Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Selections based on a heavy track.

The race fit 3. Mal Coupe should give himself every chance to continue his steady rise through the grades. He has good gate speed which he used to great effect winning at Canterbury late last month and gets a 2.5kg drop in his favour. He’s shown a liking for soft and heavy ground and while what he strikes this time is a more testing track than he’s seen he has first use and can give a good sight.

Dangers: 5. Rantan is arguably the best credentialed horse in the race but things just don’t seem to go her way. Back to Midway grade now after a solid fourth at Randwick two weeks ago where she boxed on well nearer the inside on a day they were tending to get wider. If she can make some use of the draw it'd be handy but this is comfortably the easiest race she’s struck this time in. 6. Apache Breeze is racing well and chased home Mal Coupe at Hawkesbury before another second at Kensington behind Epic Proportions. He hasn’t seen a heavy track but is fit and is an each-way hope. 10. Change My Address is the one that’s hard to line up. A three-year-old filly taking on older horses first-up at just her third start. She did win on a heavy 10 on debut but didn’t reproduce back in June on a heavy 8 at this track. Drawn well, light weight, she could feature.

How to play it: Mal Coupe WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Not concerned about the big weight for 1. Duke Of Bronte, nor the wide barrier for that matter, as he looks well suited coming back to Highway grade. While a beaten favourite first-up behind Mal Coupe he showed improvement up in class at Randwick two weeks ago where he loomed as the winner before being outgunned late by Regimental Colours. That should be good form for this. He has a go forward pattern and at the 1000m will be hard to beat.

Dangers: 13. Nation Changing beat a handy type on debut at Scone then backed it up with an easy Class 1 win at Armidale in April. It’s been a month since his last trial win, he’s reportedly had another jump out in the lead up to this race, and he looks promising. Have to respect with the light weight. 3. Exit Fee is a talent but can be a little hit and miss so his record suggests. Shade unlucky not to win at this track first-up then odds-on and didn’t perform to his best after getting a nice run. Back to 1000m might see him ridden conservatively. 4. Cambar started with a flurry winning his first three starts including a Rosehill Highway back in November, on a soft 7. He’s been fitted with two trials, has drawn well and no surprise to see him show up if he’s here (noting he was scratched from last weekend).

How to play it: Duke Of Bronte WIN ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

2. Regimental Colours just has to tick the 1200m box and she’ll be right in the finish once again. There were good signs in her win two weeks ago where she surged through the line to defy Duke Of Bronte’s finish. That’s a positive heading out to this trip for the first time. Small field suits, draws to lead if desired or to stalk and she’s a big chance.

Dangers: 3. Useapin is on the back up after running on into fourth behind Stardeel last week on the heavy 10 and that’ll have her in good stead for another testing track. Her sectionals were pretty slick as usual and she’s a threat. 1. Dollar Magic can never be denied a chance and she does meet Useapin 2kg better for a nose defeat at Rosehill three weeks back. That was her 14th second placing so you know what you’re going to get with her. Nobody would begrudge her another win. 6. Fleeting Spirit cruised home nicely in her recent trial and she's a horse that kept improving through her first prep. Can place at least.

How to play it: Regimental Colours WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

1. Stardeel is starting to come of age this preparation and he did everything right when leading all the way at Rosehill last week on that heavy track. The back up should be of no concern and he’s already been placed at the trip when arguably not racing as well. Expect he will go forward again and potentially lead and he has to be a big chance to win again.

Dangers: 5. Amreekiyah steps up in class after making it three from three with an impressive burst to win at Canterbury first-up last month. That was her first look at a wet track, a soft 7, and she did it well with 61kg. She has shown versatility and if she’s close at the 200m she’ll take holding out. 2. Axius looked pretty handy winning first-up before having his chance at Rosehill three weeks ago though only beaten a couple of lengths by Yoshinobu. Has to go 1400m on a heavy track, he may love it or he may not. 7. Pretty Powerful had no luck first-up but was a touch disappointing when he emerged a month later at Canterbury. Inclined to forgive a little, he was back 50m with that gap between runs.

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

6. Bonita Queen is a fast mare as she showed in her recent trial win and 1000m is very much right up her alley fresh considering the wet track. She hasn’t seen a heavy previously but her dam was competent in it at her only attempt. So that’s somewhat encouraging. She’ll roll to the lead and we’ll know about 300m out whether she’s handling the ground.

Dangers: 8. Bundeena backed up his strong first-up win with a game third behind Cigar Flick when up to 1100m two weeks back. He hit the front there and was run down so coming back in trip with some nice cover is a good set up for him. Looks a threat. 4. World Alliance comes through the same race and he charged home from the back to run into second. He will be giving away a head start but if he’s somehow within striking range he could run over the top without surprising. 5. Hi Dubai put in a rare poor one in that race weakening to run eighth but have to give her another chance on her previous form. She was close up over this track and trip twice earlier in the prep and can show up.

