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By Brad Gray

Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Randwick on Saturday.

The rail is out 3m and the form has been done for a good track.

1. Away Game is the two-year-old here with the runs already on the board, being the last start winner of the Magic Millions (past four winners Exhilarates, Sunlight, Houtzen, Capitalist). Further to that, she looks to get control of this race from the front. The Snitzel filly parked sixth in the Magic Millions but settled in front in her two runs prior to that. Don’t expect her to come here underdone either, as the Magic Millions prizemoney doesn’t count towards the Golden Slipper so she needs to win this as much as any of her rivals. The time out of her last start win wasn’t anything flash (with the maiden running quicker) but she was dominant, and beat Stellar Pauline, a filly we have a good handle on through her Sydney form. The other flag is that she SP’d $41 in the Gold Coast feature, and now we’re buttering up on her as favourite. In defence of that, it’s not a deep race.

Dangers: 5. September Run is a fascinating runner. Chris Waller’s Exceed And Excel filly didn’t want to take part at the top of the straight in the Inglis Nursery on debut but once she balanced up, she hit the line powerfully. Sure, she had a bludge between the 600-400 so was entitled to finish off but Punters Intelligence shows he last 200m of 11.12s was 1.5L quicker than the next best. Was ordered back to the trials and went very nicely. 3. In Flanders chased home Cellsabeel last start, albeit beaten six lengths. How much was she flattered by the heavy track though? 2. Philizzy won well on debut in a race run to suit. 4. Centimental attacked the line to just miss to Sancy on debut. Couldn’t pen her either. All five have claims.

How to play it: How to play it: Away Game WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

September Run on debut at Randwick back in December

1. Global Quest won the Breeders’ Plate on debut and although the subsequent form from the race has been questionable, want to give him the chance to front up again. The More Than Ready colt stalked the speed and despite being tightened in the straight, bullocked his way clear and won going away. Liked how he attacked the line. The time was two lengths quicker than the Gimcrack won by Every Rose. The Chris Waller-trained colt has been kept up to the mark since that win back in October with two trials. In the first of those he coasted to the line and while in the second he was asked to quicken, he responded, with the two horses on his flanks under a lot more pressure. Global Quest will park somewhere in the first four and give himself every chance with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.

Dangers: 3. Return With Honour gets the blinkers off and the intention is to ride the colt with cover. The Fastnet Rock youngster was dominant on debut before folding up on the heavy track last start. He went too quick in front, which compounded the fact that he didn’t handle the conditions. 5. Prague was a comfortable winner on debut at Canterbury having tucked in behind the leaders. Query over what he beat but he can only win, and that he did. In the Maher and Eustace yard, who are just as dominant with two-year-olds as Peter and Paul Snowden this season. 2. Nitrous was beaten eight lengths by Global Quest in the Breeders’ but has won two since and was then trapped wide in the Magic Millions. Curious that 4. Gravina was the first horse backed in early markets.

How to play it: Global Quest WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Global Quest winning the Breeders’ Plate

1. Greenspan has built nicely into his preparation and has been in the money in all three of his Highway Handicap runs. Out to 1500m is perfect now fifth up and although he loses regular rider apprentice Billy Owen replacement rider Sam Clenton gets the 59kg down to 57kg. The set weights of this race really suit him. The son of Reliable Man was strong through the line last start behind Denmiss having darted up the fence. He didn’t get the clearest of passages either. Prior to that, Greenspan chased down Congregate with a gap back to third. The middle draw gives Owen options but imagine the ideal scenario is to camp midfield off the fence before letting him wind into the race down the middle of the track. It’s a lovely race and a perfect set up for John Bateman’s gelding.

Dangers: 3. Harbouring is a hardy four-year-old that returned with a win at Quirindi off an eight week break. Nash Rawiller is well matched to the gelding and maintains his association having ridden him in a Highway two starts ago. Harbouring got too far back on that occasion but made late ground. Can be much closer in this which is critical to his chances. 6. Smiling Manolito has had three runs for trainer Terry Robinson (ex-Waller) but this is the first at a suitable trip having stayed at 1200m third up. This looks a target race. 4. Electrified jumps straight out from 1200m to 1500m second up but liked how he closed off in a Highway first up.

