By Nick Berney
ROYAL RANDWICK – VALUE BET: Race 1 # 15 – POWERS OF OPAL
She is lightly raced and profiles to be a potential sharp improver second-up. She was specked late in the trade first-up at Warwick Farm, and her run had sectional merit. The filly wasn't suited to the race shape, but she built momentum, making up significant ground to hit the line hard, running fourth and clocking the meeting's quickest final 200m split. She gets in with no weight, and her effort/figure behind subsequent Group 1 Broadsiding in the Listed Fernhill Mile (1600m) lines up well for this assignment. Each-way.
ROYAL RANDWICK – VALUE BET: Race 6 # 8 – LAZZURA
The three-year-old filly resumes from a spell and was impressive last campaign, winning two races in style. She has trialled well and always indicated she would come back improved in her second preparation. The Chris Waller-trained galloper is a nice type with acceleration and has the closing speed to put her in the finish. In addition, she maps to be smothered away doing no work and has the attributes to make the step-in grade. Each-way.
ROYAL RANDWICK – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 9 # 3 – DEMOCRACY MANIFEST
He had too much to first-up in the Show County Quality (1200m) behind Joliestar but flashed home to finish fourth. The six-year-old had the pace/bias against him, but he ran on well and clocked hidden closing splits relative to his finishing position. Punter's Intelligence recorded that he ran some of the meetings fastest final 600m/400m/200m sectionals in 33.09/21.92/11.22. He draws tricky, but his career peak figure came second-up last prep, 1400m is ideal, and Nash Rawiller sticks.
MUDGEE – COUNTRY PICK: Race 1 # 2 – EGYPTOLOGIST
Like him, and he is set to break through for his maiden win with a positive race setup. Nothing went right first-up for the now Brett Thompson trained gelding after he overraced in a slowly run event, but once he got his mind on the job, he hit the line hard with the clock backing up his late visual strength. All key indicators suggest he can step off that performance; the rise in distance is ideal, and he brings a dominant ratings profile.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting