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By Tony Megahey

Like a flashing blue light on a dark desert highway for punters, new Class 2 sprinter Somerton Sniper beat Group and Listed mare Opal Ridge in a recent Tamworth trial and then was dominant winning on his home track.

Opal Ridge of course then won the Listed Ortensia at Scone and while she was obviously hard held in the trial, inexperienced Somerton Sniper was also unextended and is low level flying with 54kg with Jason Collett into a TAB $120.000 Class 3, 1100m TAB Highway at Royal Randwick and an inside draw.

Tamworth trainer Sue Grills (Pic: Bradley Photos).

As good form as it gets into a Country Class 3.

While the Shooting To Win protégé is first emergency, he is certain to secure a run with inevitable scratchings from wide draws. And several acceptors not declaring jockeys already.

Meanwhile for Sue Grills, an esteemed near five-decade former jockey and trainer, Somerton Sniper is two wins from just three starts. And following the trial, the 57.14 seconds winning a country Class 2, 1000m off speed at Tamworth three weeks ago is exceptional for a restricted sprinter.

It compares favourably enough with the track record.

And a previous Armidale maiden win was just as strong with the experience now of just three race starts and two trials. Logical upside into Saturday’s Class 3.

However, Sue put it in perspective with the family-owned Shooting To Win, four-year-old gelding.

“The trial was just that, they cruised around, just tick over work,” she said.

“There were faster times that day. Look this gelding has done all we’ve asked, he has the makings of a good horse, it's early days, so hopefully.

“That winning time is a really smart run but not any track record. They’ve been running really fast times up here from a new starting chute at the 1000m.

“But we don’t want a heavy track. More rain is forecast, and they had to call the later races off at Rosehill so it’s a weather watch.”

However, headquarters is renowned for its recovery rate and all-weather capabilities. At present a heavy, has taken light rain with more forecast in ensuing days.

“I’ve got to make a decision there, as I travel down on Friday when I’ve got city runners.”

It’s one of the most wide-open episodes this season with promising series newcomers in Somerton Sniper and Joe Cleary’s Soul Lady. While Nipotino, back in distance, Extra Flash and Wilbury (17) have proven Highway form.

However many, like Sue, are anxiously monitoring the weather before they confirm.

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