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By Brad Gray

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

The rail is out 5m and the form has been done for a good track.

9. Larkspur Run was in the right spot at Canterbury first up, finding rails in run, but she couldn’t have done much more. She put three lengths on second and a further seven lengths on third. The time compared well across the day too, albeit she did have first crack at the track. She has to transfer her wet form onto a good surface, so there are queries but she has the makings of a smart new season three-year-old for Godolphin. She ran second to O’president at her second start as a two-year-old before breaking her maiden at Newcastle as the $1.60 favourite. Montefilia won this race 12 months ago and Subedar the year prior to that, both using their weight advantage over the four year olds.

Dangers: 2. Diamonds’n’stone did enough first up over 1200m on a heavy track. He only had one 900m trial prior to that and it was six weeks before his resumption. Won three straight last campaign, all on good tracks. 8. Vianello is the other three-year-old here and clocked the fastest close (34.61s) behind Silent Impact last start. On trial at 1400m but strikes this race fourth up and drops to 53kg so she gets every chance to run it out. 1. Vreneli will get his chance rolling along out in front while 3. Black Bolt gets the blinkers back on.

How to play it: Larkspur Run WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Larkspur Run winning first up at Canterbury

5. Arabolini is flying for Wyong-based trainer John Cooper. The query prior to last start was whether the in form six-year-old would transfer his Gosford form to Rosehill, and onto a drier track. He certainly did that, running third behind No Compromise and Sound Of Cannons. After getting away with moderate early sections, Montabot poured the pressure on in the middle stages setting it up for two closers to run over the top of him. Thought he boxed on bravely to claim third given he had to check off heels at the 400m mark having had his momentum baulked. He beat home 1. Harpo Marx fair and square and there is a whopping 11.5kg difference between the pair at the weights.

Dangers: Harpo Marx was left with too much to do last start but his late sections were far from dominant. They were equal to that of the quinella. He is just so sluggish early. How much is James McDonald worth? The champion jockey jumps aboard now fifth up. The trick will be whether he can get the six-year-old to use his low draw to settle closer. 4. Terwilliker comes out of a fast race on the Kensington track when second to Shuffle Up. He has raced himself back into form and thrives on racing. Two preparations ago he won at his ninth start of the campaign. 8. Pecuniary Interest drops 7.5kg after winning at Kembla last start.

How to play it: Arabolini EACH WAY ($8 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Arabolini and Harpo Marx last start at Rosehill

The obvious form line here is the 1500m Highway from a fortnight ago but you can make cases for five of them which tempts me to look elsewhere. Matt Dale’s mare 14. Nothing Compares is the runner offering something different. The former Kiwi has won two from five since joining Dale’s yard, albeit in races she was expected to win, but she was Group performed as a three-year-old. She has a Listed placing to her name over 1800m on a good track too. It’s not the most conventional preparation, five weeks off then backing up four days later but Dale typically isn’t an off the cuff trainer. This is likely to have been planned. Rolls to the front and takes catching. Well suited under the set weights conditions too.

Dangers: 15. Dream Runner was the pick of the runs last start, running second despite covering ground throughout. James McDonald sticks, tick, but he draws very awkwardly. There’s not enough in his early price to take the gamble that he can give them all a start and gun them down. 11. So Say You won the race and still has upside. 9. Zoo Station never got clear going to the line untested while 6. Reach Beyond also had excuses having covered ground which told late. His form suggests he’d prefer it wetter, however. 1. Bold And Wild was only beaten 1.8L and is again well placed under the conditions of the race. Outside of those, 4. Just Business will improve sharply on top of the ground.

How to play it: Nothing Compares EACH WAY ($12 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Nothing Compares at Canterbury three starts ago

7. Re Edit doesn’t win very often but two of her three career victories have come first up. Her latest two fresh runs have been among her best too. Two campaigns ago she was unlucky behind Rocha Clock over the mile at Flemington, smoking home from last after being badly held up. Fresh last preparation she went to the line with Skyman in BM90 company with two lengths back to third. Like the way the six-year-old has trialled, particularly in her latest heat alongside one of her main dangers here in stablemate 9. Loveplanet. Hugh Bowman takes the ride and from the low draw should be able to hold a forward enough position to get a crack at 6. Invinciano late.

