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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Saturday’s Randwick meeting. Selections based on a good track.

Godolphin has been patient with 2. Beiwacht and it seems he’s appreciated that bit of time as he’s won both trials in January in good style including the latest of those on Monday at Hawkesbury. He’s shown tactical speed so he’s a good chance to be able to offset the barrier, even though the 1000m start is pretty fair on wide draws. Expect him to run well.

Dangers: 6. United States is another high priced yearling out of the Chris Waller yard on debut. He’s a $1.75m colt and his dam was a winner of three from 16 with a couple of Listed placings to her name. Just the one trial leading in but drawn well and warrants respect. 7. Yolo started solid in the market on debut at Geelong three weeks ago and fair to say he didn’t have a lot of luck. Ran fourth, hard to say where he would have finished given he didn’t really have the chance to wind up. Has that race experience and is a definite chance. 10. Miss Fleetwood was due to go around last week but dumped the jockey and kept the clerks of the course at bay for quite a while. She’d trialled nicely in the lead up and have to include.

How to play it: Beiwacht WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Beiwacht wins a Hawkesbury trial on January 20

This might be a good chance for 12. Trafalgar Square to post an overdue win. She was 1200m up to the mile and found plenty of trouble when running fifth in the Midway at Wyong two weeks ago won by Magnatear. She was checked early on, losing ground, then raced in restricted room for much of the last 400m. With that run under her belt at the trip she could easily back it up.

Dangers: 6. Aix En Provence comes through the same race and he just missed in running second after settling just off the speed and making late ground. No claim this time so he’s worse off at the weights but looks close to a win. Hard to leave 2. Magnatear out of the discussion as we know what he’ll do, he’ll lead and if he’s able to get control and settle nicely then he’ll take some running down. 5. Irish Bliss is also in the mix having run third in that event at Wyong. He did have his chance but wasn’t beaten far and if he can find the right spot from the outside gate he’s in the finish somewhere.

How to play it: Trafalgar Square EACH-WAY ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Trafalgar Square runs fifth at Wyong on January 11

Excellent Highway field. 1. Clear Thinking has to go on top despite a couple of negatives with top weight and the barrier. She’s unbeaten in three starts and was able to overcome some obstacles to win a Highway back in July. In that race she ran down Tanglewood who went on to run third in The Kosciuszko. Fitter for two trials and she’s the horse to beat.

Dangers: 19. Kreon is just about due to have something go right for him. Super effort when resuming in the Highway at Wyong two weeks ago where he was solid in the market, settled well back then charged home into fifth on a day where it wasn’t easy to make ground out wide. He’s run well in BM78 grade and is above average in ability so if he puts it all together is dangerous. 9. Ritzsun started favourite in that Wyong race and looked to have his chance when running fourth but at the same time was only beaten half a length. Hit the line well first-up and entitled to another chance. 8. Highway Strip produced a big effort when resuming a month ago in a good quality Highway, he raced wide and wobbled off the track on the turn but still had the ability to pick up and hit the front before he was swamped by Sir Remlap late. Wide draw a minus and did have to trial on Monday but can’t dismiss him.

How to play it: Clear Thinking WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Clear Thinking wins a Muswellbrook trial on January 2

5. Our Anchorage looks to have come back in great order and was able to win first-up for the first time when successful over 1800m at Kensington a couple of weeks ago. Big weight drop in his favour for the class rise and he might get a degree of control up on the speed. He has his chance to back up that fresh performance and take the next step.

Dangers: 4. Unlimited is racing well with a win over this course three weeks ago then went down narrowly at Wyong after making a run around them from last. No reason to think he can’t hold his form and be one of the major chances. 6. Claim The Crown has been in and scratched a couple of times lately but should get a good track here and he’s drawn to be around the mark again. Game in defeat behind Saltcoats last start a month ago and finished ahead of Bullets High in that race. Go well. 8. Agita is another up and comer who was well support to win fresh over a mile on a heavy track at Warwick Farm. Arguably he’s one that prefers it on the dry side so it was a positive sign to see him win fresh. No surprise if he measures up.

How to play it: Our Anchorage WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Our Anchorage wins at Kensington on January 15

4. Vega Magnifico finally put it all together with a sweeping first-up win over 1500m three weeks ago and he’s certainly struck another winnable race despite a class rise. He gets 3kg in weight relief and perhaps he can race a bit closer to the speed from an inside gate in the small field. Overall form in Australia suggests he prefers in dry.

Dangers: 2. Don Diego De Vega is likely the better horse but he’s resuming at a trip that’s going to be well short of his best. Reacted well first-up in Australia at 1800m in the winter then a bit too good second-up at the same trip. Ridden up to win his latest trial and yet to see a good track but he could also be too classy. 7. Miss You Ella was a shade disappointing after having a nice run second-up behind Perfumist as she only boxed away to be a safely held fifth. She could be gifted the lead here and that might see her improve. 1. Super Helpful is back in class after a solid effort in The Lakes at Wyong where he ran fifth beaten a couple of lengths. More than capable of being competitive in this field.

