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By Brad Gray

Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for All Aged Stakes Day at Royal Randwick.

The rail is out 6m from the 1600m to the winning post and 4m the remainder. The track expected to be in the good range come Saturday.

5. Amorita has won three of her six starts and looks a progressive type in the Matt Dunn yard. The stable’s record in Highway Handicaps, the first back after the autumn carnival, speaks for itself. The Foxwedge filly coasted to victory at Grafton first up beating a field of older, fitter horses including 3. The Drake. She’ll handle this step to Highway grade. Drawn soft in 3, she has shown versatility in her short career but Jason Collett should be able to have her in the first half, perhaps even a pair closer. Looks to still be on the up which is the general profile of horse that does well in these races. Interestingly, all three of her wins have come first up before she levelled out second up.

Dangers: 1. Al Mah Haha was scratched at the barriers before the Country Championships Final. He had no right to win the qualifier the way he did to get into that field, travelling wide at Goulburn throughout but found to hold off a deep field which included Noble Boy in fourth. It was Noble Boy’s first and, to date, only defeat. The 62kg is a leveller albeit the four-year-old ran well two back at Newcastle with 60.5kg. Trainer Tash Burleigh was obviously keen to maintain the combination with Richard Bensley. He’ll be hard to beat here but the 7.5kg he is giving to Amorita could prove the difference at the finish. 8. Gold Touch gets all the favours from the draw but was $41 when she won last start.

How to play it: Amorita WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds)

Amorita winning comfortably at Grafton

2. Tribal Wisdom was aggressively placed first up off a year-long layoff running in the G1 Galaxy. That suggest Mike Moroney was bullish about how well the five-year-old has come back. The Makfi gelding didn’t look to appreciate the heavy track and finished closer to last than first but there was still merit in the run. He wasn’t beaten out of sight and split Redzel and Viridine. He has been freshened since then with a Randwick trial, taking ground off Snowden import 13. Murillo. Kerrin McEvoy rides and there should be enough speed for him to slot into the field from the draw. Last preparation he knocked off Osborne Bulls at Randwick before pulling a muscle. He is Stradbroke-bound from here.

Dangers: Murillo is an interesting runner. There has been early support too. This is an import with speed with five of his six starts in the UK over 1200m or less. His one win actually over 1000m! Liked what we saw from the four-year-old in his latest trial, going straight to the front. 8. Passage Of Time has a formidable first up record (4:2-1-0) and has been gelded over the his break. Draws to get a lovely run. He’s a player if he catches the breaks from the inside. Could even lead. 3. Test The World is another good fresh horse but lost her way a touch last campaign. 12. Problem Solver has the talent to win while the same can be said for 5. Man From Uncle, on debut for Clare Cunningham.

How to play it: Tribal Wisdom WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds)

Murillo and Tribal Wisdom trialling at Randwick - April 15

3. Carif closed strongly in the Tulloch Stakes last start to run fourth behind subsequent Derby quinella Angel Of Truth and Madison County. The way the race was run, he was left flatfooted at the top of the straight but once Kerrin McEvoy balanced him up, his last 200m was second to only that of the winner (Punters Intelligence). The colt didn’t look overly comfortable in the heavy ground either. McEvoy sticks here and he’ll appreciate getting back on top of the ground. The blueblood (So You Think x Norzita) prior to that relished getting out to the staying trip putting his rivals to the sword at Newcastle. There is still upside with this three-year-old and he only strikes this race fourth up. Surprised he opened double figure odds but still think $8 is a generous price.

Dangers: 11. Amangiri was brave in the Adrian Knox rolling along in front before being collared at the 50m mark by Aliferous. She split Aliferous and Maracaibo with the pair running fourth and fifth in the ATC Oaks subsequently so the form is rock solid. Won’t have to spear across from the wide draw this time. She’ll be hard to run down. 1. The Chosen One motored late in the ATC Derby but the query here is how sharp he’ll be back to 2000m, with the draw dictating his settling position again. 2. Dealmaker is a touch suspect at 2000m but certainly raced like he wanted more ground in the Carbine. The dry deck can only help as can the soft draw. Of the rest Savabeel filly 12. On The White Turf deserves her shot having strung two together at the provincials.

