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By Brad Gray

2. Smashing Eagle looks perfectly set up on Saturday. His get-back style sees him lose more often than he wins but this Midway looks tailor-made. There’s good pressure on paper, the track is heading towards a good surface with the forecast and he comes back slightly in grade. Like coming back to 1100m for him too. The trade off there is 59kg. The six-year-old has been up for a little while now, tackling this seventh up but he is yet to run poorly this time back, despite not adding to his win tally. Three starts back he savaged the line at Canterbury to run Jedibeel to a length. Last start Smashing Eagle got a long way back at Rosehill, making late ground behind Iron Man and Willaidow. Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou made it one from one with their Midway runners two weeks ago courtesy of Green Shadows.

Dangers: 12. Trafalgar Square was a handy two-year-old for David Payne and keen to see what she can do at three. Gets in with just 52kg and liked the way she has trialled. Maps to do no work in the run. 7. Detendu kept chasing behind Hi Dubai here two weeks ago. He angled out to the best ground in the straight but couldn’t get any closer than three lengths. The map looks more straightforward here from a perfect draw. There wasn’t much between him and 3. Bundeena on the line. He has drawn awkwardly, however. It all clicked for 5. Well Timed last campaign. He won was tested in a Provincial Midway qualifier and held his own, running third to Ruby Flyer having led. Finds Nash Rawiller here first up. 11. Ces Soirees La motored home behind Cosmonova last start, which reads well now.

How To Play It: Smashing Eagle WIN

This looks to be a first up target race for 6. Caribbean King. The six-year-old has only had three starts for Matt Dunn, making him eligible for Highway Handicaps. The sprinter comes through deep Queensland races that have provided plenty of subsequent winners. Last start back in March he didn’t get a lot or room to let down in a BM70 behind Evocator. Caribbean King drops in weight for this Class 3 assignment, finds Nash Rawiller, has a great 1000m record (16:3-6-3) and draws a perfect gate to stalk what should be a fast speed. He’s had two trials, matching motors with talented stablemate Rainbow Connection in the latest of those. Given the record this trainer-jockey combination have in Highways and the profile of this horse, surprised double figure odds are being bet even allowing for the fact that he hasn’t won for two years.

Dangers: 5. Somerton Sniper has won his past three starts as he worked through the grades. He only scraped home at Dubbo back in June but respect that he was sent around a heavily backed $1.70 favourite. We didn’t see the best of him there, yet he still managed to win. That was seven weeks ago now. Has trialled brilliantly since alongside unbeaten mare She’s Exotic. Trainer Todd Smart has a big opinion of four-year-old 4. Gundy Guy. He has won three of his five starts and looks well placed kicking off over 1000m. Can settle anywhere in the run but from the draw expecting Billy Owen, who has ridden him in all three of his wins, to look for cover. 1. Florino is also lightly raced and finds James McDonald. The trade off there is how well found he is in betting. 9. Don’t Call Me Honey is a sharp gelding that’ll make his own luck.

How To Play It: Caribbean King WIN

Everything about the first up run from 10. Getafix pointed to him improving sharply second up. The market support wasn’t there late and after looming like he’d be in the finish, the grey punctured late. He was only beaten two lengths in what should be a strong winter form reference going forward, won by Mayfair with Mawjood in second. The time backed up the visuals with the two-year-old race comfortably the quickest of the three 1200m races across the meeting. Three weeks later Getafix fronts up as a new season three-year-old and against the older horses he drops 5kg to carry 53kg for Kerrin McEvoy who rode him first up. We’ve seen the gelding at the trials since last start, trucking to the line at Hawkesbury in an impressive piece of work. The barrier is tricky but in a race with limited winning chances on paper, happy to punt that he can overcome that.

Dangers: 1. Invader Zim has to give Getafix 6.5kg but there is a lot to like about the way he has returned this time back. He was beaten by a nostril by 3. Patchouli Dream first up before atoning for that three weeks later. He angled to the best part of the track but fought off Kerguelen, holding him on the line. This isn’t any harder. Finds James McDonald, draws well. Just has to replicate his recent good form on an improving track. Reluctant to overlook the obvious in that Patchouli Dream beat Invader Zim recently. He has run well since in a handy handicap race in Melbourne. The price discrepancy is too big. Want to respect the upside of Dundeel filly 6. It’s A Knockout, just wish this was 1600m. Did a good job from in front on debut at the midweeks. The form through that race hasn’t stood up at all since though.

