Race-by-race tips and preview for Randwick on Saturday

Race 1: 12:30PM IN MEMORY OF SAM KAVANAGH HANDICAP (1600M)

4. Hyperbolic has her first attempt at the mile but on the evidence of her second-up win she won’t find the trip an issue. Granted she had a nice run behind the pace at Rosehill two weeks ago but there’s every chance it pans out similarly for her. Usually holds her form and looks hard to beat. 1. Fear No Evil did appear to have his chance at Newcastle a month ago when second-up off a win in Victoria. He’s been back to the trials so presents fitter and could be a bit harder to run down. 3. Editing was a bit plain in her first two runs this time before striking heavy ground at Kembla Grange three weeks ago where she charged at the line in second over 1400m. Unlikely to get a heavy track but at peak now and sure to be running on. 6. Deal N’ Dash showed plenty of promise in his first prep and found it too short and sharp when resuming at 1300m at Hawkesbury. Rise in trip ideal for him and stays under notice.
How to play it: Hyperbolic WIN

Gringotts (left) wins a thrilling George Ryder Stakes in March.Credit: Getty Images

Race 2: 1:05PM MAX BRENNER HIGHWAY PLATE (1000M)

Wide open Highway. 20. Bengal resumes without a trial but he gets in nicely with the claim under the set weights conditions. He was sharp winning over 1100m fresh last time in at Randwick and promises to find a good run behind what should be a generous tempo. No public trial but he’s had a jump out and a good each-way hope. 17. Lady Olenna is one of the starting points for the race, she settled back and then threw her head around back in the field, which couldn’t have helped her cause. Did a good job to run into second and has a different set up if she can use the inside gate. 15. Madrina is well-placed back to Highway grade and while back to the 1000m she’s drawn to get a nice run off the pace. Chased home a handy one in a Rosehill Highway two runs back and has to be respected. 1. Massira is another who is well weighted and he’s back in class after resuming behind Spywire and Hawker Hall at Kembla. That’s handy form for a country race. Will need a bit of luck but wide gates aren’t as big a deal for this starting point.
How to play it: Bengal EACH-WAY

Race 3: 1:40PM ORAN PARK MIDWAY HANDICAP (1200M)

2. Alabama State doesn’t often have the best of luck, as was the case last time, but he should be left with no excuses. Went back from the outside a month ago at Rosehill and was left an impossible task behind a smart winner. Did a great job to run fourth. Gate one, 3kg off again and there’s plenty to like about his chances. 3. Iron Hawk ran right up to his handy trial performance when resuming behind Theblade at Rosehill last month. He did weaken late so back to 1200m will suit and if he can back up that run then he’s a major player at good odds. 13. Oui Oui Oui is a Midway winner of the future and while drawn out she is a realistic chance. It’s a fair enough start point for a wide gate and she tends to get back a bit so will be looking for a back to follow. Won well fresh as a $1.35 chance at Newcastle. 16. Octa De Lago is another up and comer and he hit the line with purpose late at Hawkesbury when resuming. Gets back from the gate again but down 4kg and sure to be charging home.
How to play it: Alabama State WIN

Race 4: 2:15PM JACK INGHAM AO HANDICAP (1200M)

What price 4. Snack Bar had he drawn a single figure? Whether you think he should have won on protest first-up it was a strong effort and is the type of horse that doesn’t run a bad race. Has a bit of a job from the outside but there’s every chance he can get a cart across onto the speed, or just off it. Again it’s a decent start for wide gates so can’t see them being negative. Chance to atone. 2. Axius was a winner first-up last time in after getting a perfect run from a soft gate and that’s looking a likely scenario. The one public trial but you’d imagine there’s been a jump out since, he’s lightly raced and should run well fresh. 10. Miss Kim Kar would relish a fast run if she can get one. Her second trial was handy and while she will improve on whatever she does, she’s a chance to knock them out. 11. Smashing Time looks to run his best from the front, at least that’s the evidence from his two runs this time. Went for home at the top of the straight at Kembla three weeks ago and reeled in late. Could give a sight.
How to play it: Snack Bar WIN

Race 5: 2:50PM INGLIS NURSERY (1000M)

1. Bohemian Rhapsody wasn’t disgraced on debut at Flemington last month, he hit the front and was run down but sure to have taken improvement. Found the line hard late to win a trial against older horses at Albury to give him experience in the Sydney direction. Should run well in an open race. 3. Internal Affairs wasn’t overly fancied on debut at Rosehill and he did quite a good job to box on for fourth behind Fireball after facing the breeze. Better for that and drawn for some cover. Likely improver. 2. Elio looked to have his chance at Newcastle on debut over the 900m but he did hold his ground okay. Sent back to the trials suggesting he needed the work and/or extra experience and he could run an improved race too. 5. Vatican was a $1.3 million purchase and has been to the trials twice. The latest was okay but trials can be misleading. Should be respected.
How to play it: Bohemian Rhapsody WIN

