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By Ray Hickson

They've qualified through a range of Country Cups run across New South Wales in the past 12 months and converge on Royal Randwick on Tuesday chasing a slice of $3 million in the Big Dance (1600m). Here's an in-depth look at the chances of every runner in the feature race.

1. Cepheus (Matthew Dunn, South Grafton Cup winner): If weights don’t worry you it’s hard to punch too many holes in his form since he won the South Grafton Cup with the 62kg. He gave the runner-up 6kg in winning the Alan Brown and while he did miss a run there was nothing wrong at all with his trial performance a bit over a week ago. He’s again been blessed with a perfect barrier for his style where he should be able to keep in touch with what could be a solid tempo. An improving track is a plus and he will be hard to beat.

2. Banju (Lyle Chandler, Tamworth Cup winner): Not sure what has happened to this usually very honest miler this time around. He rushed through the grades last summer and beat No Compromise over this course in one of them. He was super brave at the 1900m of the Parramatta Cup, run down late, and freshened up to win at Tamworth. He was beaten 21 lengths here second-up but he had a big excuse after being flattened on the home turn and was eased up. Wonder where he would have finished as he’d enjoyed an okay run behind the winner to that point. On his best he could give cheek but the confidence looks out of him.

3. Attractable (Sara Ryan, Coffs Harbour Cup winner): His first-up run in the Alan Brown was excellent after setting a solid tempo. He kicked away early in the straight and was only run down over the last 150m. Expect he will be much fitter for that and he’s had a trial in the interim. He’s tended to improve with a run under his belt and from where he’s drawn he should land up outside the lead or in the first few. He’s shown he’s quite tough and if he hits the front at any stage can be hard to run past.

Attractable (Pic: Steve Hart)

4. Wicklow (Chris Waller, Wagga Cup winner): Appears to have had the perfect preparation for his second attempt at this race, he ran fifth last year toward the end of a long campaign. Did a great job to run into third when resuming over the mile behind Unspoken and that was on the back of three trials so he’s clearly been set for this second-up. There should be enough pace to suit his style and won’t have to do a lot of work from an inside gate. Will need the breaks at the right time and if he gets them then he goes very close.

5. Superium (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes, Port Macquarie Cup): He’d been winless for almost a year before scoring at Taree in the Port Macquarie Cup, and for 18 months before that. The race at Taree, while a jump to a foreign trip, set up perfectly for him and he was too sharp late. In his defence he has now put two good runs together, whether he’s strong enough for the Randwick mile is questionable, even if a 2000m winner last start, and he’s a place chance.

6. Commando Hunt (Cameron Crockett, Scone & Muswellbrook Cup winner): It’s unusual to see zeroes against this gelding’s name from his two runs back as he’s normally quite an honest performer. They have been in fairly strong company but you’d just like to have seen him finish midfield at least instead of near the tail. Given a solid hitout to win a trial recently and if he reproduces his Scone Cup winning effort he’s good enough to be competitive here. A bit of fire off the track is a plus but he still has to be taken on trust.

7. Akasawa (Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich, Gunnedah Cup winner): Perfectly placed to earn his spot in this race at Gunnedah in May where he made light work of 63.5kg to win by almost five lengths. He was selected for The Kosciuszko so resumed there at 1200m and he wasn’t disgraced in a midfield finish over the unsuitable trip. Whether he can now jump straight to a mile and fire from a wide gate is a question and it will be a big effort if he can. Did beat Unspoken over 1700m earlier this year but will need luck.

8. Iknowastar (Bjorn Baker, Dubbo Cup winner): His eight career wins have come in his past 10 starts so he’s clearly a horse flying through his grades. He has the racing style of ‘catch me if you can’ and you wouldn’t imagine those tactics will be changing too much here. Gets an 8kg drop on his win over the 1550m at Kensington and is drawn to find the fence first. Has to hit a new peak to win this but it’s hard to ignore his chances.

9. Camaguey (Kim Waugh, Mudgee Cup winner): Changed hands from Godolphin not too long after he won the Mudgee Cup and he’s had the benefit of being able to be set for this race. Showed he was heading the right way by winning over 1800m at Randwick back in July and won’t know himself with 53kg after his two runs back with 7.5kg more. Against him is the wide gate. There was enough in his last run to suggest he’s ready to peak, he will need plenty of luck though.