How To Play It: Getafix WIN

Nobody missed the run of 1. Age Of Sail last start. He was a tragedy beaten. This is largely the same field, just swapping Rosehill for Randwick. The import is still improving and still only strikes this fourth up. Nash Rawiller put his hand up afterwards, suggesting that he wanted to cuddle the six-year-old for as long as possible out to 2400m. He isn’t the type of jockey that makes the same mistake twice. He’ll be determined to make amends. Despite being a six-year-old, the Frankel gelding has only had 18 starts and the best could still be to come. That’s the impression he gives. Drawn barrier 1 there might be a few anxious moments again but Our Anchorage should take him everywhere he needs to go in the straight.

Dangers: 5. Our Anchorage at least brings a different form reference. It’s hard to make a case for anything that finished around Age Of Sail. Hence the temptation to look for a different angle. Our Anchorage comes through a Hawkesbury Class 1 but he won by six lengths as a $1.70 favourite. Prior to that he had been racing well in comparable races to this. Gests out to 2400m for the first time in Australia. Should lead here. 3. Kapakiri beat Age Of Sail in a tight go last start but it was the ride that won him the race. Goes up 2.5kg from that. 2. Strathtay will be running on late again while 7. Kureder is better than he showed last start.

How To Play It: Age Of Sail WIN

1. Our Kobison is a sprinter going places. James McDonald has ridden the five-year-old three times already, for two wins. He has won five of his nine starts and is the current Rosehill 1200m track record holder. Trainer Angela Davies has pencilled in the G3 Show County in a few weeks for Our Kobison if he justifies the odds on quote and wins on Saturday. If there is a little niggle its that he has been beaten as an easing favourite first up in his past two campaigns before improving sharply to bounce back second up. However, he has been given two trials ahead of his return this time back. The latest of those was a six length romp in very fast time at Wyong. That might suggest that he is a touch more forward than in the past. If he is anywhere near right, he’d put these away.

Dangers: 2. Dancing Alone is a classy mare but she resumes from a 40 week spell. She has built a terrific record herself with six wins from eight starts and ended last campaign with a Group Three placing in Melbourne behind Queen Of The Ball. She is four from four over 1000m. 6. No Statement might be the sleeper at odds. He hasn’t been able to find the front in his recent runs. That could change here. He’s very fit and drops 8kg. Catch me if you can. He’s no stranger to surprising at odds either. 4. Sebonack tends to race well fresh.

How To Play It: Our Kobison WIN

Former Kiwi-trained mare 4. Tulsi has her first run in Australia. The booking of James McDonald piques interest. She won over 1000m on debut but the daughter of The Autumn Sun was better performed out to 1400m and the mile. Despite having won just one of her 12 starts, eight of those runs were in Group company. She arrives with two Group One placings to her name. Her form lines through the likes of Quintessa can be lined up in Australia. She won’t have to be a star to win this. It’s impossible to be confident about the chances of a horse with this profile but the jockey booking is encouraging as was the manner in which she recently trialled at Warwick Farm, smoking to the line over 1000m. Would love to see further market support.

Dangers: 1. Lady Of Luxury had no luck second and third up. Be forgiving of the margins. Last start she didn’t have any traffic issues but didn’t look to like the heavy track. Back on top of the ground and back to mares company could see her improve sharply. 2. Junqueira was entitled to do a touch more last start at Rosehill having been presented at the right time. She’s capable of better but has to be taken on trust. 10. Lonrioli strips fitter again third up. There is plenty of this mare, towering over her rivals. She’ll appreciate swapping Canterbury for Randwick and dropping 7.5kg. 7. Hi Dubai comes into this a last start winner holding off 8. Cosy Corner. Just not yet convinced about her running a strong 1200m. 9. Acapella Sun can be hard to catch but everything will fall into place for her again shortly.