Race 6: 3:25PM BOB INGHAM AO HANDICAP (1800M)

Hard to fault 1. Collect The Cash who dug in to score first-up in testing conditions at Kembla Grange three weeks ago. Puts himself on the speed and right in his zone distance wise and can only be better for that first-up win. He does rise 2.5kg but can’t see him doing anything else but being competitive. 9. Rotagilla is the up and comer who fended off a handy one in Meridiana when scoring over this distance at Rosehill. Creeps up in class now but he also has more upside than most here so he should be hard to beat. 8. Mr Buster has found his form in Queensland. He’s been dominant so earns a shot at something a bit tougher. Wouldn’t surprise if he measures up. 4. Sun God ran up to good support to win over a similar trip at Newcastle a month ago. Faces a different set up from a wide gate but going too well this time in to leave out.
How to play it: Collect The Cash WIN

Race 7: 4:05PM MENDING BROKEN HEARTS CHRISTMAS CUP (2400M)

10. Hollywood Hero rarely puts in a bad one and that makes him a good chance in any race. Can he run out 2400m is the big question. He had support at 2000m last time when closing off into third and being the fresh horse on the scene in the staying ranks makes him appealing. This is his chance. 2. Huetor ran a much improved race two starts ago but couldn’t repeat it behind Major Beel last time. Has proven effective at the trip in the past. If he’s going to rebound it could be here. 3. Future History probably finds the front again from the inside and getting back to this sort of trip probably aids him. Gave a sight in the Beauford two runs back and if he produces that he’s an each-way chance. 1. Asterix had a nice run and was able to prevail in that race, turning his form around. Needs to back it up from a wide gate but it’s certainly no harder. Just a question of whether he can be trusted with so many zeroes in his form before that win.
How to play it: Hollywood Hero WIN

Race 8: 4:45PM THE INGHAM (1600M)

Plenty of reasons to argue that 1. Gringotts could meet his match. Outside barrier, 61kg, failure in this race last year. The horse to beat and you’re getting a decent price. Been brilliant with big weights in his past three, was dominant in the Big Dance as was his win in The Gong. It comes down to what sort of run he can get and if it works out for him. Hard to stop. 13. Yorkshire is the up and comer who is building a handy record. Bounced back from cardiac arrhythmia when expected to fire in The Hunter to win the Festival from the front. Gets in nice and light and could use Gringotts to a degree to find his spot. Respect. 3. Estadio Mestalla meets Gringotts on similar weight terms to The Gong where he ran his usual gallant race. If he’s going to beat that horse then he has a chance with a favourable set up with a middle gate. Definite chance. 20. Sabaj is the X-factor. Was fancied in the Silver Eagle fresh and was unlucky behind Linebacker and has been awesome in his Flemington and Cranbourne wins from back and wide. So he’ll be familiar with that scenario. Highly promising.
How to play it: Gringotts WIN

Race 9: 5:20PM COOLMORE SPELLING @ MOUNT WHITE RAZOR SHARP (1200M)

12. Weeping Woman has come back a stronger this preparation and the way this looks to pan out she’s going be a big chance at stakes level. Lumped 61kg in deteriorating ground at Kembla second-up against the mares and drops 8kg on that with two noted front-runners to take a trail behind. Looks a good set up for her and entitled to feature. 3. Barber goes around at good odds and he did a big job to finish on for second in the Starlight from well off them on the turn. He’d appreciate a fast run. An each-way hope. 1. Coal Crusher has been kept fresh since his game win in The Hunter and you know what you’re going to get with him. Any rain would be a big boost but regardless he’ll roll forward and give a big sight. 10. Brave One is building a handy record and was able to lead all the way at Newcastle on The Hunter meeting, running about five lengths slower than Coal Crusher. Has some work to do to come up to this level but he has the light weight to give him that chance.
How to play it: Weeping Woman WIN

Race 10 - 5:55PM SADDLES @ MOUNT WHITE HANDICAP (1400M)

2. Asgarda is in top form without winning and she might have a good chance to break through. Forced to lead in the Little Dance and battled on to fourth before again leading at Kembla. Went down fighting on heavy ground to run third. Back to 1400m, she won’t need to lead this and if she can find a spot up there she’ll be in the finish. Any rain would help her too. 4. Bojangles is another consistent type who should get his chance from a soft barrier. Shade disappointing at Newcastle when fancied but tried hard back to Midway grade last time. Each-way hope. 3. Yes Lulu only got warm at the finish when chasing Midnight Dynamite on heavy ground at Kembla. Rounded them up on a good track before that at Rosehill. Blinkers on is an interesting change. In the mix.
How to play it: Asgarda EACH-WAY

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