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By Brad Gray

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

The rail is in the True and the form has been done for a good/soft track.

10. Fox Fighter should have a role to play in the finish, mapping to trail a hot speed. The three-year-old won a deep maiden at Kembla back in mid-July before splitting Conrad and Flying Crazy at Hawkesbury, two horses with big futures. Last start the son of Foxwedge camped on the backs of the leaders over 1100m at Hawkesbury and proved too sharp for his BM64 rivals. The runner up Moralist subsequently won herself and there was four lengths back to third. Third, fifth and sixth from that race have all come out and run seconds at their next starts, one of those behind Sammy, and another behind Different Strokes. Drops to 52kg, has been freshened up for the 1000m and should find a perfect spot. Each way.

Dangers: 3. Oh Please Dianna is flying for Annabel Neasham. She was beaten half a length by A Very Fine Red, subsequently fifth in the Heritage Stakes, before holding off Juan Diva and Nags To Riches at Gosford. James McDonald rides. 4. Capital Reign has shown blistering speed this time back to win three straight and Alysha Collett has ridden him on all three occasions. Handle bars down and catch me if you can. He’s well found, however. 7. Delexo is flying but the barrier looks problematic. 8. Rejinsky is tricky to assess. He underwent throat surgery having failed badly at his two latest starts. Something was clearly amiss. His Taree win prior was sensational. That saw him start $1.50 at Gosford against Private Eye. 1. Lancaster Bomber has claims.

How to play it: Fox Fighter EACH WAY ($13 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Fox Fighter winning at Hawkesbury last start

2. Coolangatta looked the standout two-year-old trialler across both sexes from the nine Randwick heats and the market has reacted. She wasn’t quite as brilliant as last year’s winner of the Gimcrack, Enthaar, in her lead up trial but for the same trainer-jockey-sire combination in Ciaron Maher, David Eustace, James McDonald and Written Tycoon, she looks the filly to beat. J-Mac sat deep throughout on Enthaar last year yet she still won with her ears pricked. Coolangatta might have to do the same having drawn deep. In her trial win she parked in behind the speed and ambled past her rivals, still looking like she was in second gear. Suspect she could have put them to the sword if she was asked for more. The stable are bullish too.

Dangers: 11. Wild Botanica won the fastest heat of the Randwick set, holding off a fast-finishing 7. Okami Miss for Clarry Conners. There doesn’t look to be much of her but like the way she closed off under Rachel King, who stays on for her debut. Wild Botanica draws to find the rail, which can be a big advantage for the juveniles. 12. Wild Calm was clicked up to find the line behind Coolangatta, to still be beaten by more than three lengths, but liked the way she responded after a crack of the whip in the straight. Doesn’t look a jump and run type but sets up to be strong late. 4. Drisana fits a similar profile having been niggled to stay in touch in her trial before running powerfully through the line.

How to play it: Coolangatta WIN ($1.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Coolangatta winning her Randwick trial

Was impressed by the manner in which 13. Victory Moments put his rivals away in his Randwick trial. It wasn’t your typical jump, settle and quicken trial. After beginning well, two horses from inside draws punched up to hold the inside which saw Tim Clark drop back in the field turning for home for the briefest period of cover. He then peeled off their backs to put them away eased down. Despite being pushed forward and back all in the space of 800 odd metres the colt took it all in his stride. It was such a professional display. The overall time of the heat measured up well across the two-year-old heats, in particular the last 600m split. He trialled at the Gold Coast prior to that and won that 900m heat too. Not surprised he is at the pointy end of early betting.

Dangers: 9. Psychiatrist showed good speed in his trial and looks a likely type. Could find the fence from the low draw with Tommy Berry riding. 4. Kibou was visually impressive in his trial win but the time wasn’t anything flash, despite the winning margin, and he’ll need to be very fast to cross this field from the wide draw. His stablemate 10. Resonator might be the one being undersold from the better draw with Nash Rawiller riding. Mustered in his trial to lead before holding off his rivals pretty comfortably in the end. Respect that James McDonald rides 14. Zambezi River.

How to play it: Victory Moments WIN ($4 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Victory Moments winning his Randwick heat

The Joe Pride-trained 7. Taksu sets up well in this out to the mile. He stuck on to run second at Randwick last start behind High Supremacy despite racing keenly in behind the leaders. Suspect he is happier when allowed to run along at his own speed. Should get the chance here given where he has drawn. He has had excuses at his two runs prior to that. His eighth behind Atishu was courtesy of setting an unsustainable speed in the middle stages while the two that beat him home on the Kensington track scooted wider to the better going. He lumped 62kg that day too. Just needs to settle in the run to be fighting out the finish so it’s significant that Jason Collett has now had two rides on the six-year-old, for a first and a second.

