeover Target Stakes and came out with his reputation enhanced. He covered plenty of ground in the run. He dropped back to BM78 company last start, over this same track and trip, and won with authority. He's flying. 4. Strait Acer was beaten two lengths in a deep race at Doomben last start. It was the G3 BRC Sprint. He finished eighth just behind Yellow Brick, Vilana and The Inevitable. In second was Freedom Rally. Gets blinkers first time. Found 10. Flying Crazy, 11. Excelladus and 14. Estadio Mestalla hard to split.

How To Play It: Tamerlane WIN

Race 9 - 3:45PM CATANACH'S JEWELLERS HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

16. Kazou zipped across to settle outside of the leader at Rosehill first up. The speed was on in the early stages and perhaps that told at the finish. The leader Hard To Say ended up winning but he had more recent racing on his side. Kazou didn't shirk her task to be beaten a length. The mare has been back to the trials since and looked sharp, running second under a hold to subsequent winner Iron Man. The daughter of Zoustar has built a great record of 9:4-1-3, largely due to her racing style. She'll bounce out for Tommy Berry, who rode her in her last win, where she beat Commemorative, and look to take up the running. Although drawn wide, she should get that chance looking at the horses all drawn underneath her. There are no natural leaders among them.

Dangers: 19. Fleetwood is chasing three straight having been gelded prior to this preparation. His mind is on the job now. Has won with authority in his two runs back and James McDonald was full of praise for the three-year-old after he won on him first up at Warwick Farm. The drop back to 1000m didn't bother him second up in Saturday company, beating even money favourite The Black Cloud. Has won out to 1200m previously. 3. Iowna Merc still looks to be learning to put a field away. Looked to have the race won at Randwick two weeks ago. The barrier looks problematic on Saturday. Talented sprinter though. 5. Astero can run well at odds. 11. Contemporary and 15. Jedibeel come into this last start winners.

How To Play It: Kazou WIN

Race 10 - 4:25PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

9. Elouyou looks well placed up from Melbourne. The So You Think gelding is yet to finish out of the moment in seven career starts and is still improving. He showed great heart to just miss at Sandown second up, raising a second effort on the line. It was a fast race with first and third from that race winning their subsequent start. There was four lengths back to fourth. Elouyou then stepped into Saturday company at Flemington in BM84 company, jumped a well backed favourite, but was worried out of it on the line to again miss narrowly. This doesn't look a particularly deep race so respect trainer Scott Cameron coming to Sydney, with Jason Collett booked. Drawn wide but Elouyou has the early speed to offset that without too much trouble. There isn't a lot of speed on paper.

Dangers: 5. Starman put in another good showing last start over this same track and trip, in this same grade two weeks ago. That winless streak continues to grow but he continues to cash cheques for his owners. Nash Rawiller jumps back on and is the last jockey to win on the five-year-old. 6. Givara  motored to the line at Canterbury first up. He'll appreciate Randwick and getting out to 1400m. Won't appreciate the potential for this to turn into a sit-sprint, however. 13. West Of Africa hasn't had much luck in three runs this preparation. He was good enough to overcome a wide run last start at the midweeks. Will take confidence from that and James McDonald sticks. 12. Defining meets him 1.5kg better off for a nose defeat. 10. Ivan's Hero wants the track to continue to dry.

How To Play It: Elouyou WIN