How to play it: Carif EACH WAY ($8 TAB Fixed Odds)

Carif’s closing fourth in the Tulloch Stakes

8. Asharani is two from two for Kris Lees since coming down from Queensland, where there were raps on her. Both wins have been on the provincial circuit, but like what we’ve seen from the daughter of I Am Invincible over the sprint trips. She has been very strong on the line to beat speedy gelding Broken Arrows first at Kembla Grange and then at Hawkesbury. Steps out to 1400m which looks to suit. Would be surprised if Brenton Avdulla, a typically positive rider, isn’t aggressive in the early stages to have her settle in the first half dozen. The PJ Bell is the obvious form line for this race (providing 8 of the 13 runners) but don’t let this filly get under your guard. She is an improver and Lees has a habit of pinching these fringe Group races with fillies taking a big leap in grade. She wouldn’t be here if the stable didn’t think she was making up the numbers.

Dangers: It’s hard to ignore the claims of 4. Into The Abyss having run second in the PJ Bell. She found Multaja too sharp at the end of 1200m but 1400m third up she strikes the perfect race to go one better. Drawn 1, Damian Lane, who has ridden her in her last six starts, should be able to camp a pair or two closer than what we’ve seen from her this preparation. 5. So Taken ran third in the PJ Bell but the map is tricker for her from the wide draw. Amazingly, eight of her nine career starts have been on soft or heavy tracks. Out of that race want to be very forgiving of 3. Fiera Vista having her first run for the Snowden camp. She was never on the track and faded badly. She won the Morphettville Guineas by a space last preparation (with Weir) when rolling along in front. She’ll bounce back.

How to play it: Asharani EACH WAY ($11 TAB Fixed Odds)

Asharani winning at Hawkesbury last time out

11. Abdon looks to be going better than ever. The six-year-old has always been maligned for his strike rate, and rightly so, but his first up run in the Ajax was full of merit on the inside fence. Then last start he chased home Mister Sea Wolf in the Doncaster Prelude with Tom Melbourne in third. His closing splits have been ever better than they look to the eye. He broke a long run of outs at Rosehill back in December last year which might have been the shot of confidence he was in such desperate need of. Corey Brown, who rode him last start, should be able to use the middle draw to settle just forward of midfield and in a tricky race, get his chance.

Dangers: It’s no surprise that it’s $5 the field in early betting headed by Bendigo Mile winner 5. Haripour and Grahame Begg’s 9. Our Libretto but you want to go as wide as possible to find the winner this year. The wide draw for 14. Grey Lion has tempered my enthusiasm but the grey is flying at the moment. His first up run over 1500m on heavy ground was a pass but his trials either side have been outstanding. 4. Sedanzer will come into her own out to 2000m. She is Group Two winner over 2200m (Brisbane Cup) and was only 1.8L away in The Metrop over the spring. 3. My Nordic Hero was explosive winning second up last time in, albeit over 1500m, but that turn of foot from a soft draw could prove a big factor in this.

How to play it: Abdon EACH WAY ($12 TAB Fixed Odds) and BOX TRIFECTA 3,4,5,11,14

Abdon chasing home Mister Sea Wolf last start

The Champagne Stakes has had 1. Castelvecchio’s name all over it since he charged to the line to win at Canterbury on debut back in January on debut. Off his pedigree, he really shouldn’t be doing what he is over the shorter trips. That included winning the rich Inglis Millennium at his second start before he took late ground off Microphone in the Skyline which confirmed what we already really knew, the son of Dundeel was top class. Trainer Richard Litt resisted the temptation of the Golden Slipper instead opting for the Sires’ and Champagne. He looked the winner of the Sires’ with Punters Intelligence revealing a 400-200m split of 11.87s, which was 2.5L quicker than Microphone and 3.5L quicker than 9. Loving Gaby for that 200m section alone, before peaking on his run with little between the three for the last 200m. It’s no coincidence that 25 of the past 31 winners of the Champagne have come via the Sires’ either. He’s the one.

Dangers: Loving Gaby must be respected on the strength of races she comes through. After winning the Chairman’s in Melbourne she was a luckless sixth in the Blue Diamond before a big effort in the Golden Slipper after covering ground. Last start she kept closing to run second in the Sires’ albeit without ever really threating Microphone. 11. Crystal Falls is the third and final runner to come out of the Sires’ and having shown no tactical speed (loses the blinkers here), the John Sargent-trainee filly was particularly strong across the line and took pulling up. 4. Fortress Command was an eye-catcher in the Baillieu and will relish the mile. Like what we saw from him in his tickover trial since then and blinkers go on. <10. Lady Lupino beat the highly touted and one time Champagne favourite Chenier at Sandown last start rolling along in front.