Dangers: Want to make a case for 10. Monsieur Sisu to run a race at odds. Have always thought the mile was his best trip (8:2-4-1) and his one-paced style is suited to a fast run race as he is outsprinted in a dash home. Carries just 52kg. Is more comfortable on wet tracks but isn’t hopeless on dry either. 11. Five Kingdoms was first up in the same race as Taksu last start and he wasn’t far away at the finish. 2. Kiss The Bride crawled in front last start and sprinted quickly late. There’s more pressure in this. That gives 3. Bigboyroy the chance to potentially turn the tables. 8. Wairere Falls continues to race well while don’t undersell the class of 1. Just Thinkin’ .

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

Taksu last start behind Hugh Supremacy

1. Think It Over was well beaten in this race at $26 last preparation. The six-year-old has come a long way in 12 months to now line up an even money favourite. And one that’s hard to knock. He has won four Group races since then, including a Group One. Two back he knuckled down to chase Riodini before running Verry Elleegant to less than a length in the George Main despite travelling deep the trip on a track favouring those on the fence. He is comfortably the highest rated runner in the race while he also will handle whatever Randwick throws up on Saturday and has the tactical versatility to put himself in a forward position. That could prove significant given the likelihood of this race being a jog early before a sprint home.

Dangers: Resisted the temptation to put 2. Keiai Nautique on top given the lack of speed engaged. The Japanese import savaged the line first up in the Winx Stakes, running past Think It Over late, before getting back in a slowly run Makybe Diva and warming up through the line. In his favour is the man aboard, Glen Boss, won’t be afraid to take off early knowing he’s on a horse that can sustain a sprint. Has only ever raced on firm or good tracks. 3. Shared Ambition has scored a couple of pass marks in his two runs back but this isn’t a race dissimilar in set up to the 2000m G3 he won last preparation when James McDonald took him straight to the front. It was a terrific return from 8. Duais at Newcastle and curious to see how she measures up against some hardened WFA horses out to this trip.

How to play it: Think It Over WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Think It Over in the George Main

1. Masked Crusader jumped out on the back foot in The Shorts and was never afforded the chance to recover given the relentless pressure applied from Eduardo and Nature Strip. He still found the line to clock the equal quickest last 600m and the fastest last 200m, the was despite being well away from the inside of the track, with the first couple of lanes providing all 10 winners across the meeting. The stewards’ report also noted that Masked Crusader was slow to recover. His nasty habit of missing the kick is becoming costly now he is racing at elite level but the pressure isn’t as likely to be sustained in this. The leaders should be coming back to the pack late this time. Well found but he’s worth another chance.

Dangers: How far will 5. Rothfire come on from his fourth in The Shorts, having spent a year on the sidelines prior? He matched it with most up until the final furlong before his condition gave out. Tim Clark tried to hold him together for as long as he could on the deteriorating track. Will be looking to slot in again. Nothing went right for 7. Lost And Running in The Shorts. He began awkwardly, covered ground throughout and pulled up slightly lame. It’d be no shock to see him bounce back and the early market is keeping him safe. 3. I Am Superman might find the 1200m a touch sharp but suspect he’ll run much better than his odds suggest. 8. Embracer is fit and flying but the map is tricky.

How to play it: Masked Crusader WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Masked Crusader in The Shorts

Can 5. Startantes replicate what she did in the Golden Rose last Saturday out to the mile for the first time and on the quick back up? That’s the question this race hinges on. If she does, she’s the likely winner. None of her rivals here would have been capable of getting within three lengths of the best colts in the country, clocking a last 600m split (33.13s) only bettered by Artorius in the run home. She went straight past Jamaea in the straight, a filly that the start prior in the Furious Stakes, swept past many of Startantes’ rivals in this. The Queenslander had won three on the bounce prior to that, producing a dazzling turn of foot and as she got out further in trip the wins got better.

Dangers: 1. Four Moves Ahead , 2. Mallory and 3. Swift Witness have all taken turns at beating one another home in the three legs of the Princess Series so far. Four Moves Ahead prevailed in the latest clash but Mallory was tightened late with just half a length between the trio. 8. Von Trapp was the eye catcher from the back but the barrier sees her likely giving away another insurmountable head start. 14. Stray for the wider exotics, racing against the fillies for the first time coming off a hard 1800m run in the Gloaming.

