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By Brad Gray

1. Pretty Woman could prove a class above these in Class 2 company. Given she is eight rating points higher than anything else in the race, she looks well treated 3.5kg above the minimum. That’s after the claim of Tyler Schiller. Yes, she is a three-year-old filly giving older geldings weight but she mixed it with some smart youngsters as a two-year-old. She blew her rivals away on debut on a Soft 7 at Canberra before giving Glistening and Bruckner a galloping lesson in the Black Opal Preview. She was then luckless in the Riesling as a $4.80 favourite. Not sure what happened to her in her one run over the spring, running ninth at Flemington at Listed level. Perhaps it was the firm track. She hasn’t trialled ahead of her return but Matt Dale wouldn’t be bringing her to town underdone.

Dangers: It doesn’t seem to matter what distance Danny Williams runs 2. Shelby Sixtysix over at the moment. Going back to November he was 1600m back to 1000m and was nosed out by London Gal. That was with three weeks between runs. He’s now 1400m back to 1000m within a week. A heavy track negates that somewhat, however, and he is very comfortable on wet tracks.

How To Play It: Pretty Woman WIN

1. Delexo is well placed to atone for a luckless defeat in a very similar race two weeks ago when a $2.80 favourite. The four-year-old has never raced on a heavy track, and being such a big gelding, that is some concern but with no Capital Reign in the race this week, expect Plan A to be to get him rolling along out in front. James Innes Jnr is the man tasked with that job. Delexo won’t want his momentum interrupted at any stage on a testing track with 60.5kg on his back. The son of Exosphere won three of his five starts last preparation and broke the Kensington 1000m track record in one of those victories. All four of his career wins have been over 1000m but looking through his form, suspect that’s just circumstantial to this point in his career.

Dangers: 10. Mayrose has the most upside of any of these and comes off an exceptional win at Canterbury first up, which was backed up on the clock. Has handled wet tracks in the past, albeit her one crack at a heavy track saw her run a boxing second at Goulburn. There is no doubt that she has returned better this preparation, however. 4. Key Largo will give most of these a head start but he also possesses a big finish and the wet won’t bother him. He is six weeks between runs. James McDonald takes the ride. 6. Dalaalaat is likely to need this before heading towards the Provincial Midway Championships but he was a Midway winner first up last preparation. Reluctant to underestimate 2. Invincible Kiss again.

How To Play It: Delexo WIN

3. Lady Laguna relished the heavy conditions at Rosehill back in November and that’s a huge advantage heading into Saturday. That four length romp far surpassed what she did when winning on debut at Eagle Farm and what she did at her subsequent third start when second in the Lonhro Plate behind Cythera. Both of those were at 1000m. Her wet track win, over 1100m, was one of the best two-year-old performances we’ve see all season. She did get away with a couple of cheap splits in the middle stages but her last 200m sectional was the second quickest across the entire meeting, bettered only by Dream Circle. That says she’ll relish the step out to 1200m. The winkers go on.

Dangers: 4. Fireburn has a powerful close and shapes as though she’ll relish 1400m and further in time, which sets her up well for a testing 1200m. Her most recent win over Revolutionary Miss reads well now. 2. Xtravagent Star improved sharply into the Inglis Millennium to score an empathic win. 9. Miss Faberge didn’t get a lot of room on debut while 10. She’s Extreme caught the eye late at the midweeks.

How To Play It: Lady Laguna WIN

15. Peace Officer is bred to swim. He is by Iffraaj out of a Commands mare. The Clarry Conners trained colt trialled well prior to his debut at Randwick when a luckless fifth to Mumbai Jewel. Peace Officer, with Nash Rawiller in the saddle, who sticks here, never got a crack at his rivals until it was too late. He’d have been in the finish with clear running. Sandpaper is rated a single figure chance in this race and don’t think there’d have been much between them all being equal. Peace Officer can only improve from the run and drawing out will allow Rawiller to balance him up just off midfield before letting down. We are yet to see a two-year-old colt put their hand up this season, hence $6 the field in this, so wouldn’t be surprised if a roughie saluted.