How to play it: Castelvecchio WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds)

Loving Gaby, Castelvecchio Crystal Falls in the Sire’s

There is a sense of déjà vu about 1. Le Romain. He has run second in this race the past two years, having drawn the widest gate. Here he is again and that’s right, he has drawn 14 of 14. What I liked about the draw is it forces James McDonald to be aggressive early. 7. Manuel looks the likely leader but after the scratching of Home Of The Brave to run in the Hall Mark, there looks to a spot outside of the leader for him. He is such a versatile horse and although drops back from two runs at the mile, the latest in the Doncaster, he did that in 2017 too before running second to Tivaci. Last year it was Trapeze Artist he bumped into when they ran track record time. Kris Lees has thrown the blinkers on the six-year-old for the first time too. Interesting move but might spark him up enough to go one better this year.

Dangers: Not sure what to make of 2. Osborne Bulls in the TJ Smith. The five-year-old ran a fast split from the 600-400m (clearly superior to Santa Ana Lane) suggesting he’d fight out the finish but didn’t finish as hard as we’ve come to expect. Perhaps it was the wet ground? He has run second in three Group Ones this time back. He is short enough. In the blanket finish for the minors there was also 3. Pierata. He lacked the ping he showed in the Galaxy and looks to want 1400m now. He’ll run well regardless of the conditions but his two best efforts have been on heavy tracks. Wouldn’t be surprised to see international 6. D’Bai win but he too is well found. 5. Malaguerra is also in the mix, as is Manuel.

How to play it: Le Romain EACH WAY ($12 TAB Fixed Odds)

D’Bai’s last start Group Two win in Dubai for those that haven’t seen it

5. Easy Eddie can only run well here. Thought he was vulnerable at Rosehill off a freshen but he ploughed through the wet to stick his neck out when he counts. He then ran a career high backing up in the G1 Galaxy running third behind Nature Strip and Pierata. Every time this horses comes back into work he improves and he looks destined to develop into a genuine Group One class sprinter in the next 12 months. Last start was no fluke. Joe Pride has given the son of Super Easy four weeks to recover from the effort, with a tickover trial at Warwick Farm keeping his engine warm. Liked what we saw from him in that trial. He towed his regular rider Robbie Dolan to the line. Should be able to roll across from the wide draw without too much trouble. Looks an each way lock.

Dangers: 10. Trekking chased home Easy Eddie first up and was brave given he is much more dynamic on top of the ground. The Godolphin four-year-old hasn’t been sighted at the races with the five weeks between runs keeping him fresh. He too has had a trial since with Kerrin McEvoy ensuring he got plenty out of it, sliding to the front and ripping clear at the finish. It was sharp work. 2. Home Of The Brave is the short priced favourite and although there is no denying his class, the 1200m is as short as he wants. He strikes me as a momentum style horse better suited to rolling along over 1400m. Has trialled sweetly though and there’s big race in him in Queensland over the winter. 3. Dothraki sets up well here. Big hope of pinching a place in typical Dothraki style.

How to play it: Easy Eddie EACH WAY ($7 TAB Fixed Odds)

Easy Eddie running third in the Galaxy

Was hoping 8. Take It Intern would slip under bookmaker’s guards more than it has but still want to be with the five-year-old. Formerly trained by Darren Weir, the imported gelding has only had three starts in Australia. The first of those was fresh over 1400m at Caulfield and he was only 0.7L off a genuine Group horse in Cliff’s Edge. He then won with ease out to 1700m at Caulfield before failing to fire on Cup Day at Flemington. Forgive him that. There is two explanations, either he didn’t like the wet track or had enough. Either won’t be a concern at Randwick on Saturday. Kris Lees has trialled Take It Intern three times and each one was more eye-catching then the next. He looks set up to explode fresh and James McDonald takes the ride from the perfect draw to just sit behind the first couple of pairs.

Dangers: 1. Captain Cook is a very curious runner in this. The Group Three-winning import has his first run in the country at a high benchmark of 103. Sam Weatherly takes 1.5kg off but he still lumps 60kg. Like what we’ve seen from the Dubawi gelding in his two trials. In the first he warmed up past the line before travelling much closer over 1030m at Rosehill. Keep him safe at monster odds. 7. Special Missile was much more at home rolling along in front last start and if it wasn’t for the wet track, convinced he’d have been in the finish. The scratching of Sweet Scandal should see him lead this. 6. Seaway will improve sharply back on top of the ground while second emergency 16. Star Of The Seas keeps progressing.

How to play it: Take It Intern WIN ($5 TAB Fixed Odds)

Take It Intern’s latest trial – Newcastle April 5

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