By Nick Berney
ROYAL RANDWICK – BEST BET: Race 9 # 10 – IT’S A KNOCKOUT
Like the profile she brings into this, and she has a positive race setup to go back-to-back. The mare returned a career peak figure first-up after bolting in and ran slick time relative to the day at the same track/distance she faces on Saturday. Further, she absorbed the pressure, accelerated and extended her winning margin over the final furlong. The Ciaron Maher galloper has a tactical map advantage over her key rivals, gets in with no weight and deserves favouritism.
Slinky (Pic: Bradley Photos)
ROYAL RANDWICK – BEST BET: Race 10 # 10 – SLINKY
Keen on her and she's arguably in career-best form, but has had factors again in both of her runs this campaign, which have had hidden merit. The four-year-old had too much to do last start after being restrained from a wide draw and got too far back. To her credit, she made up significant ground and clocked the meetings' fastest final 600m/400m/200m splits. The Bjorn Baker-trained galloper receives a significant barrier change, allowing her to settle closer, and she can rate to win.
ROYAL RANDWICK – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 1 # 4 – CROSSBOW
He's an improving type who returned as a gelding this prep, and his first-up run had merit. The two-year-old wasn't suited to the race shape, settling at the rear of the field in a slowly run race, but he built into it well, and Punter's Intelligence recorded he ran one of the meeting's fastest 400m-200m splits in 11.85 before peaking on his effort. The rise to 1400m is ideal, and he can settle a lot closer from the inside draw.
NEWCASTLE – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 8 # 6 – AUDREY’S LANE
She was extremely brave in defeat first-up at Hawkesbury in a high-rating race, and the margin to third confirmed the quality. The four-year-old was heavily backed, always faced the breeze in a very fast tempo, and never shirked her task to the line. She is a consistent type, a proven second-up performer and will roll forward from the middle draw.