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By Brad Gray

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

The rail is in the True and the form has been done for a Heavy track.

4. Angel Helena won at Hawkesbury last start but it was a race with city class depth. The More Than Ready two-year-old was allowed to balance up at the tail of the field from the wide draw before Adrian Layt picked his way through to record a dominant win. The third placed Narvaez looks a talented colt having previously run third to Tommy Gold on the Kensington track, which has turned out to be a hot form race. That was over 1400m so the distance here won’t be an issue. That was just start number two for the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained two-year-old. On debut she found the line at Canterbury in a fast run 1250m with Ballistic Lover finishing second. The fillies went significantly faster than the colts and geldings on the same day.

Dangers: 3. Silhouette was visually a very impressive winner at Warwick Farm last start on a heavy track but she may have just happened upon the perfect race there. It was a slowly run race and she possessed the best turn of foot. That was 1400m back to 1200m though having boxed on behind Zoumist at Kembla Grange prior to that. Warrants respect but she’s well found. 5. Exhibition had some support on debut at Newcastle in a set weight maiden before doing his best work late behind short priced favourite Snazz ‘N’ Charm. Jumps out to 1500m and into a Saturday metro race but this isn’t a deep field and he has unknown upside for a stable in flying form.

How to play it: Angel Helena WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Angel Helena winning at Hawkesbury last start

After a stack of scratchings, barrier 10 isn't anywhere near as scary as 18 for 12. Kattegat. He is a get back horse but instead of giving away 10 lengths turning for home it will only be five. The ex-Godolphin trained galloper has been flying for Natalie Jarvis out of her Moruya base. Didn't have the clearest passage last time out but savaged the line suggesting he wants 1200m now. Was a strong winner over the trip at Goulburn earlier in his campaign.

Dangers: 11. Bad Boy For Love had his chance last start after a luckless seventh prior but will appreciate the extra trip. Another win isn't far away and he maps well. 4. Tejori is much better suited back out to 1200m after a four week freshen and can camp outside of the leader, 6. Partners who shouldn't be underestimated either as his condition just blew first up after giving a kick in the straight.

How to play it: Kattegat WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Kattegat last start at Randwick

7. Longbottom will be much closer to 2. Witherspoon in this after being forced back to the rear from the wide draw last start. Loved the way she knuckled down to hit the line to grab second in front of Switched though, with Punters Intelligence revealing her 35.08s last 600m was the quickest in the race by two lengths. It’s a great sign that James McDonald sticks with the filly. Witherspoon jumps 6kg from while Longbottom stays on 55kg. The daughter of Sidestep hasn’t finished outside of the money in three cracks at 1000m (3:2-0-1) and her record on wet tracks is just as imposing with six starts on soft/heavy tracks for two wins and three placings. Should get the run of the race with a champion hoop in the saddle and only has to hold her form. Can only run well.

Dangers: 3. Broken Arrows doesn’t help himself with his racing style but he’ll be relieved to not look up and be asked to chase down Adelong this week. Had no luck last Saturday strung up in behind horses. Beat Trumbull on the Kenso track the only time he had backed up in the past and the drop back to 1000m isn’t an issue going off past form. 8. Zaniah has been trialling brilliantly, but always does. The relation to Deep Field and Shooting To Win has never seen a heavy track in her eight starts but is loaded with talent. 10. Star Of Harada warrants respect as a short course specialist unbeaten on heavy ground. Witherspoon went like a rocket last start but a few things are stacked against her repeating that.

How to play it: Longbottom WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

"Couldn't get a better set up than what she gets on Saturday."

📹BEST BET: @BradJGray thinks there is a good edge at the early $6.50 with @tabcomau about this unassuming filly @royalrandwick pic.twitter.com/TBeVgrkEpU

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) June 18, 2020

1. Mount Popa could prove a class above these. The five-year-old import stepped away a touch slowly on his Australian debut before running home into fourth over 1400m at Flemington, showing a nice turn of foot (fastest 400-200m and last 600m). The quinella there sat one-two in the run with the runner up Holbien since backing up to win at Moonee Valley. The lightly-raced gelding has only had 11 career starts and with due respect to the majority of his rivals here, they looked to have found their level. The son of Maxios can pick his way through the grades over the winter with his heavy track third at Longchamp over 2400m suggesting he’ll handle Saturday’s conditions. The query is 1400m to 2000m on a testing track but it’s the same preparation the Hawkes stable recently gave Master Of Wine.