How to play it: Vega Magnifico WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Vega Magnifico wins at Randwick on January 4

8. Imposant is bursting to win a race and while her pattern tends to be a disadvantage she only needs a favour or two in the run to go close. Excellent first-up at 1300m at Randwick running on behind a smart filly then again a big run from near last at Wyong behind Headley Grange. It comes down to the run she gets through the field, or if barrier one is a help, but she looks hard to beat.

Dangers: 14. Qatars Choice had some raps on her in her first preparation but went winless in two starts before clearly appreciating a bit of time when she beat Scintilla first-up at Canterbury. Both that horse and the third horse have won since and while giving away experience she could measure up. 11. Point And Shoot ran third in the same Wyong race as Imposant, he didn’t have the greatest of runs up wide on the speed and he battled on pretty well to run third. Faces another tricky barrier but racing too well to knock. 12. Puntin is also an acceptor on Monday but on the ease of his two country wins to date he’s one to keep safe if he lines up. Coasted to an all the way win at Moruya over a similar trip so it’ll be interesting to see where he stands in this grade.

How to play it: Imposant WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Imposant runs second at Wyong on January 11

8. Llanddwyn is going to be each-way odds but her run at Wyong was far too good not to give her a chance now she’s creeping back up in distance. She was back from 1400m to 1100m and settled near last before spearing very wide on the turn and working home in eye-catching fashion behind Bonita Queen. Different set up here, she’s 3kg better off and a shower wouldn’t harm her chances either. Has to run well.

Dangers: 1. Bonita Queen is going to be the one to run down. She’ll be fitter for that win but she has to now run 1200m with 61.5kg on her back and the prospect of a bit of pressure being applied. If it isn’t and she’s able to dictate she’ll be very hard to catch. 7. Cosmonova can be forgiven for failing at Rosehill last week on a wet track with rain prior to her race not helping the cause. She was solid first-up behind With Your Blessing at Randwick and can regain that sort of form on a dry track. 4. Salisano is a dry tracker and she was able to lead throughout to a comfortable win at Canterbury beating Sweysive, who has won twice since that race. If she doesn’t cause Bonita Queen trouble punching up on the inside she can get a nice trial and be competitive.

How to play it: Llanddwyn EACH-WAY ($17 TAB Fixed Odds).

Llanddwyn runs fifth at Wyong on January 11

3. Headley Grange has returned in excellent order and he backed up a close second when resuming with a strong win at Wyong in fast time, both at 1300m. He’s won up to a mile so the extra ground is in his favour and he’s again drawn ideally to get that stalking sort of run midfield or thereabouts. Can’t see him running a bad race and he will be in the finish somewhere.

Dangers: 5. Noble Conqueror beat Headley Grange first-up then produced an eye-catching effort when running on from last behind the smart Yorkshire at Wyong. Back to Randwick is a plus and he’s found some consistency in his last couple of preps. Definite chance. 1. Sandpaper ran right up to a sharp trial win to score first-up for the new stable at Wyong where he sat midfield in a solidly run race and finished best late. Imagine he has to press forward this time from the gate but that may not be a negative. 6. Invader Zim shouldn’t be overlooked either as he didn’t have the best of luck when a beaten favourite to Headley Grange at Wyong. Nice return chasing home Disneck and while he’d love a mid-range soft track he can be a factor on top of the ground.

How to play it: Headley Grange WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Headley Grange wins at Wyong on January 11

10. Step Aside can be a bit hit and miss but he invariably runs well fresh and looks set to do the same on the back of his latest trial which was quiet and eye-catching at the same time. Interestingly he resumes in blinkers for the first time, which is a good sign of intent, draws the inside and is the type of horse that can make some use of it. Only negative is he’s yet to win below 1300m but the blinkers probably offset that. Good chance.

Dangers: 6. Boston Rocks has been placed in both runs back and his effort when third behind With Your Blessing three weeks ago was a little better than it looks on paper. He did run some handy sectionals to claim third placing. Needs to jump and get things right early and he's a big chance to atone. 1. Flying Destiny was very game racing on the pace and holding on to run second behind Sandpaper at Wyong, bouncing back from a second-up failure. Claim helps and he’s drawn to get every chance again. 11. Hezdarnhottoo was scratched from last week and should find a firmer track. Just failed when resuming at the Sunshine Coast on a soft 6 three weeks ago where he settled off the pace for the first time in a while. Has to be considered.

How to play it: Step Aside WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Step Aside runs fourth in a Warwick Farm trial on January 20

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