How to play it: Greenspan WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Greenspan finding the line last start in Highway company

5. Romani Girl finds a very winnable race here on the back of a closing third at the Magic Millions carnival behind Invincibella and Irithea. A repeat of that wins this. Prior to that, which was off a five week freshen, she was held up in the straight but pinged to the line when clear behind Taniko and Southern Lad. Punters Intelligence shows her last 200m of 11.34s ranked second only behind the winner Taniko, a mare with a big sprint. Romani Girl didn’t have the clearest passage last start at the Gold Coast either. That was the first time Brenton Avdulla had tasted defeat on the four-year-old grey, winning both starts before that. One of those wins was last campaign when third up at Randwick over 1500m. The same set of circumstances here. The difference being this is a BM88 (not a BM78), albeit not a particularly deep one.

Dangers: 6. Insensata started $11 in a Listed race at Flemington last start. She never threatened but here she is at similar odds in a BM88 with considerably less depth. She is hard to catch given her pattern (one win from her past 23) but her turn of foot equips her well for this race. 1. Turnberry is an honest campaigner, dropping back from the 2000m last start which he didn’t look to run out strongly. Had placed in three runs prior to that. Irish import 8. Night Of Power has hit the ground running for Bjorn Baker despite a lengthy lay off. His Canterbury win last start was 10 lengths slower than the BM70 on the same night so can knock him at the short price. Drops 7kg from that though.

How to play it: Romani Girl WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Romani Girl at Randwick two starts ago

8. Subpoenaed pops up her first up in a BM70, where she has presumably been placed to get the winning feeling back before tackling loftier targets. This former Kiwi-trained filly possesses a devastating turn of foot, as we saw on her Australian debut when second at Canterbury. Punters Intelligence shows she ran 11.01s her last 200m before second up overcoming a slow tempo to win in a blanket finish. That was over 1200m and 1300m. Thereafter she was thrown into the G2 Tea Rose where not much went her way before the same can be said for her Melbourne failure when trapped wide throughout as the heavily backed $3.20 second favourite in Group Two company. Have loved the way this daughter of Rip Van Winkle has trialled and if she can hold a spot from her low draw, doubt any of these will be able to hold her out over 1400m.

Dangers: Had the stablemate Maddi Rocks pegged as the main threat on the strength but her scratching leaves 7. Rari the rightful second favourite. This three-year-old with Greg Hickman is a bulldog and should get a drag into the race from 2. Echo Gem. Doesn’t have the depth of form of Subpoenaed but he makes his own luck and is rock hard fit. Chat had the drop on him at Warwick Farm last start and that proved the difference. Four horses (third, fourth, fifth and 12th) from that race have since won so it’s a deep midweeker. 9. Fasano rates a mention off an encouraging return on a heavy track.

How to play it: Subpoenaed WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

BEST BET

"If this filly wants to play a role in the Group One fillies races over the carnival, this is a race she should be winning."@BradJGray is siding with a classy three-year-old kicking off her autumn at @royalrandwick on Saturday @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/BkTCCqmmyT

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 30, 2020

4. Costello is a stayer that comes to hand very quickly. He turned in an excellent effort first up behind Bandersnatch, chasing gamely to cut the margin down to just 0.2L at the finish. It was quickly run early turning the race into slog home which set up well for Costello. Punters Intelligence reveals his last 600m (36.80s) was 3.5L quicker than the next best while his last 200m (12.78s) was equally dominant. The four-year-old has never won first up but second up, it’s a very different story. The son of Americain has won two from three and should be undefeated if not for a luckless second to subsequent Cranbourne Cup winner Dr Drill. Like the placement from David Payne straight out to 2000m. Didn’t win a race last preparation but that doesn’t do him justice as he raced without luck. Can atone in this with Glen Boss in the saddle and drawn to settle midfield.

Dangers: Dundeel filly 12. She’s Ideel was beaten at Hawkesbury and Muswellbrook prior to her Canterbury romp, where the market knew exactly what it was doing. That was the race that rated far superior to Night Of Power on the night. This is harder but she maps well, gets in with 52kg and strikes the race at exactly the right time in her campaign. 8. Birth Of Venus appeared to love the heavy conditions at Rosehill last start and tackles this with her tail up. 2. Dark Pearl relished 2400m last time out but drops back to 2000m off a freshen, while 1. Guise, a well beaten sixth behind Dark Pearl looks better suited back in trip and could turn the tables without surprising.