Dangers: 10. Birth Of Venus might still be half a run short but thought she did more than enough first up over 1400m behind Bound To Win and Threeood. She was a big winner last preparation on a heavy track (albeit third up). 7. Cogliere is racing as well as ever at the moment coming off a narrow miss in the Gunnedah Cup while 9. Korcho is an improver at his second Australian outing. 6. Elaborate made up a stack of late ground behind Terwiliker last start but it was a slog home given how fast the winner went early. It was better to the eye than it was on the clock. 3. Humbolt Current was a very plain sixth there although was probably busted by the fast early pace.

How to play it: Mount Popa WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

5. Invictus Prince is being trained as a sprinter this preparation by Matt Smith and although it’s early days, so far so good given how the seven-year-old savaged the line at Randwick first up behind Coruscate. The late money hinted that he’d run well and Punters Intelligence shows that his 12.09s last 200m was the quickest across the entire meeting. He was momentarily held up between runners too. 6. Southern Lad went around an odds on favourite in that but Invictus Prince nipped past him late to pinch second with Southern Lad since franking that form line by running second to Classique Legend. Invictus Prince has been kept fresh with four weeks between runs and creeps out in trip to 1200m. It appears a perfect scenario for Invictus Prince to at the very least replicate what he did fresh and if he does, he’ll be hard to hold out from the middle draw.

Dangers: Four of Southern Lad’s five career wins have come over 1200m with his Randwick 1200m record reading 6:2-2-1. He improved sharply third up, when dropping down to 53kg, in the Listed June Stakes. Handles the wet, is hard fit and J-Mac rides. He is a deserved favourite. 1. Viridine hit the line hardest in that same race clocking the fastest last 600m split (34.89s) but 61kg on a heavy track looks a big task, even from a draw that could see him settle closer for Hugh Bowman. Has always given the impression he prefers dry ground. This is the easiest race he has contested this preparation, however.

How to play it: Invictus Prince WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Is that elusive third career win far away for Invictus Prince?@BradJGray uses Punters Intelligence to look at the seven-year-old's return four weeks ago @tabcomau @mcsmithracing @royalrandwick pic.twitter.com/LVJ3nLIvKh

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) June 19, 2020

9. Threeood lines up here for her fourth run in five weeks but is clearly thriving on racing at the moment. The four-year-old has been in the money in all six of her runs this time back including a dominant last start win when dropping back to midweek company, lumping 60kg. Prior to that she chased home Bound To Win in this same grade and just missed to Blazing Miss three runs ago. Joe Pride’s tough mare drops back to 1200m but on another testing wet track, that’s doesn’t look to pose a problem given her versatility. James McDonald sticks with the daughter of Star Witness and she maps beautifully again to stalk the speed before getting her chance. There is no fitter horse in the race, and none in better form either.

Dangers: 5. Voila made her run in inferior ground second up having been dragged back to last to get her campaign back on track after a disappointing first up showing. The four-year-old had trialled nicely prior to that. The four-year-old looks ready to win now third up, which is rubber stamped by Hugh Bowman going on. The Randwick 1200m is 1. Misteed’s bread and butter (6:1-3-1) but she’s the type of mare that needs everything to fall into place so the wide draw hurts, and she is burdened with 60kg. 4. Jay Jay D’Ar is not without a hope either.

How to play it: Threeood WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Threeood winning at Warwick Farm last start

This race sets up well for 11. Hulk dropping to 54kg and presenting third up. It took him 13 starts to crack his duck but did it in style first up this preparation winning a BM66 by a space. The three-year-old then tackled a Rosehill BM74 won by impressive winner Mo’s Crown. That form line should stack up well for this. 1. Oakfield Twilight has been tearing along in front to win his last two starts and with Chris Williams on again, doubt those tactics change, and there looks to be a spot for Hulk to tuck in behind the leaders. He’d be hard to beat from that position in running. Looked to handle the heavy conditions last start while earlier in his career he ran second to Grand Piano on a Heavy 10 at Warwick Farm. His classy full brother Hellbent got through it too.