How to play it: Startantes WIN ($4 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Startantes in the Golden Rose last Saturday

10. Aramayo has been a revelation this spring. The six-year-old did very little at his first three starts for Chris Waller, having spent a couple of seasons in Singapore, but his Tramway and Bill Ritchie runs set him up perfectly third up out to the mile. In both of those placings he clocked some of the fastest closing splits across the respective meetings. The first of those was behind star galloper Zaaki before his last start third had so much more merit than it reads on paper. Everything was against him. The slow tempo (coupled with the wide draw), the 58kg and that the inside lanes at Randwick were clearly superior. Despite running the fastest 1000-600m in the race to get into a position, he was still powering through the line with a race quickest last 200m. Drops to 51.5, draws to settle closer, Waller trains and the last two winners of the Epsom came through the Bill Ritchie.

Dangers: 12. Private Eye made an Epsom statement at his first run back this preparation, running electric late splits over 1200m. He has run seventh and fourth since then but has had excuses. Two back his closing speed was still terrific while last start he was posted wide in inferior ground, alongside Aramayo. Only now he gets out to his right trip. 9. Riodini brings WFA form back to a handicap. Rachel King has ridden him perfectly at his last two. His race will be won or lost in the first 400m. 13. Atishu was in the right spot in the Bill Ritchie but dropping back in trip was against her. She’ll savage the line. The track is hugely significant for both 6. Hungry Heart and 7. Icebath. The wide draw looks okay for 1. Mo’unga while 16. Harmony Rose, 2. Cascadian and 3. Dalasan are place hopes.

How to play it: Aramayo EACH WAY ($12 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Aramayo in the Bill Ritchie

It’s all fallen into place for 14. Entente . Last Saturday’s winner of the Colin Stephen Quality presents here a very fit horse backing up for the third week in a row, maintains his association with Tim Clark despite dropping to 52.5kg and draws to park in the first dozen. Gai Waterhouse has won the Metrop eight times and seven of them were with horses on the quick back up from the Colin Stephen. History also suggests that the Metrop isn’t a race you want to be getting too far back in. Had to go back 13 years to find a winner that settled down worse than 10th at the 800m mark. Yes, 12. She’s Ideel proved superior when they clashed in the Kingston Town two starts ago but Entente was only second up out to 2000m there and in the past has only found winning form third up. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where She’s Ideel gets onto his back again here either.

Dangers: 17. No Compromise probably wins the Newcastle Cup with even luck. Had the door shut on him twice in the straight before spearing to the line behind 15. Great House. Carries just 50kg. 19. Luncies also has big claims coming from that race. 13. Harpo Marx can surely hold some kind of position from the low draw and Rachel King has won her last two rides on him. It can’t be overstated how big the run of 8. Montefilia was last start. The pace of the race dropped out in the middle stages and she was well off the superior inside lanes. She clocked the fourth fastest last 200m all meeting, at the end of 2000m. The query, like it is with She’s Ideel, is how big of a start they are forced to give away.

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

Entente last Saturday in the Colin Stephen

12. Gravina would’ve won first up if he stayed on the fence. The only positive is that the handicapper couldn’t get to him so he carries just 52.5kg in this BM94. His won over the Randwick 1200m last preparation is by far his best performance. He towelled up a field by five lengths. It was a huge spike in his form and although he hasn’t replicated that since, he has certainly held a level of form that’ll see him measure up in any benchmark level sprint. After that win he was sent around a $1.60 favourite and he got the job done before spelling. His return two weeks ago suggests he has returned at least as well as last campaign. Rachel King rides and he looks to settle down in the second or third pair. Gets his chance from there.

Dangers: 1. Big Parade doesn’t lack for talent, more so consistency. Jumped odds on in the G2 Theo Marks last start but never travelled like the winner in the straight. That’s the second time he has failed at Kembla Grange as a $1.90 pop. Can bounce back. Expected to see 9. Pandano kick off over 1400m but he’ll run well in this. He’s an underrated horse, has trialled well and maps to be close enough if he’s sharp enough over the trip. 2. Prime Candidate is more typically a second up horse but three trials, a soft draw and the booking of J-Mac could offset the fitness query. Respect 3. Rocketing By.

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

"His career best came over the Randwick 1200m last preparation."

📹BEST BET: @BradJGray is saving his best for last at Randwick on Epsom day with this @godolphin trained sprinter @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/owS8DGq4vq

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 1, 2021

All the fields, form and replays for Randwick on Saturday