Dangers: Strong front-running mare Invinciano gets everything to suit. Dry track, mile and maps to get control. That’s a set up tailor made for her which was evident last start on the Kensington track where she proved impossible to run down. Suspect James McDonald takes the cart across from Invinciano on Loveplanet, which offsets the wide draw. The four-year-old has won three from four, all in Victoria, with the latest of those being first up at Sandown where he defied a significant late drift. The inch perfect ride won him the race and second and third from that BM70 have since failed. 4. Above And Beyond did enough in an unsuitably run race first up.

How to play it: Re Edit WIN ($6 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Re Edit and Loveplanet trialling together at Rosehill

2. Margie Bee has relished getting out in trip this preparation. Stepping out to 1900m for the first time three starts ago saw immediate results when a second to Mr Gee at Canterbury. That was followed up with an all-the-way win over the same track and trip, beating Bethencourt, before giving a sight at Randwick last Saturday over 1800m. The winner there So Wicked posted a new PB to score emphatically but she held down second in a deeper race than this. Only goes up a kilo despite coming back to a BM72 and Rachel King stays on, having ridden her at her last two starts. Draws wide but she’s got a stack of early speed to cross and lead these up.

Dangers: 4. Onemore Sapphire was beaten less than half a length by Margie Bee two back and meets her 2.5kg better off. Was subsequently rolled as an odds on favourite at Grafton but the winner there rated well. 5. Gemmahra appreciated getting back on top of the ground last start when second to Invinciano. The only other time she has run beyond a mile was in G3 company. Maps to box seat. Liked the way 10. Savvy Crown closed off behind Midway winner 1. Casino Mondial two weeks ago and he was only second up. 9. Bazooka is on trial at the trip but continues to race well. 11. Altimeter and 12. McGeehan are two for trifectas.

How to play it: Margie Bee WIN ($9 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Margie Bee’s second to So Wicked last start

4. More Prophets was winless last preparation but she didn’t have much go her way. The five-year-old looks well placed in BM78 company against her own sex. Last perpetration she resumed in a BM88 and was gapped by emerging star sprinter Lost And Running. Like the way she nipped home late though to run third. She then raced in restricted room in the G3 Dark Jewel as a $5 pop before the barrier cruelled her chances third up. Did enough in her one trial back, albeit only over 735m. Suspect this race will be won or lost for More Prophets in the first 300m. There doesn’t look to be a lot of speed on paper and if Kerrin McEvoy can use the gate to lob in the first four, she’s the horse to beat.

Dangers: 2. Starla had to be sharp late to run down 5. Turnstyle last start given the control the leader had in front and she was up to the challenge. Settling midfield proved the difference and it’s a similar set up here with the main difference a 2kg hike in the weights. 10. Eight Diamonds never looked likely last start at Randwick. Perhaps she doesn’t get 1400m? Not yet anyways. The barrier is sticky though. 7. Irish Angel has never raced better but prefer her at 1100m. 12. Philizzy has more talent than her one win record suggests having run mainly in Group races.

How to play it: More Prophets WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

More Prophets first up last preparation

7. Fasika maps to get control of this race from the front. That gives her a huge advantage. The six-year-old mare is 5:3-1-0 first up and Joe Pride has indicated that she is ready to go fresh in an attempt to land a couple of blows early in the carnival. First up last preparation she beat boom Kiwi mare Entriviere over the Randwick 1200m. Fasika’s Randwick record reads 7:3-2-1 as well. Brenton Avdulla maintains his association with the mare and he’ll use the inside draw to punch up and hold the front. It looks to have all fallen into place for the daughter of So You Think to resume a winner. It’s also worth noting that Pride’s best horses typically are late to mature. This could be her best campaign yet.

Dangers: 1. Kolding is a three time Group One winner. An Epsom, George Main and All Aged Stakes, as well as a Golden Eagle. That’s a serious CV. In his favour on Saturday is the firm deck as Kolding has won his past three starts on good tracks. To take that further, take out his pre-gelding runs and his Melbourne flops and he has won 8 from 11 on good tracks. Resumed with a second to Savatiano first up over 1200m last preparation, but the key difference here is the barrier. He is a versatile horse but historically his draw dictates tactics so expect him to be conservatively ridden. He’s top pick otherwise. 2. Viridine draws favourably and there was a lot to like about 6. Chat’s return, albeit with 51kg.

