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By Ray Hickson

3. Rotagilla showed he’s come back in pretty good touch when he was particularly unlucky first-up at Warwick Farm. Was well fancied and settled back last but the runs didn’t come when needed and it was a case of what might have been as he’s been beaten under a length. Strong winner over a mile at Randwick in June and happy to be with him to kick off.

Dangers: 4. Strawberry Impact is coming out of Midway company but he attacked the line with heaps of purpose in a strong race for that grade won by Modella. Right down in the weights and that enhances his hopes. 2. Isana is impossible to line up. He's the travelling companion for Panja Tower and his form is mixed. Last win was over 1800m back in January, if there’s any support for him perhaps it’s worth following but goes in the numbers on suspicion. 5. Chicama is straight out of maiden company but he’s always shown a bit of promise and with the win under his belt, as an odds-on favourite, could be ready to go on with it.

How to play it: Rotagilla WIN ($4 TAB Fixed Odds).

Wide open Highway. 8. Concoction is lightly raced and makes his Highway debut after a tough win under 60kg at Armidale where nothing went his way and he was still able to get up and score. Romped home from on speed to win his maiden prior to that. Draws nicely, Ben Looker makes the trip to stick with him and no surprise to see him in the finish.

Dangers: 15. Fan Harder has been competitive in both Highway runs at Rosehill over 1500m and it might be that coming back 100m will be in his favour. Hit the lead a fair way out in the first of them then leader won the latest. Must be respected. 10. Lightning Speed was about six weeks between runs off a disappointing Highway run when run down late by a handy stablemate at Scone a few weeks back. Honest mare who is well worth another chance at this level. 1. Associate is pretty smart on his day and will be fitter for a sound return over 1300m at Moruya a month ago. Runner-up in an 1800m Highway here back in February and is an each-way chance.

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

4. Jellicious is one of these progressive mares from the Chris Waller yard and she doesn’t look like she’s found her level yet. She’s been pretty dominant in her two Warwick Farm wins leading into this, one at 1200m then back to 1100m last time out. It’ll be interesting to see how she’s steered from the outside gate but the jockey’s pretty capable of working that out.

Dangers: 8. Transcend has to be a big market watch sight unseen from New Zealand and now with Michael Freedman. All her form is on decent wet tracks so that’s the query but the betting will tell us. 7. Rapbidash was a brilliant winner second-up but a flop last time out when favourite at Warwick Farm. It just didn’t happen for her there at all but inclined to give her another chance. 3. Editing is another beaten favourite from the same Warwick Farm meeting, she ran an even race there first-up at 1200m. Fitter and she did find the line okay in the shadows so open to improvement with another inside alley.

How to play it: Jellicious WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

10. Vetwelve has the right form around him to be confident enough he can be in the finish somewhere. He was unlucky not to finish closer to stablemate Meridiana two runs back and he had the misfortune of bumping into Modella three weeks ago. Don’t mind where he’s drawn, he handles all conditions and if he can be saved for a dig at them he can be a major threat.

Dangers: 1. Meridiana does appear to be above average and she’s been saved up for this race since winning first-up five weeks ago. It was a good performance to reel them in over the 1300m fresh, she’s had a tickover trial and it’d surprise nobody if she storms over the top of them. 4. Alabama State disappointed a little behind Modella second-up but his second to Meridiana had plenty of merit after he hit the lead early in the straight and was a sitting shot. Is 1kg better off against her draws to do no work. Ran fourth off a wide gate in this race last year and is drawn to effect this time. 2. Apollo Mission had a big job to do to chase down a tearaway leader at Kembla second-up in a return to form. If he can back that up and lift again he’s a good each-way hope.

How to play it: Vetwelve EACH-WAY ($10 TAB Fixed Odds).

12. United Kingdom showed a glimpse of what he can do with a big win from the back at Rosehill a month ago and looks to have struck another winnable race. Getting back on top of the ground must be the key and if he brings the same sort of purpose into this race he should be hard to hold off.

Dangers: 2. Sun God surprised a few when he ran down Cristal Clear to win at Warwick Farm off a four month break. Went back to the trials nine days later and the claim is a plus with the rise only 6kg for the drop in grade. Has to reproduce and if he can he’s logically a big threat. 6. Black Run looked safely headed when resuming at Newcastle but fought back pretty strongly to snatch second. Fitter and likely to roll forward again here. Could be a bit harder to run down. 9. Harlow Mist showed a return to form back to Midway company when runner-up at Randwick on Epsom Day. More than capable on her best form and has the right set up to run well.

How to play it: United Kingdom WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

8. Istolea Merc couldn’t have been more impressive in winning first-up at Warwick Farm when a well supported favourite. He was able to ride the speed there and raced right away at the finish. Won second-up last time in and has to be fitter for the run. While he’s up a notch in grade he finds James McDonald and a race he should be very competitive in.

