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By Ray Hickson

Selections based on a soft track.

4. Natoya took a couple of runs to hit her top and when she did it resulted in an easy Newcastle win over the mile with the sting out of the track. Given the upside she’s struck a very winnable Midway and you can only imagine the extra ground being a plus. She looks clearly the one to beat.

Dangers: 3. Oceanfront had a bit of a form upgrade from his last start Newcastle win on the same program, the runner-up Black Run went to Randwick last weekend and got the job done. He’s another progressive type racing in great form at provincial level and sure to measure up. 8. Highborn Harry comes through the same race, he was solid in the market and hit the line well from the back, though the runner-up did outbob him late. Draws well, handles all ground and is one of the chances again. 11. Horizons was a bit disappointing as an odds-on favourite at Hawkesbury third-up where she seemed to have every chance. Did manage to beat Attica at Kembla a month earlier and perhaps getting up in distance is what she’s looking for now.

How to play it: Natoya WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

1. Petticoat was a Highway winner over the same course back in September and to be fair she’s struck a lineup with a lot less depth than that one. She’ll be up 2kg on the win but has since run second in a Benchmark 78 in Queensland. Any conditions seem to suit her and she’ll have her chance.

Dangers: 2. Impendor is the big market watch. First-up since June and was a winner at Ipswich during his last prep. Respect the fact Matt Dunn has brought him down for the Highway, no surprise if he’s there at the business end. 7. Chemtrail comes back to Highway company after resuming in a Benchmark 78 behind Roselyn’s Star. He did win second-up last preparation on his home track and expect he’ll be a lot more competitive here. 9. Mic Drop is an up and comer chasing a hat-trick after successive Muswellbrook wins over the 1000m. Harder here but drops in weight and jumps from the inside so worth including.

How to play it: Petticoat WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

5. Money Team has won five of his seven starts since joining the Brad Widdup yard and he’s here fresh since a second-up win at Warwick Farm. Was saved from a race on Saturday to run here where he strikes a much more favourable set up. Only failure was in a stronger race off a wide gate so expect he’ll run very well here.

Dangers: 4. Midnight Opal ran an even race when resuming at Randwick six weeks ago and he’s had a tickover trial since then. A bit of sting off the ground will be in his favour and he’s entitled to be an improver. 6. Carbonados is a market watch first-up coming off two Flemington jump outs. His win last prep was at Swan Hill but he did run a handy enough race at Caulfield before a break. Respect. 9. Heuristic gets a nice weight pull on those up top and should be fitter for the one run back in a very fast race at Warwick Farm won by Golden Straand. If there’s a knockout he could be the one.

How to play it: Money Team WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

13. Blue Willow is an interesting runner having her first run for the Maher stable. This Godolphin mare had a handy first preparation in the autumn and early winter and she worked home nicely in her only public trial. Seems to be fine in any conditions and she’s a good each-way chance.

Dangers: 17. Miles Of Glory was sent out right in the market in a Group 3 last time on the back of a nice maiden win at Kembla Grange. She battled a bit there but the form out of the race is holding up and this is a big drop in class. Worth another chance. 10. Lightning Glory led all the way to an easy debut win on his home track a month ago and have to respect Nathan Doyle bringing him to this race. Has the right set up to give a good account. 3. Tasoraay resumes with the blinkers on and a claim to offset his big weight. Narrowly beaten at Rosehill in June and this is a drop in grade on what he was contesting there. Capable of making his presence felt.

How to play it: Blue Willow EACH-WAY ($9 TAB Fixed Odds).

1. Gringotts won this race last year with 58.5kg and a wide gate and since then he’s won the Gong and a Group 1 George Ryder so 62kg seems fair. Had a setback after resuming in the Winx where the heavy ground tested him but showed he’s on target with a game second in the Alan Brown. Has to be fitter for that, draws to get every chance and he’s the one to beat.

Dangers: 2. Headley Grange is no pushover and he just got the better of Gringotts late there last time out. Meets him 2kg worse and goes into this race seventh up. That said he’s won five of six and it doesn’t seem to matter whether he draws in or out or it’s wet or dry. Logical threat. If there’s an upset then 6. Ruby Flyer could be one to do it. He’s not a dry tracker at all but he attacked the line nicely to run second at Randwick on October 25. More forgiving ground will suit him and he has a bit of a case. 3. Tavi Time will be third-up and he finished off the Alan Brown nicely enough just behind the placings. Was favourite in this race last year and ran fourth and goes up 4kg. Can’t be left out. 12. Lord Of Biscay and 13. Time Quest are each-way chances.