10. Hollywood Hero (Bjorn Baker, Coonamble Cup winner): Another of these up and coming horses from the Baker yard and this is his tenth run for the preparation. He was thrown in a Group 1 as a three-year-old off his maiden win but this time in he’s sneaking through the grades well. Big run from well back in the Dubbo Cup for fourth and again hit the line okay in the Bathurst Cup before his popular win at Coonamble. Since then he’s run well in Saturday grade over this course and is an each-way chance.

11. Full Press (Brett Dodson, Lismore Cup winner): He’s been an honest campaigner and won his way here with arguably a career best performance to win at Lismore. That was a 2110m race and he’s since been around in the Port Macquarie Cup where he led and weakened to be beaten about four lengths by Superium. Imagine he’ll try to get onto the speed here from out wide and give it his best shot.

12. King Of The Castle (Joe Pride, Wild Card winner): A little unfortunate not to win the Coffs Harbour Cup last prep, he backed up a handy return under a big weight to win the Wild Card over this course with a late surge. He was advantaged by barrier one on that occasion so will face a different scenario this time but he’s peaking at the right moment and if he finds a good back to follow into the race we’ve seen a dash in him that can make him dangerous late.

13. Wategos (Bjorn Baker, Murwillumbah Cup winner): Yet another of the Baker troupe who has continued to step up. Following his Murwillumbah win he dropped to 1200m off a month’s break and went down behind a smart sprinting type then back to 1500m he wasn’t disgraced in the Five Diamonds Prelude. He’s an on pacer down on the limit weight and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him measure up.

14. Super Helpful (Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones, Snake Gully Cup winner): One of the under the radar runners in this race who is not without a shot. Staged an upset second-up to win at $51 at Rosehill in a BM 78 then held his ground nicely enough in the Five Diamonds Prelude running seventh and only beaten 2.3 lengths. Should be able to find a spot in the first half of the field and is set to peak.

Super Helpful (Pic: Steve Hart).

15. Prince Of Helena (Craig Weeding, Narrandera Cup winner): Carried 63kg after the claim and swept to victory from well back at Narrandera and was freshened up after that win. Two runs in Victoria since then have been sound efforts without screaming ‘back me next time’ but he has drawn favourably and drops to the limit after carrying 60.5kg at his past two. Would require a best ever performance to win this but could finish first half.

16. Highlights (Bjorn Baker, Wild Card runner-up): He’s been a bit mixed in four runs since joining the Baker yard but in his two placings the form isn’t bad. Narrowly beaten by Unspoken second-up and was run down in the shadows in the Wild Card so he’s up to this sort of level. Did finish fourth in the Gunnedah Cup and meets Akasawa 2.5kg worse but he will get every chance to be in the finish.

17. High Court (Rod Northam, Wellington Cup winner): He’s been out of sorts since he won at Wellington and ran second in the Tamworth Cup and might face a task a bit beyond him here. Drops 9kg on his last start behind Pervade over this course but he would need a spike on his recent runs to be any chance.

18. Unamerican (Richard & Will Freedman, Orange Cup winner): Was never going to be beaten in the Orange Cup from the moment they turned out of the straight the first time. Sadly he’s not really been able to reproduce such an effort in four runs since then. Was first-up when safely held in a Midway at Randwick a few weeks ago, drew wide and went back and didn’t make any significant ground. Wide draw again a challenge and he looks up against it.

19. Crackalacka (Theresa Bateup, Moruya Cup winner): Backs up after finishing midfield in the Four Pillars Midway last weekend. She’s a consistent enough type at the right level, she’s been city placed and ran well in the Provincial-Midway Championships series. What she will get here is an economical run and while a win would surprise she could finish in the middle somewhere.

20. Manderboss (Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones, Bega Cup winner): For a $51 chance he wasn’t bad in the race won by Pervade here after getting a long way back and working home to run seventh. Probably a little tested at this level but is another of these honest country horses who always puts in and with a light weight and reasonable draw you’d expect he’ll be running on.

21E. Pepper’s Ghost (Brett Cavanough, Armidale Cup winner): Form has been a bit patchy since he won the Armidale Cup in December. Scored at Murwillumbah in June and has recorded three fourths from five starts since. Okay in the Coonabarabran Cup but while he drops in weight this is a much harder contest.

SPEED MAP: Looks potential for a genuine tempo with Iknowastar and Wategos both at their best when running along. Attractable puts himself on the speed and Banju is another who likes to be up and bowling a bit. This leaves Cepheus and Highlights with the option for a trail behind them. If they do put on some speed the likes of Wicklow and Super Helpful can find midfield positions.

SELECTIONS:
4 WICKLOW
3 Attractable
1 Cepheus
14 Super Helpful

All the entries, form and replays for Tuesday's Randwick meeting