Dangers: 1. El Padrino looks beautifully set up out to 1200m now. He just couldn’t quicken with those that beat him home in the Inglis Millennium last start but liked the way he was coming again through the line. Ran second on a Heavy 10 at Cranbourne on debut. 8. Fire And Ice shouldn’t be underestimated coming through that same race. Only the trifecta had quicker last 600m splits. 9. Man In The Mirror was a touch lucky to beat Paris Dior on debut but we’ve seen what that filly has done since. Annabel Neasham is of the opinion that he’s more of a 1400m horse, and his recent trial hinted as much, but he’ll run well. 16. Brosnan has trialled up well, 5. Sandpaper is in the mix as is the likely leader 7. Rise Of The Masses. Respect that James McDonald sticks with debutant 17. Custodian having ridden him in his trial win.

How To Play It: Peace Officer EACH WAY

8. Atishu won over the Randwick 1400m first up last preparation, racing her way quickly through to Group One level. That was the Epsom where she ran a brave sixth after the race set up for those closing off late. She then ran a luckless 12th in the Golden Eagle and should have finished much closer if not for the wide gate and interference in the straight. We’ll forgive her plain effort in The Gong. The former Kiwi had simply had come to the end of a busy first campaign in Australia. Love the way she has trialled up heading into Saturday, with James McDonald in the saddle. She cruised through the line without any pressure. McDonald rides her for the first time at the races here. Maps to camp in behind a genuine speed. Every chance.

Dangers: If 12. Poetic Charmer is ever going to win a Group race, it’s with Saturday’s set up. He has a big fitness edge over the majority of his rivals, loves it wet and is holding his form really well this preparation. 2. Ellsberg was a dominant winner of the Festival Stakes last preparation on a heavy track. He’ll roll forward from the wide draw and is undefeated first up. 3. Riodini was taken on in front first up and folded. He’ll strip fitter but might need this too. Prefer dry tracks for him but he did split Verry Elleegant and Think It Over on a Soft 7 at weight for age over the spring. 4. Aramayo’s poor wet track form could be a touch misleading. The blinkers come off 5. Brutality and he’ll need this but his wet track prowess makes him a place hope. Would be surprised if 9. Quantico runs.

How To Play It: Atishu WIN

8. Icebath is one of the best wet trackers in the country. She loomed first up in the G2 Apollo Stakes won by Think It Over but peaked on her run. Her 400-200m split was the quickest in the race. The five-year-old thrives on racing and in her last couple of preparations she hasn’t peaked until fourth and fifth up. That’s the knock here with the Doncaster in April her autumn grand final. How close to full fitness will she be? Then throw into the mix the wide draw which might be no disadvantage on a very wet Randwick track half way through the meeting but it could mean that she just has to sustain a sprint for that touch longer. The Golden Eagle, when losing out by a nostril to Colette, was the last time she ran on a heavy track.

Dangers: Nothing went right for 9. Harmony Rose last preparation. She probably should have won first up which set the tone for her spring. Handles wet tracks and will make her own luck. She looks the best blowout. Icebath has beaten home 2. Forbidden Love in all four of their past clashes and has to give her 4kg. Looks to have returned well though. 11. Promise Of Success sets up well out to 1400m on a wet track. Just mindful that in her past two preparations she has been a touch flat second up before bouncing back. 7. Kiku has the advantage of two runs under her belt and her best form is on wet tracks. Expect forward showings from 3. Vangelic and 4. Nimalee. 10. More Prophets and 6. Mirra Vision are two mares to keep an eye on but don’t get favourable conditions in this.

How To Play It: Icebath WIN

8. Verry Elleegant’s run in the Apollo Stakes was much better than it reads on paper. Barrier 1 over 1400m saw her settle down third last on the fence. It was the worst possible spot for her, then throw into the mix two tearaway leaders. Despite darting up the fence late on the inferior ground, she still clocked the second quickest last 600m split (34.11s). She couldn’t have done much more given the circumstances. Saturday’s assignment is only 200m further but it’s a completely different shape. There is no speed, she draws to settle in the first four and she’s one of the best wet trackers we’ve ever seen. Her record on soft and heavy ground reads 19: 11-3-2. Sure, Colette is just as comfortable on wet tracks but a testing mile is where Verry Elleegant’s stamina and desire really kick in.