Dangers: 3. Superium possesses a brilliant turn of foot but’s it’s dulled on heavy tracks as we’ve seen in his first and second up run this time back. That was at Rosehill too. Now has to tackle the Randwick heavy, and with 59.5kg. No easy task but class alone will see him run well. 2. Jazzland has never raced over 1200m in his life so the trip is well short of his best but if he gets into the slipstream of the rolling leader and finds a rhythm, wouldn’t be surprised if he gave some cheek. Has trialled well and beat Solider Of Love last preparation. 9. Monte Ditto missed by a whisker last start behind tearaway leader Oakfield Twilight. He’s hard fit, handles wet and James McDonald rides. 12. Military Academy is a rough place hope at big odds down in the weights.

How to play it: Hulk WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Hulk running fourth at Rosehill last start

1. Starspangled Rodeo gave Jason Collett a torrid time in the middle stages of the race last start before going to the line untested. To be only beaten five lengths by True Detective under the circumstances was an admirable effort. Prior to that the ex-Kiwi lumped 62.5kg to win at Warwick Farm beating Monte Ditto, which was his first run for Bjorn Baker. The five-year-old gets out to his pet trip of the mile now and Nash Rawiller goes on. The son of Teofilo has a 5:2-2-0 record over 1600m. Not sure what to make of the wide draw. It mightn’t be a disadvantage come late in the day at Randwick on a heavy track and get the impression he’s a horse that appreciates galloping room too. Last start isn’t the first time he has tried to buck his rider (ironic given his name) but if he behaves he’s very to beat in this.

Dangers: 4. Mr Dependable is the best horse in this race, have little doubt about that, but would be a lot more confident about his chances on a dry track. Drawn where he is will give Tim Clark the time to roll across into a forward position but there are a handful of rivals here that’ll kick up to at least make him work. He was brave first up having covered ground in the run. 13. Orcein and 9. Picaro found the right lane out wide at Randwick last start behind Opacity and Word For Word but in a race with a long tail, they can both run well again here. 7. Travancore only has to repeat his last start fifth to Soldier Of Love to be thereabout again too.

How to play it: Starspangled Rodeo WIN ($8 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Mr Dependable and Starspangled Rodeo last start

Having a throw at the stumps with the veteran of the field 6. Got Unders. Can poke little holes in each of the favourites which makes him appealing. The 10-year-old presents here on the quick turnaround and that’s how Got Unders won the G3 Cameron back in 2017, the crowning moment of his career. Jay Hopkin’s gelding hit the line sweetly first up over 1100m behind Dirty Work before running third behind Man Of Peace and Outrageous (beating home Archedemus and Dealmaker). Then last Saturday he ran ninth albeit only beaten 3.5L in a BM94 when back to 1300m. He plummets to a BM78 now fourth up and Glen Boss sticks. We’ve seen enough of him now to know that he loves heavy ground and makes his own luck somewhere on speed. He can float in an out of form but at the price, he’s worth a ticket.

Dangers: 1. Spencer is flying this time back and ready to win third up having chased home True Detective last start, with a gap back to the third-placed 7. Juventus. He is a proven weight carrier and Nash Rawiller sticks. Faces a Randwick heavy track and drawn the inside come the last race, so keep an eye on any patterns. 3. Bandersnatch is five weeks between runs and faces a testing track. He’s up against it but he did SP $4.20 second favourite behind Dawn Passage the last time we saw him. 11. Big Boy Roy had no luck in a midweeker last start. He also looks ready to win but drops back to 1400m and tackles Saturday company, but with James McDonald steering maps to get the run of the race. 13. High Low Bet has had excuses her last two starts, racing on the worst ground two back before last Saturday being strung up behind runners, and Kerrin McEvoy has ridden her in the past three wins.

How to play it: Got Unders EACH WAY ($26 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Got Unders last start in harder grade

All the fields, form and replays for Randwick on Saturday