How to play it: Gringotts WIN ($3 TAB Fixed Odds).

The Kosciuszko form should hold up here. 8. So You Pence was excellent in the $2 million race on Everest Day. She was back in the second half and wide, hit a flat spot then made a solid late bid to run fifth beaten under two lengths. Another 100m looks a plus, she stays down in the weights and draws a lot better this time. She has to be a good each-way hope at least.

Dangers: 5. Lisztomania finished just ahead of her in the Kosciuszko and his run was typically excellent after he was forced to go back to near last off the outside gate. Another wide gate for him but he doesn’t run bad races, particularly at Randwick. 1. Gallant Star was the best of the chasers behind Clear Thinking in The Kosciuszko and he’s naturally going to be competitive again. Only rises 0.5kg after the claim and he did win this race impressively last year. Hard to knock. 10. Chidiac loomed ominously in the Kosicuszko and fought on to run third. A repeat of that sort of performance has her in the mix again from a better draw.

How to play it: So You Pence EACH-WAY ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

5. Hollywood Hero put the writing on the wall for a big run here when he resumed with a close up sixth on Everest Day. He had to go back from a wide gate and he finished off nicely with his run ending near the line. Fitter for that, down 3kg and he did win second-up last prep over the Randwick mile. He handles all ground and can’t see him not being competitive.

Dangers: 16. Tavros is flying this time in and he was game when runner-up to Cristal Clear in the Dubbo Cup and probably wins the Coonamble Cup in a few more strides. If he can make use of the barrier here he’ll be strong at the finish and that makes him dangerous. 1. Osipenko isn’t badly weighted with 62kg in this field and if you go on his third in the Shannon Stakes two starts ago he has to be in the mix. He doesn’t win out of turn but rarely finds himself in fields such as this one. 11. Barazin has the blinkers on first time to help him come back from the 2000m of the Taree Cup where he chased home Imperalist, who ran well in Group 3 company on the weekend. Yet to win below 1800m but if it becomes a test he’s going to appreciate it.

How to play it: Hollywood Hero EACH-WAY ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

8. Zealously is the go-to horse here because we know exactly what to expect from him. He’ll bounce and put himself on the speed somewhere and he’s nice and fit after two runs back for a first-up win and a solid Group 2 placing at Caulfield. Likely finds the front at some point and is the one to run down.

Dangers: 1. Dragonstone won this race last year with 61kg beating Jedibeel and could well be a big improver back in grade having run in the Concorde, Shorts and Sydney Stakes. Draws well, softer track a plus and he’s in the mix at good odds. 5. Accredited resumes and does have a strong fresh record and overall record. The 1100m is as short as he wants it but he’ll do no work from an inside gate and if the track is suiting him, he doesn’t want it really testing, he’s a threat fresh. 12. Shezanalister was never in the Sydney Stakes from a wide gate so put a line through that. First-up she gave Zealously a fright at Warwick Farm and on that sort of effort she has to be given another chance.

How to play it: Zealously WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

4. Sir Artie had no luck at all here on Everest Day and no doubt should have gone close to winning. Was about to burst through a gap when he was shut out of it, had to pick up again and finished off as well as anything late to be beaten two lengths. Different set up, will need a bit of luck but it should be strongly enough run for him to have his chance to atone.

Dangers: 6. Well Timed was runner-up in the same race after doing a big job from a wide alley. He’s generally a consistent performer when he finds his form and he’s been game at his past two. Definite chance. 7. Rock Empire beat Well Timed two runs ago then boxed on well in the same race to run fourth after ducking back to the inside. He’ll be in the first three or four and can be somewhere in the finish. 2. Kintyre might just like the edge off the track a little. Right in the market and fair to say he disappointed here last time at the mile but just back to benchmark level for the first time in a while he could lift.

How to play it: Sir Artie WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

8. Durova is a very interesting runner returning to the city after four wins from as many starts for the new stable. She’s been dominant in all four wins, either sitting right on speed or coming from off the pace and with the promise of a solid tempo here she’ll have her chance to measure up.

Dangers: 4. Bundeena was an easy winner over this track and distance fresh last time in and like Durova will appreciate a bit of tempo on as he returns from a break. He’s trialled once, gets a nice run and should be thereabouts. 1. South Of India has to be kept safe with Nash back on and even though he’s drawn wide he did win a race here down the outside fence under Nash’s guidance. He can run well. 7. Sunrise is speedy so the short trip will suit her better than last time where she couldn’t hold a spot on pace. Could bounce back.

How to play it: Durova WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Big Dance meeting at Randwick