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

Whenever Joe Pride throws the blinkers on a horse for the first time a few runs into a prep it’s always worth taking note of and that’s the case with 14. Elle Hudson. He’s been threatening to win a race since he resumed with a nice third behind Getafix and last time he was forced to make a couple of runs but you had to like the way he stuck on to run third. If the inside holds up he’s going to get a more economical passage and is a good each-way hope.

Dangers: 2. Knights Armour is racing well coming through the grades and he won nicely on a heavy 10 three starts back before beating many of his rivals in this event at Rosehill. Handles all ground and the claim is a plus so can’t be overlooked. 6. Piggyback is on the back up after battling on into third at Rosehill last week behind Juja Kibo. A heavy is no issue for her obviously, question is whether she can stretch out further in trip. 8. Funambulist had a smooth run and ran up to some support when winning that race Elle Hudson contested at the Farm. Likes it wet and just has to back it up.

How to play it: Elle Hudson EACH-WAY ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

2. Kerguelen has been a little maligned this time around though he did kick off with a win on a heavy track at Rosehill. There’s plenty to like about the form around his last start second behind King Of Roseau, now a Group 3 winner, and he’ll get back onto his preferred heavy ground. Now with Joe Pride and back in class he’s sure to be a major player.

Dangers: 12. Theblade resumes as a gelding and it’ll be interesting to see if that’s significant as he’s been a little disappointing since his impressive debut win. Granted he bumped into Private Harry in one of those two starts but on his favoured ground. Nice recent trial and entitled to show something. 4. Cruel Summer is a genuine heavy track horse and if he happens to find the lead he could give some cheek. Led when scoring back-to-back heavy track wins a few months ago but hasn’t been able to lead his last couple. One at odds who could surprise. 9. Winston Hills is an interesting runner resuming with a strong fresh record and some wet track form. Competitive in this grade at his last few runs and would be including him in the chances.

How to play it: Kerguelen WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

4. General Salute has found an excellent race to return in following an autumn/winter campaign where he showed a glimpse of his potential. Super win in the Star Kingdom on a soft 7 coming from the back then game in the Healy at Eagle Farm. He’s trialled once and slid home well setting him up to be hard to beat fresh. Small field suits as he can get back but barrier one may offset it. If he handles the ground he’ll take stopping.

Dangers: 2. Robusto shouldn’t be underestimated despite coming back to 1200m. He’s very well in at the weights and is pretty fit with three runs back including his last start win in the Winter Challenge with 60kg. 7. Romeo’s Choice continued his rise through the grades when he denied Storm The Ramparts in open company at Rosehill second-up. Won fresh on a heavy 10 and while drawn the outside it’s not beyond him to run well again. 5. Brudenell comes here fresh having been cut down on the line by In Flight in the Bob Charley AO two months ago. Goes forward and generally handles the wet and he’s not to be left out.

How to play it: General Salute WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

16. Saltcoats has the hoof right on the till third-up after an excellent effort behind Robusto in the Winter Challenge. He was supported at each-way odds and ran right up to it with a nice late burst to run into third. Crying out for the step up in distance so the 1800m suits now, he’s down in the weights and both his Australian wins have come at Randwick. Major chance.

Dangers: 12. Glory Daze was a winner on a very testing heavy track back in May and his two subsequent runs have been sound for placings in the Lord Mayors and McKell Cups. Should put himself somewhere near the speed and is a definite threat. 13. Royal Supremacy finally found something like his best form with a win over this track and distance a month ago on a soft 5. Gets a weight drop with the claim and it’s up to him to hold his form now. 3. Asterix hasn’t raced since being outclassed in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes but his three runs prior to that were all good enough to give him a sneaky chance fresh. Liked his first-up run at a mile last time in and he could be an upset hope.

How to play it: Saltcoats WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

6. Glad You Think So couldn’t have been more impressive in breaking through for his first win for almost two years when he stormed home to score over this track and trip two weeks ago. Granted it was in Midway grade but he did run third in a very strong BM78 when resuming behind It’s A Knockout. Finds James McDonald and a repeat performance sees him hard to beat.

Dangers: 3. Puntin was a beaten favourite when stepping up to 1800m last time and it’s unclear whether it was the extra trip or the testing ground or a combination of both. Chance to find out here back to the mile from an inside gate. 12. Mornington Pier has been excellent in both wins this time in on wet tracks and while up in class he should be strong at the finish. If they’re running on he’s an each-way chance. 5. Nana’s Wish is consistent of late and followed her two midweek wins with a sound third over the 1800m two weeks ago. Drawn well again and can hold form and be competitive.

How to play it: Glad You Think So WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

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