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By Ray Hickson

5. Aix En Provence has a nice set up to track the speed and looks to have come back in outstanding order with an easy win under 61kg at Newcastle. It was a heavy track but he’s proven to be a consistent performer regardless of the ground. If that win is a sign he has improved then he’s going to be right in the finish.

Dangers: 12. Callistemon seems to hit a flat spot in her races but she also had a checkered passage before bursting through to claim a placing in the 1500m Midway two weeks ago. She doesn’t tend to have a lot of early speed so probably faces giving away a start but things only need to pan out in her favour to be hard to beat. 2. Hellfire Express led all the way in his Midway win two weeks ago where he started $15. He might have a bit more competition for the lead this time around but with the claim he drops in weight and can give a good sight. 4. Piraeus will give away a start as usual but he runs on and in the smaller field he could ambush them late if things go his way.

How to play it: Aix En Provence WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

11. Calico Miss is showing a lot of promise and makes her Highway debut after a runaway win at Scone where she led and carried the 59.5kg with ease. She should put herself right there from the inside barrier, 1200m is ideal and she drops 5kg. Obviously this is her toughest test but hard to fault what she’s done so far.

Dangers: 1. Shropshire Lad can make things difficult for himself but he’s a smart performer at this level with scope for further improvement. Looked the winner of the Highway two weeks ago and was just outgunned late. Not too concerned with the barrier for him, he’s a big fellow and any cover he gets will help his cause. 3. Exit Fee is the big query first-up since March where he didn’t have the ideal set up coming back to 1000m having won at 1300m a week earlier. His overall Highway form is very strong, he won a trial three weeks ago and if all is in order he can be dangerous. 7. Cougars is racing well and gets a 4.5kg drop on his popular win at Goulburn last week. He’s an honest type and while this is tougher he could easily find himself somewhere in the finish.

How to play it: Calico Miss WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

10. Lunaite has shown plenty of promise as she’s picked off a couple of provincial wins on end at Newcastle, racing up on the speed on heavy tracks and proving too strong. Last week’s Midway winner Motoscafo was some four lengths behind her in the latest win. Doubt a soft track would be any disadvantage and she’ll put herself up on pace and give herself every chance.

Dangers: 5. Secure is another who has struck form with successive wins in town at Canterbury in a maiden then Warwick Farm up to BM72. Drawn to get a nice smother just behind the pace and no reason he won’t hold form and be competitive. 4. Brave One has found one better in two runs back on heavy tracks which on evidence so far is ground he enjoys. He hasn’t lived up to the support in two runs on good or soft tracks but this is his chance to dispel that idea. Has to be included in the chances. 6. Smashing Time has possibly passed his D-Day but he did make some ground last time in the Midway and he gets a soft draw and an improving track in his favour. No doubt he has the ability and it wouldn’t shock if he boobed up.

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

2. Seafall enjoyed the right run when he pounced to win second-up at Warwick Farm then went right back off a wide gate at Rosehill and worked home without threatening when the race changed complexion as Half Yours circles the field. Back to gate one here she can be more prominent and make more of an impact.

Dangers: 12. Millie De Lune landed in a good spot midfield and tracked the speed in a race that chopped and changed a lot over the 2000m a fortnight ago. Trickier draw for her this time but she’s racing well and is one of the chances. 3. Pippie Beach has regained form this time in and followed a heavy track fresh win with a narrow defeat in the same race as Piggyback where she looked the winner only to be ambushed late. If that’s the right form she’s right in this. 9. She's Unusual might be able to find an on pace spot from her wide gate and while she does like the wet she might have found the very testing ground last time a bit tough. Fresh and could bounce back.

How to play it: Seafall WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

11. Hopper is a promising type who did quite a good job when chasing home Mickey’s Medal at Rosehill three weeks back, that horse confirming the form with another win last weekend. The mile should prove to be no issue, same grade and a track on the better side of soft is ideal. A good each-way chance at very least.

Dangers: 2. Sounds Unusual was far too good as a long odds-on favourite when scoring third-up at Warwick Farm at his third run at the mile or the preparation. Stays at that trip again and you’d imagine a negative ride from the outside gate but he’ll be hitting the line strongly. If he’s not here come race morning look for him in a 2000m race soon. 5. Miss Kim Kar appeared to have her chance as favourite against the mares two weeks ago but perhaps the slowly run race didn’t suit her. She’s honest and with the claim drops a bit in weight and is worth another chance. 6. Engine Room looked to get things back on track to a degree when close up behind Hellfire Express. Has the chance to consolidate and be competitive here.

How to play it: Hopper EACH-WAY ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

10. Quantum Cat hasn’t yet won on a grass track but can’t imagine he will find a better chance to win one than this particular race. He showed a win was close with a narrow defeat to Jamberoo at Hawkesbury then while beaten he wasn’t disgraced on that very testing Randwick track a month ago. The freshen is in his favour, back on to track on the better side of soft and he maps to get the perfect run. Has to be hard to stop.