Dangers: 9. Colette is still the obvious threat. There was only 0.2L separating the pair in this very race 12 months ago on a soft track. They’ve clashed five times in the past with the verdict currently 3:2 in Verry Elleegant’s favour. Both times Colette beat her home were over 1400m. 10. Montefilia ran on into third behind 1. Think It Over first up last preparation and the wet track will see her close that gap further. Has only had one soft trial but she’ll run well if she’s forward enough first up. Think It Over is chasing four straight wins and was brilliant in winning the Apollo. He hasn’t handled heavy tracks in the past but he has never run on one in the form he finds himself in at the moment. Big watch on talented grey 3. Top Ranked while 5. Angel Of Truth could run a race if he is ridden to lead.

How To Play It: Verry Elleegant WIN

7. Espiona had her colours lowered first up in the Light Fingers, courtesy of a perfect Hugh Bowman ride on Fangirl. Espiona jumped a $1.55 favourite on what she had done in her first preparation, which was exceptional. She backed up a Warwick Farm maiden win with a 6.5L romp at Flemington in Listed company. Both of those wins were on soft tracks. A heavy track at Randwick is different again but it at least suggests that she should handle it. The daughter of Extreme Choice draws wide once more but it doesn’t look as problematic out to 1400m late in the day at Randwick. I’m sure James McDonald would much prefer it out there as opposed to an inside draw where he is dictated to. She is too talented a filly not to bounce back.

Dangers: All honours to 3. Fangirl first up. She was simply too strong late, getting the back of Espiona. Has won on a Soft 6 but her two best performances have been on top of the ground. Will relish the step out to 1400m now. 9. Zouzarella was brave in the Light Fingers to only be beaten 1.7L despite covering ground throughout. Won well on a soft track in Melbourne last campaign. 4. Four Moves Ahead and 5. Hinged are two other fillies with wet track form that jumps off the page. Expect Four Moves Ahead to be ridden more conservatively with the blinkers coming off. 10. Heresy was luckless in the Light Fingers.

How To Play It: Espiona WIN

15. Galaxy Belle was a brilliant winner over the mile at Newcastle second up which saw Kris Lees head straight to town. The four-year-old was a beaten favourite when third but don’t think she lost too much in defeat. The race was completely dominated by the leader with the runner up ssettling second in the run. She was never in the race having settled in the second half. She still kept finding the line to run third, however, under a 59.5kg impost. The daughter of Redwood fronts up 10 days later out to 2000m and with the rise in grade, she plummets to just 52kg. Like that set up. She has never raced on a heavy track but with three runs under her belt and a light weight, she’ll get every chance to handle it.

Dangers: 2. Yiyi was flat third up staying at the mile. It was perhaps just the run he needed to get out to 2000m fourth up. The bonus is the wet track, which we know he loves. The draw mightn’t be any disadvantage come the second last. 9. Outlandos is back from 2400m but the testing track will negate that. He’s very fit and in terrific form, which can only see him run well. 13. Through Irish Eyes did enough first up over 1600m with 59kg. He’ll improve off that and that form line through 8. Mr Gee has been franked since. 14. King Ratel has no early speed so will be out the back again but he looks ready for 2000m. He did prior to last start yet still won over the mile. 11. Dadoozdart gets the Hawkes switcheroo between states, backs up within a week, gets onto a wet track and the blinkers go on. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him improve sharply.

How To Play It: Galaxy Belle EACH WAY

Will 3. The Bopper handle a heavy track? We are getting the right price to find out. He has a great grounding for this now fourth up on the back of a tenacious second over 1200m where the pressure was really cranked up in the middle stages. Rule Of Law was simply too good but he has won again since, by a space, and Bjorn Baker is eyeing off a start in the Galaxy with him. The Bopper won a Brian Crowley in style on a deteriorating track. It was rated a Soft 6 when he won but two races later was downgraded to a Heavy 8. That’s the best guide we’ve got. He draws inside of Maotai too, which gives Hugh Bowman options. If Maotai does cross to lead, he’ll be made to work to find the front.

Dangers: It all fell into place for 5. Maotai first up. He slid forward to find the front without much competition before Sam Clipperton played to the colt’s strengths, sustained speed. He got the tempo spot on. The clock backed up the win too. Want to see him do it again now and curious to see how he’ll react to being more aggressively ridden in the early stages. He’s also unknown in heavy ground. 4. Gravina will be the one smoking the pipe out the back. He returns a gelding and handles all surfaces. His fate will probably be decided by how the track is playing come the last race. 8. Taksu could find a couple too sharp over 1200m but 51.5kg on his back and a heavy track sees him warrant respect. 9. Robodira is another one right down in the weights.

How To Play It: The Bopper WIN

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