Dangers: 3. Mogul Monarch was a shade unlucky not to give Roselyn’s Star a real fright when charging into second at Rosehill three weeks ago. Doesn’t quite have the same set up with a wider gate this time around but it’d be no surprise if he won a race like this. 1. Brave One is building a handy record and it’s whether the 1100m will be a bit sharp for him fresh that’s the query. Was runner-up in his first two last prep, on heavy ground, before winning at 1300m and 1400m. One trial, drawn okay but big weight. Can feature but watch for next time. 10. Zaragoza isn’t the worst first-up from a break at odds. Raced pretty consistently last time in and placed at Warwick Farm in July before winning at Kembla. One to throw into the trifectas.

How to play it: Istolea Merc WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds).

2. Jimmysstar was the run of the race outside the winner, obviously, in the TAB Everest and have to stick with him now he’s drawn a barrier he can work with. Had to burn the candle at both ends to be put into a position where he had a chance to give Ka Ying Rising a race and for him to stick on and run third was huge. What the run has taken out of him we don’t know but soft draw and 1300m gives him every chance.

Dangers: 12. Lady Shenandoah had no luck at all in the Everest, she clipped heels about the 600m and dipped sharply which can’t have helped her cause. So you’d have to say to be beaten 2-1/4 lengths is more than respectable. Needs a bit of luck from the draw but if she gets it she’ll be right there. 1. Briasa was never in the race in the Everest after drawing out but he has a better set up to suit his style this time around. Only has to return to the form that saw him just hold off Jimmysstar in the Premiere to be in the finish. 5. Rothfire did a huge job to win the Sydney Stakes after drawing the outside barrier and he’s more than good enough to be around the mark with even luck here. 3. War Machine disappointed in the Everest but can do better and you can never leave 4. Private Eye out particularly given his excellent recent form.

How to play it: Jimmysstar WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

3. Linebacker has it tailor made to give this race a big shake coming off a confidence boosting win in the Silver Eagle, where despite a wide gate he was just far too good and won as he liked. He can use a good draw to be right on the back of the speed and he’s shown he can dash when given his head. Easy to forget he beat Broadsiding to win the Guineas and had no luck at all in the Doncaster Mile so he’s plenty good enough.

Dangers: 14. Autumn Glow is going to be a stumbling block and she is difficult to punch holes in. Obviously her Epsom win was very easy as she quickly offset the outside gate and was never really threatened once she hit the front. This is a bigger test for her but she gets a solid enough tempo up front to allow her to settle and unleash. 1. Evaporate shouldn’t be underestimated and the Toorak has been a handy enough form reference for this race in the past. He was narrowly denied there by Transatlantic who came to Randwick last week and won. He’s won at this track in the Carbine Club earlier in the year and has to be kept safe. 12. Panja Tower has won four from six in Japan including a Group 1 and they don’t have many of those so when you win one you’re pretty smart. He was good winning at Sapporo over 1200m back in August at his last start and it probably comes down to what sort of run he gets. If he’s able to wind up he could roll them. 5. Willydoit and 13. Seagulls Eleven probably next best.

How to play it: Linebacker EACH-WAY ($6 TAB Fixed Odds).

4. Maison Louis looks nicely placed in this race third-up after running a screamer when third behind Lindermann and Attrition in the Hill Stakes. We all know how good that form is. Found himself shuffled back a bit there too so for him to arrive for third was a big performance. Should be close to his peak now, draws a gate he can work with and has to be in the finish.

Dangers: 7. Matusalem is way over the odds getting to 2000m now. He was awesome first-up in the Tramway at 1400m then struck a very fast run race where nothing really ran on so his tenth behind Perfumist is better than it looks. He’ll be hitting the line nicely here and is a good each-way hope. 6. Wootton Verni has been a bit hard to catch since arriving in Oz but he got on the board with a win as favourite in the Coongy at Caulfield. Won’t have any reason not to reproduce that form here from a soft draw, JMac riding at 54.5kg. 1. Fawkner Park is one to be wary of. Won this race last year and is now with Ciaron Maher. He’s been disappointing in his two runs back prior to the stable switch but if the change of environment at Bong Bong does the trick he’s good enough to lift.

How to play it: Maison Louis WIN ($4 TAB Fixed Odds).

7. Golden Straand looks very much on the way up and he’s coming off a track record when scoring at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks ago. Did enjoy a nice run from a soft gate there and while he’s got a bit of work to do from a trickier alley he should be able to roll forward and find a spot. If he does then he’ll be the one to get past late.

Dangers: 6. Bartolf has hit his straps again this preparation with two wins from his past three including a strong, and well supported, win at the Farm coming from last in a seven horse field. Needs reasonably good ground and if he gets it he’s in the mix. 8. Polyglot has been racing in great touch without having any luck at the barrier draw and we all might look a bit silly dropping off him now he’s drawn ideally. But he has to do it at 1300m now. Must be included in the main hopes. 1. Money Team hasn’t raced since a smart win second-up at Warwick Farm about six weeks ago and he’s putting together a handy record. Down 1kg in weight after the claim, will need a little luck but hard to fault the way he goes about things.

How to play it: Golden Straand WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Golden Eagle meeting at Randwick