How To Play It: Tulsi WIN

1. Space Age comes back in grade having won a BM88 two weeks ago over the Randwick mile. The challenge that confronts the in form import on Saturday is carrying an extra 7kg and replicating his run of good form on top of the ground. Zac Wadick has now had two rides on the five-year-old and he stays aboard. His 3kg claim offsets the 62kg. He angled into the best part of the track last start but showed good fight when Galeron emerged from the pack as a legitimate danger. There was three lengths back to third. It’s all clicked now for the gelding, which has coincided with positive rides. That won’t change here and can’t find a lot of pressure on paper. Gets his chance to make it three wins from his past four starts.

Dangers: 7. West Of Africa comes through midweek company but he travelled like the winner a long way from home on the Kensington track last start. It was soft on the line. A touch more depth here but it’s a winnable race and he too comes into this in winning form. The same can be said for 5. Green Shadows. Looked well placed in Midway company two weeks ago and he was too classy for those. He ran faster time over the mile than Space Age at that meeting and looks even better suited on a drying track. 12. Yasuke was scratched from a winnable race on Wednesday for this. Has a sense of timing about him third up out to the mile.

How To Play It: Space Age WIN

9. Arctic Glamour was so impressive winning her maiden first up over 1200m two campaign ago, smashing the clock. Thereafter she beat Jolistar in a Listed race straight out of maiden company. Not many do that. She has been stretched out to the mile in both campaigns since then but she’s proven to be just as effective over the sprint trip. Last campaign she resumed in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) against the fillies and probably should have been fighting out the finish. She got shuffled back in the run throughout and hit the line to be beaten three lengths. Not a lot went right for her over the autumn, with her second to Olentia over 1500m the one occasion where she reminded punters of her talent. Wasn’t asked to do much in her one trial. Much better price than Schwarz.

Dangers: There is no denying that 3. Schwarz is going to be hard to beat. The market says as much, but does he deserve to be a near even money favourite? Don’t think so. The stable have always held him in high regard and are eyeing off Group One weight for age targets over the spring. Loved his recent trial romp. The barrier makes things tricky but James McDonald is booked to ride. Expecting an aggressive ride on 6. Much Much Better. Use his speed, use his fitness being on the seven day back up. That could bring the main fancies undone. It’s his best chance. 10. Shezanalister was no chance of getting to the outside fast lanes at Randwick two weeks ago having drawn barrier 1. Forgive the beaten margin. It looks an opportunistic piece of placement with 5. Ka Bling too.

How To Play It: Arctic Glamour WIN

9. Aramco wandered off the track, wanting to throw the race away at Randwick a month ago. He did enough to hold on despite that. That was over this same track and trip. He’s a talented middle-distance horse. This is harder again grade wise but he drops 2.5kg going into handicap company and is still trending upwards. The lightly-raced six-year-old has only had 10 starts, winning five of them. This looks a perfect third up assignment for the son of Sea The Moon. The real kicker is his tactical speed. There doesn’t look to be a lot of pressure on paper and there is no designated leader. Aramco has won from in front in the past. Expecting Kerrin McEvoy to be positive from the outset. That looks significant given the make up of this field. A drying track won’t bother him either.

Dangers: Will swapping a run of soft and heavy tracks make a difference for 2. Golden Path? His past form suggests it will. That said, the five-year-old has never raced better and comes off a career best performance, trouncing his rivals in the McKell Cup six weeks ago. That was on a heavy track. Has trialled well since then behind subsequent winner Williamsburg. Like what 6. Canberra Legend did first up last campaign in the Parramatta Cup. This isn’t any harder. Lost his way a touch thereafter. Has had an extra Australian preparation to acclimatise and returns a gelding. His trials have been better than the finishing positions suggest. Have to respect the Aramco form reference that 7. Super Strike brings into this, even though that was as a $61 chance.

How To Play It: Aramco WIN

6. Willaidow gets his chance to turn the tables on Iron Man. He strips fitter second up, which is significant given his patten of getting out in front, and meets him 2.5kg better off. The market has recognised that, however. Maps to own the race.

Dangers: That’s no knock on the form of 7. Iron Man. He is two from two this time back and is still improving. Not only beat Willaidow last start but he put him to the sword late. 2. Cloudland has a terrific overall strike rate and a deadly first up record. He was only beaten a length by Territory Express first up last preparation. He won’t be too far away in the run. 1. Key Largo hasn’t won for 92 weeks but it has been just as long since he was raced in this grade.

How To Play It: Willaidow WIN

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