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By Nick Berney

ROYAL RANDWICK – BEST BET: Race 10 # 8 – KIBOU

Sticking with Kibou, who smashed the clock first-up over the same track/distance, and that race rated highly relative to the day after adjustments. He chased a very fast pace and got left in front a long from home, but to his credit, he kept finding under pressure to score. The Waterhouse & Bott galloper has key factors in his favour and has run to a consistent figure that gives him an edge over his main rivals. In addition, he has a strong SP profile for this grade and expect him to be hard to run down.

Unique Ambition (Pic: Bradley Photos)

ROYAL RANDWICK – BEST VALUE: Race 6 # 12 – UNIQUE AMBITION

Represents value and has a strong profile for this assignment. The filly was only narrowly beaten on debut last preparation by Tannhauser, who subsequently started favourite in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) and then was immediately spelled. First-up this campaign, her run was full of merit in a high-rating race at Kensington, where she had the bias against her, and she kept building to the line running some of the fastest closing splits of the meeting. Further, she had no luck whatsoever in the Tea Rose, where she was checked/blocked for most of the straight. She sets up well on Saturday, with the 1600m being ideal third-up. In addition, James McDonald rides and the blinkers go on. Each-way.

ROYAL RANDWICK – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 9 # 17 – MR WATERVILLE

The import is starting to build a strong platform, and his run had sectional merit seven days ago at Rosehill Gardens. He settled at the rear of the field, wasn’t suited to the race shape, but built through his gears well and hit the line solidly. Punter’s Intelligence recorded that he ran the second-fastest final 600m split of the race in 34.11 and that race produced a high rating last section relative to the day after adjustments. The Waller trained galloper is on a quick backup, drops 8kg, and will relish the rise in distance. Each-way.

NEWCASTLE – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 6 # 3 – BATTLE OF VIENNA

His debut run 23 days ago was full of merit at Hawkesbury in an extremely high-rating race. The colt raced wide with cover in a genuine tempo, sprinted hard, running some of the fastest closing splits of the meeting and kept coming to the line. Further, he closed off into second behind Royal Tribute, who was subsequently heavily backed in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m). He can only improve off that effort with race experience and has a tactical map advantage over some of his key rivals.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting