Latest News

By Ray Hickson

If 4. Crossbow can hold a little more forward position than he did when resuming it’ll take him a long way to winning out to a trip that looks suitable. He’s drawn to land right behind his two main dangers and if they have a wrestle for the lead he’ll get his chance to pounce. Came from last to run Central Coast to a head or so fresh as a big drifter in betting. Can only be better for it.

Dangers: 2. Pillow Fight won narrowly on debut then jumped into Listed grade at Eagle Farm where she led and boxed on okay behind Autumn Boy. Blinkers going on looks a plus and she has experience at the trip so she’s entitled to another chance. 3. Tomato Toastie rode the speed and was a bit too strong late on heavy 10 ground at her second start. Needs to do it on a much firmer surface this time but given her racing pattern so far she’ll have the opportunity. 6. Kokatahi has to be given some thought, he hit the lead in the race won by Central Coast and was only beaten just over half a length. Blinkers go on him so he is a likely improver too.

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

A very good Highway this week and 6. In Summer will be a major player. She won from the outside gate over this course before a spell, sweeping down the middle with a big turn of foot, and don’t think the heavy track first-up was completely to her liking. She did have her chance to win but was run down by a fitter horse at Newcastle. Doesn’t know how to run a bad race.

Dangers: 7. Red Rags To Bulls showed her own turn of foot when overcoming a slowly run race to score in a 1500m Highway at Rosehill two weeks ago. She’s really struck form since stepping beyond the sprint trips and no surprise to see her hold it. 15. Pensativa is probably the map horse in the race having drawn one and being a natural on pacer or thereabouts. She looked the winner at Rosehill only to be cut down by the aforementioned mare but there was a good gap to third. She will run well again. 14. Premise is very hard to line up. On one hand she’s absolutely thrown in with 55kg given her 94 rating but she hasn’t won for 853 days. Now had the three runs for the Dunn stable to be eligible for Highways and you’re asked to take a short price, she’s started $61 or better in those three runs in stronger grade. Capable but looks unders.

How to play it: In Summer WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

10. Callistemon must have been wondering what was happening last start as she found herself in the clear behind a reasonable tempo and able to wind up as she wanted before running out a solid winner. Same track and distance and while up 2kg she can land in a good spot again and no reason why she won’t be right in the finish as she’s been all prep so far.

Dangers: 4. Hasty Honey enjoyed a nice run in front second-up at Kensington and was untroubled in scoring a confidence boosting win, backing up a nice return effort. She’s very handy on her day and back to Midway level gives her the chance to be right there again. 6. Aix En Provence was a shade disappointing behind Callistemon last time out, he just held his ground without really looking a threat. Perhaps he landed too close to them and that took away any dash. Chance to be more conservative and he could bounce back. His stablemate 11. How Much Better is also a case to improve as while he was a beaten favourite at Rosehill second-up he was coming back to 1300m. Much better suited up to the mile now and while he’ll need some luck from the gate he’s not to be left out.

How to play it: Callistemon WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

No reason why 1. King’s Secret won’t be hard to beat again despite going up to the 60.5kg. Aside from his unplaced effort two starts back, when he had the thumps, he’s been working his way up the ladder impressively. He was strong on the line in winning last time and drawing a bit out at this starting point is no negative. Only has to hold his form to be in the finish.

Dangers: 3. Livin’ Thing is a danger, he meets the top weight 2.5kg better for a two length defeat and it’s fair to say he didn’t have the best of luck. He was relegated closer to last in some shuffling midrace and looked like he was going to be right in the finish before his run ended. Must give him another chance. 7. Stardeel is a real improver this time in and he was particularly dominant winning his maiden at Kensington second-up. This is a leap in grade of course against some tough, in-form, peers but he’s going to have his chance to measure up. 9. Flame Of Hestia has been well found in the market coming off an easy Wyong win when a $1.60 favourite. She sat handy and swept clear. Toughest test and all three wins have been fresh but has a case.

How to play it: King’s Secret WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

The wide barrier might be a blessing for 2. Piggyback who has likely been a victim of barrier one in her two defeats since she charged down the middle to win first-up. Could arguably have won both those races but either way she’s run very well without having things fall in her favour. Can be the master of her own destiny now and should take beating.

Dangers: 3. Federer was only second-up when finishing not far off his stablemate at Rosehill two weeks ago and he has the right set up to produce his best run for the preparation so far. He’s 1.5kg worse off for finishing behind Piggyback but does look a danger. 4. Misterkipchoge brought up his long awaited second win by claiming that race at Rosehill with a positive ride. He just got there and has to carry 3kg more but in the small field he will get his chance to repeat. If you trust him to. 6. Natural Deduction was scratched from Wednesday to run here and he bounced back to his best third-up with a solid win at Canterbury. Comes back 100m but capable of taking up a position and is in the mix.

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

10. Pippie Beach must be the starting point in a race that really could be anyone’s under the right circumstances. She’s run well in all three starts this time in, including a first-up win, but the way the race was run last time out didn’t give her any chance and she was outsprinted when running third behind She’s Unusual. Gets a 4kg weight drop, a nice soft gate and the edge off the track is what she likes. Has to run well.

Dangers: 4. Zaphod sat up handy and had his chance when a fading fourth behind Quantum Cat over this course three weeks ago. Can’t see any excuses there but finds a similar set up where he should be handy and now he’s fourth-up he should be peaking fitness wise. 3. Salt Lake City was expected to run well last time in the same race and he was fair you’d say in finishing just over two lengths off the winner. Again, he was third-up and off a big second-up run so perhaps an excuse there and he could produce something. 9. Morning Sun won at 1800m first-up last prep in midweek Benchmark 72 company and there wasn’t anything wrong with his latest trial. Can race on the handy side and a cheeky fresh effort wouldn’t surprise.

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

2. Yiska can be a bit hit and miss, his record tells you that, but he races well fresh and seems to race best when allowed to find his feet and swoop. That’s what happened first-up last time in when he beat, an admittedly very unlucky, Accredited at Canterbury. He can balance up from the wide gate and while you’re banking on some early pace bringing him into it he’s an each-way chance.

Dangers: 3. Lulumon is another swooper who won a very good form race when she claimed Storm The Ramparts and Hi Dubai to win over the 1000m three weeks ago. Up 2.5kg but if they are charging home from the back it’ll bring her right into the race again. 8. Cassiel is an up and comer who has put two wins at Benchmark 64 level together this time in. Races handy and while up in class he is down 5kg and that gives him the chance to be competitive. 4. Avone has her first run for Bjorn Baker on the back of two nice enough trials. She's found a winnable race and seems to have an on pace style that might come in handy now.

How to play it: Yiska EACH-WAY ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

8. Puntin looks a progressive type and he was able to get control and hold them off to score second-up at Rosehill. Steps out to the mile now which he’ll relish, he’s drawn to land right there in the lead or on pace again and he’s the one horse in this race that’s very likely not reached anywhere near his ceiling just yet. Bit of a moment of truth for him but he looks hard to beat.

Dangers: 12. Fiddlers Green caught everyone’s eye when storming home for fourth behind Puntin after winning first-up at the midweeks. Drew the outside there and went back but you’d imagine from a kinder gate he can be that little bit closer. Yet to win beyond 1400m but looks set to run a big race. 16. Sly Boots is another who comes through that race and in his case it was an excellent return after over a year off the scene as he was beaten under a length running on nicely. Has to be fitter and he is not to be left out of calculations. 4. Oh Diamond Lil returned to form with a handy second behind runaway winner It’s A Knockout third-up and draws to get a nice run around the speed. Is a winner at this track and distance in Midway company earlier this year. 7. Don’t Forget Jack was runner-up to Puntin and has to be thereabouts and 11. King Ratel is getting fitter after two good runs from a two year absence.

How to play it: Puntin WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

10. It’s A Knockout was awesome in winning first-up over the same track and distance last month, she landed in a great spot from a wide gate and simply powered away. It’s a rise in class now for her to Benchmark 88 but she gets a 1.5kg weight drop and a barrier perfect for her style. She’s already been Group 3 placed in mares company so it’s not foreign waters she’s stepping into and if she’s anything like the horse that turned up three weeks ago she’ll be hard to stop.

Dangers: The same can be said for 16. Getafix after his demolition in midweek company at Kensington carrying 61.5kg. He enjoyed being covered up and exploded away with almost a six length margin on the line. This is a sharper step in class but he did start $15 in a Hawkesbury Guineas prior. Respect. 11. Mickey’s Medal found himself back last and facing a big task in a race run strongly up front which likely took the finish out of him. Still did a good job to run fourth. Up in weight as he loses the claim but has to be included. 7. Razors made an acceptable return from a year off the scene when close up behind Accredited in Benchmark 94 grade. He’ll be fitter for that, down a notch in class and was stakes placed at this track and trip. Keep in mind.

How to play it: It’s A Knockout WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

5. Changing Colours was particularly dominant coming to Sydney off a month between runs and overcoming trouble to score an easy win at Rosehill two weeks ago. While she does up in the weights she’s meeting a largely similar group and if anything she’s drawn a lot better. It’s up to her to repeat that performance but nothing is saying she can’t.

Dangers: 15. Fairway Star couldn’t quite match her turn of foot late but did a good job to run second having returned with a handy effort behind Sacred Rocks. One of the each-way chances again. 10. Slinky isn’t too far off a win looking at her two runs back from a spell over shorter trips. Ran on strongly from last behind Lady Extreme last time out and with a big turnaround at the barriers she could be dangerous. 3. Liberty State was awesome winning first-up from back and wide on a heavy track then an even effort in the same race as Slinky, finishing just ahead of her. In the conversation again.

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

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