How to play it: Fasika WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Fasika’s recent Warwick Farm trial win

3. Remarque was a hyped youngster and although that’s a trap you’re mindful of falling into, he does bring A grade two-year-old form of the Todman. A race that produced the Golden Slipper quinella and Sires winner. Alpine Edge, last there, has already launched his spring and he won impressively first up at Eagle Farm. The other thing to note is that Remarque ran in that race off a setback having missed the Silver Slipper Stakes with a temperature spike. Prior to that he’d run well on debut but he was much more impressive to the eye than he was on the clock. Has won both of his trials this time back and sets up beautifully from the inside draw to have the last say in what should be a genuinely run race.

Dangers: 7. In The Congo would be better suited controlling a 1200m tempo from in front but have liked what this Snitzel colt has done in his two starts to date matching motors with Verne. It’s winter form but there looks to be some substance to it. It’s probably just a matter of how much pressure he can absorb from 4. Sky Command and Queensland flyer 5. Maotai who is presumably given a dig from the wide draw. 2. Mazu showed great fight to win on debut at Canterbury before running a luckless third in the Pago Pago behind Shaquero which was a race that also featured Converged, Ingratiating, Hilal and Tiger Of Malay. 1. Paulele has been penalised at the weights for his Kindergarten win.

How to play it: Remarque WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Remarque’s recent Rosehill trial win

Here we go again! 2. Hulk . This looks the most winnable and suitable race he has contested all preparation yet he has been posted (in early markets) the biggest price he has been all campaign. It’s time to cash in Hulk believers. In three of his five starts this time in he has run second and been beaten less than a length. He was perhaps a touch unlucky not to beat Malkovich third up before bumping into an airborne Madam Legend at his next start, where again he should have finished closer. Want to be very forgiving of his last start flop on a heavy track. He is much more dynamic on soft and good decks. Was given four weeks to get over that effort with a tickover trial to keep up his fitness levels.

Dangers: Haven’t given up on 6. Destination yet either. It was only 12 months ago that he was running seconds to Wild Ruler and Prime Star. Both of those runs were on good tracks. That’s the key to him. Comes through the same race as Hulk last start and he also laboured in the heavy conditions. His speedy stablemate 3. Enfluerage will have 5. Switched for company up front but she has trialled well and James McDonald rides. She is first up for a year but Goldophin tend to have their horses ready to go off lengthy breaks. Her best certainly gives this a shake. 4. Fastconi is deep into his preparation and steps up in grade again but he continues to race well.

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

"This looks the most winnable and suitable race he has contested all preparation."

📹BEST BET: This sprinter doesn't win out of turn but @BradJGray suggests that Saturday's race looks the perfect set up @tabcomau @royalrandwick pic.twitter.com/FKRMjxsrBA

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 5, 2021

1. Academy has 61kg to lump but he is entitled to in the grade of race. His two trials this time in have both been on the synthetic at Warwick Farm but he won them by a combined margin of 15 lengths. There appears to intent to have him ready. First up last preparation Academy resumed with 59kg over 1100m in BM88 company and he smoked home behind Tailleur clocking a slick 33.71s last 600m, only two lengths inferior to the sharp winner. That was before tackling the Randwick 1300m and being nailed on the line by Poetic Charmer. Go back a preparation earlier and he beat Icebath and Criaderas in this grade. The weight leaves him vulnerable to an up-and-comer but most of his rivals are well exposed.

Dangers: 11. Kingsheir is the exception. The lightly-raced five-year-old went through the grades quickly in his first preparation and resumes as a gelding. The longest he has ever started is $2.90 so market expectation has always been there. Was a touch tardy away in his two trials which is the knock. There’s the potential for him to be buried back on the fence unable to wind up as 1300m will be as short as he wants it. 9. Dame Kiri is the best roughie. Didn’t have any luck at all last time. She’s up to this on her day. 4. Tycoonist might be starting to max out now talent-wise but he'll get his chance again while while liked the return of 3. Handspun.

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

What level will Academy get to this spring?

📹@BradJGray uses Punters Intelligence to spotlight the merit in the gelding's first up run last preparation @Darby_Racing @mark_mnracing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/f5IM1c6Y4L

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 6, 2021

All the fields, form and replays for Randwick on Saturday