How to play it: Costello WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Costello thundering home first up

9. Standout charged through the grades in his first campaign going from a Gosford maiden to splitting Cosmic Force and Microphone in the G2 Roman Consul at just start four. He collected a Listed win at his third start (beating Cosmic Force) where Pandemic ran third. Everything this Exceed And Excel colt has done to date has been backed up on the clock too. In that latest outing, Standout, in defeat, clocked the fastest last 600m split across the entire day (32.57s). Trainer Gerald Ryan has had this race earmarked for his sprinter for a long time now and on the back of two impressive trials, looks ready to fire first up. By all reports he is flying in his work and expect the stable to have this horse very forward in condition. Ryan won this race in 2018 with three-year-old Trapeze Artist.

Dangers: We've lost Kiamichi but with 7. Irithea, 4. Vegadaze (how keen will he be in the run?) and 6. White Moss engaged, the speed should still be good. 5. Alizee is the defending champ and goes like a rocket fresh (5:4-0-0).She is proven at weight-for-age and of course, at this level. We know the level of this mare and if she produces her best, she's the horse to beat but can she peak again as a late five-year-old? The knock is the price. 1. Kolding was a late nomination. Should have run clear second first up last campaign over 1400m. Tackles 1200m this time.

How to play it: Standout WIN ($5 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Standout, Vegadze and Kolding trialling at Randwick – January 23

5. Tony’s Reward steps out to 1400m and gets the blinkers on for the first time at start number 22. He brings the most consistent form into the race and being deep into his campaign, he only has to hold that to be in the finish once more. Last start he chased home Inanup in heavy conditions at Rosehill, peaking on his run late, while the start prior to that he held down third behind Embracer and a fast-finishing Superium. The five-year-old with Bjorn Baker won well first and second up (which was in September!) suggesting he had come back as well as ever, but has teased since. There are no Embracers in this field. Hugh Bowman has ridden the son of Reward For Effort in his last three starts and sticks. Should find himself midfield. Has won out to 1300m in the past. No excuses.

Dangers: Still convinced the mile is 4. Monsieur Sisu’s best trip. Likes wet track as he is a tad one paced but can show up here at odds given the make up of the field and how he maps from the inside marble. A change of scenery might be what is required to spark up 6. Destiny’s Own. He swaps Rosehill (Gerald Ryan) for Warwick Farm (Matt Smith). Has trialled twice for his new stable and looked sharp. Buyer beware though as he always trials well. 1. Royal Tudor could run well without surprising as could 9. Press Box. She is flying since Dean Mirfin started training her. If you are taking a quaddie, this is the leg you want to go very wide in.

How to play it: Tony’s Reward WIN ($4 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Tony’s Reward running second last time out

Have we been too quick to forget about 13. Reloaded? The early market isn’t giving the once boom two-year-old much respect. Chris Waller has always had a huge opinion of this colt, and still does. The son of Snitzel created a big impression on debut at Randwick before he was beaten at $1.75 by subsequent JJ Atkins winner Prince Fawaz, who he failed to turn to turn the tables on. Kubrick was second and we know Waller’s history of producing gun three-year-olds on the back of Queensland two-year-old campaigns. This fella missed the spring but here he is first up with 53kg in a BM88. Waller is plotting a path to the Randwick Guineas and perhaps even the Doncaster with him. It’s a leap of faith but we’re getting the odds to find out. Should be thundering home.

Dangers: 9. River Bird rattled home behind 3. Embracer first up running the fastest last 600m (34.48s) and 200m (11.79s) of the meeting. Won four from six last campaign. Would’ve preferred her drawn out a touch. 12. Lashes has returned in brilliant order this time back. She dashed quickly in a sit-sprint last start. Will need to quicken off a more genuine clip here but she is flying. Special Reward started $2.90 first up in a harder race than this. No easy lead here but is classy. Embracer's chances have improved significantly with the scratching of Special Reward. 10. Royal Celebration wouldn’t shock.

How to play it: Reloaded WIN ($10 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Reloaded was held together in a Warwick Farm trial – January 21

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