Dangers: 2. Hollywood Hero found himself in another postcode back in the field last time and he did a great job to finish as close as he did in sixth. Up 200m and smaller field suits, if he’s in contact on the turn he’ll be breathing down their necks late. 4. Zaphod was game in defeat behind Les Vampires first-up over this track and distance then started favourite and couldn’t pick his feet up on the heavy ground behind Glory Daze. This surface should suit him better and he could bounce back. 1. Salt Lake City ran a cheeky race at big odds behind Loch Eagle, finishing ahead of Hollywood Hero, after a wide run. Chance to improve further.

How to play it: Quantum Cat WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

2. Gitalong has the right platform to turn the tables on Storm The Ramparts for their clash two weeks ago over this track and distance. He has a 3kg weight advantage, a firmer surface and an advantage at the barrier draw over the top weight. He has found one better in all three runs this time in but it’s the right scenario for him to break through now.

Dangers: 1. Storm The Ramparts is hard to fault as he aims for three straight around the Randwick 1000m. He’s won with 56kg and 58.5kg and now has to shoulder 61.5kg from an outside gate, the gate being less of a concern with one turn to negotiate. In peak form and impossible to ignore. 3. Hi Dubai has a 5kg swing in her favour over Storm The Ramparts for running third behind him a month ago on a heavy track. Fresh with that gap between runs and while staying at 1000m is probably not the ideal she can’t be left out. 10. West Of Dalby is a potential knockout horse at odds. Only had the one run for Matt Dale and that was before a spell so she starts with a clean slate. She wasn’t let go at all in his Goulburn trial and while her form doesn’t read very well if she finds her best she’s a sneaky chance.

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

1. Raikkonen is a dual acceptor and while he has 61kg after the clam he does look too good for benchmark 78 level if he runs here. Beat a subsequent winner when resuming then did an enormous job from a wide gate in the Fred Best at Doomben earlier this month. He has tactical speed if it’s needed and he’ll be hard to hold off.

Dangers: If he’s not here then it’s a big chance for 9. Captain Amelia to break through. She hasn’t been able to find a firmish track and a favourable draw in three runs this time in. Looking back at last prep on better surfaces she was in excellent form around this track and distance. Expect her to run her best race for the preparation. 11. It’s A Knockout is a big watch first-up with the claim after her form tapered off last time in. She kicked off with a close second at 1300m then placed in Group 3 mares company second-up. More than capable of making an impact fresh down in the weights. 6. Oh Diamond Lil deserves another chance after a shock failure second-up. Beat Mickey's Medal at Scone fresh and that's proven good form.

How to play it: Raikkonen WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds)/Captain Amelia ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds) EACH-WAY.

21. Raikkonen as mentioned above is a promising horse and he’s going to be hard to beat if he can get into this field. The draw suits him nicely to take up a striking position in a race that should be truly run and allow horses to settled and hit the line. And with 53kg he’d be able to do a little bit of work if need be. Clear top pick.

Dangers: 13. Headley Grange is no slouch as he showed with a solid win first-up two weeks ago where he was strong on the line. He’s now run first or second in his last eight starts. Can only be better for that and 1400m with a good gate can only mean he’ll be somewhere in the finish. 6. Grebeni is another honest campaigner and he’s just found one or two better of late on softer tracks than he’ll likely meet here. That’s in his favour, he’s drawn well once again and can only assume he’ll continue to hold his form and be competitive. 5. Bases Loaded is an interesting runner first-up since the Silver Eagle. He’s been gelded and he’s trialled okay. First-up last time in he was narrowly beaten by Encap at Group 2 level in the Theo Marks so if he produces something like that he'll be competitive.

How to play it: Raikkonen WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

10. Razors hasn’t raced for a year but he’s a handy type who was Group 2 placed last year and looks to have had a nice build up with an excellent second trial a couple of weeks ago. Any support would be an encouragement but have to keep him safe.

Dangers: 11. Step Aside was too good first-up for King Of Roseau, who won last week, then not disgraced down at Sandown when running on at 1400m. Back in trip but conditions suit and down in the weights. Each-way chance. 19. Kerguelen proved a shade too strong for Brave One when resuming on a heavy track. All but one of his runs have come on heavy ground, and he was beaten at odds-on that day by a horse that’s over 10/1 in this field. Plus the wide gate. He’s lightly raced so that’s on his side but don’t think there’s any value in him. 14. Fully Lit should be much fitter for one run from a 14 month absence where he led and just felt the pinch on the heavy ground at Rosehill behind Kerguelen. Fitter and blinkers first time he’s a likely improver.

How to play it: Razors EACH-WAY ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

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