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By Brad Gray

4. Oryx had his first run for trainer Jake Hull at Canterbury a couple of weeks ago and liked the way he kept chasing in a fast run race. There was early intent shown from the wide draw but he had to go back to find cover given the pressure that kicked up underneath him. When trained by Godolphin, he proved to be a sprinter that can race well from right on top of the speed. The other important factor ahead of Saturday is the prospect of a dry track. The four-year-old is most effective on top of the ground with a record of 3:1-2-0 on good tracks. Oryx looks to pair well with Adam Hyeronimus who will take advantage of barrier 1. Imagine the plan will be to find the front and sum it up from there. In a wide open Midway, Oryx should give a sight at near double figure odds.

Dangers: 9. Super Bright improved sharply first to second up this time back and will get last look, coming with a rush late. Hasn’t been far away in Midways in the past. The wide gate ensures she’ll settle down in the second half, however. 13. One Destiny will be keeping Super Bright company back there but he is flying at the moment. Love the way he is running through the line now that it all looks to have clicked for the gelding. 2. Oakfield Duke had his chance in a Midway first up last campaign, boxing on to run third behind Garrison and Essonne. That reads well now. Have liked his trials. 1. Fielding and 3. Broken Arrows are proven at this level but lack the upside of a few others.

How To Play It: Oryx EACH WAY

3. Chase My Crown is knocking on the door in Highway Handicap company. She has been all campaign. The five-year-old did a terrific job two starts ago to run Sister Moon and Dollar Magic to less than a length given she was 1400m back to 1200m. She then jumped back out to 1500m two weeks ago and should have won if not for being blocked in the straight. It was a busy finish but as we saw last Saturday with Highway winner Acappella Sun, proven Highway form tends to be good form. Andrew Gibbons takes the ride on Saturday and has ridden her four times in the past already. Randwick’s track could be the firmest she has raced on this campaign but some forecasted rain around for later in the week is in her favour.

Dangers: 9. Agirlsbestfriend draws a horrible gate but she is a filly that possesses a powerful close. That was on display last campaign as she worked through the grades. Ran fourth in a Highway last preparation, on the back of a maiden and Class 1 win. She caught the eye running fourth. 2. Burrandana also has a wide draw to overcome. His third to Bianco Vilano in the Albury Country Championships qualifier was brilliant, with the winner breaking the track record. Love the way he trialled recently at Narrandera. 14. Leggy Point found the right part of the track at Scone last start but she jumped out of the ground to put six lengths on her rivals. 12. Radiohead is a knockout hope at odds while 8. Miss Thatcher has claims but is well found.

How To Play It: Chase My Crown WIN

3. Shameless Miss has been steadily improving each run this time back. The sit-sprint nature of the Winter Cup didn’t suit her three weeks ago. Visually it looked like she peaked on her run, and that may have been the case to some extent, but she still clocked a last 200m split of 11.62. Her 600-400 split was the quickest in the race. Long story short, it may prove to be a hidden run. Saturday’s race promises a very different shape with Fun Fact ensuring a true staying test. Shameless Miss won this race 12 months ago, rising four kilograms from last year. She won it as a $2.70 favourite. Imagine this has been her target race again and she found winning form fourth up last campaign.

Dangers: 7. Wahine Toa was suited by a fast run 2000m first up so may have been flattered but it was an impressive return regardless from this Victorian mare. She was friendless in betting to jump a $61 chance. Now second up we’re being asked to butter up as a short-priced favourite. Like her form reference around So Unusual last campaign. Gets in with just 51kg too. 5. Strawberry Rock won well at Sandown last start improving off his fair run at Rosehill the start prior. Should at least hold that form now. 4. Fun Fact has become extremely dour but if he can get to the front, he’ll just keep finding under pressure.

How To Play It: Shameless Miss WIN

1. Contemporary has hit a purple patch of form and wouldn’t think he’d have to do much more than what he has produced at his past two starts to win this. The three-year-old may have been suited by the race shape at Rosehill last start but he sprinted home in slick time to just miss to Devil’s Throat and Kipsbay. Garrison ran fifth and has since won himself. Contemporary comes back slightly in grade from that, with the trade off extra weight but that’s offset by the claim of Zac Lloyd. There looks to be enough speed on paper for the son of Exceed And Excel to stalk just worse than midfield before rattling home over the top. Out to 1300m looks a nice progression for him too. Gets a lot in his favour. Looks one of the better bets across the meeting.

Dangers: 3. Token Capitalist has to cope with a drop back from 1500m to 1300m so there is some risk he’ll be outsprinted but he continues to race well and like his recent form around Rediener. Fives weeks between runs helps him freshen up for the shorter journey. 8. Tsarina Sophia is going much better than the form guide suggests. She chased home Red Card two starts ago in Listed company before being forced too far back last start before finding the line strongly. The barrier doesn’t help on Saturday once more but there is enough in the price so justify a ticket. 2. Miss Hellfire beat Tsarina Sophia home last start and maps beautifully again. She rises 4kg. The way 7. Overriding won last start warrants a crack in town.

How To Play It: Contemporary WIN

5. Dream Hour looked the winner at Warwick Farm last start. He was denied by Gracias Amigo sneaking runs up the fence and he has since franked the form by running third last Saturday at Rosehill. Dream Hour looks to be humming without reward. Kris Lees has had the three-year-old for three starts. Two runs ago he charged late to run second to Rediener. That reads well for this. He comes through a midweek race but most of his rivals in this BM72 are in a similar boat. The gamble is overcoming the barrier. It does look problematic but the Randwick mile will give him plenty of time to balance up before finding the line. If he could find a three-wide running line it’d be ideal. Over to you Andrew Gibbons.

Dangers: 4. African Daisy is ready to win. The four-year-old mare just missed to Rubusto three weeks ago. The leader simply had too easy of a time in front. She did a great job to get as close as she did at the finish. That was after being forced to loop the wide at Warwick Farm first up, staying on to run third. She looks to have returned as well as ever. 8. Fuller comes through the same race and there was little between them. The little knock with Fuller is staying at the mile fourth up. Might be looking for a touch further. 10. Thousand Years wasn’t at her best last campaign. She is better than that. Her Rosehill trial teases that she might run up to her best first up over the mile. 6. In De Summertime has had the breaks fall her way this time back and she has capitalised.

How To Play It: Dream Hour WIN

4. Queenmaker has finished outside of the top two in just one of her past eight runs. That was when she ran in the Group Three Epona Stakes as a $91 chance. The mare finds herself in rare form at the moment. She has won two of her past five, both by four lengths margins. The defeats were all seconds behind Street Gossip, Naval College and Manbehindthemoney, all horses that went right on with it after matching it with Queenmaker. The wide gate shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle either as we know she has got tactical speed. Zac Lloyd rode her two starts ago at Canterbury, getting the tactics spot on, setting off early knowing that he was on a very fit, in form galloper. The gun apprentice will rider Queenmaker with plenty of confidence again on Saturday.

Dangers: The handicapper has caught up to 1. Ita now. She is asked to lump 63kg having been given five rating points for her dominant Randwick win two weeks ago against this same grade. She faces the fillies and mares again too. The extra trip won’t bother her. 3. Pharoah’s Reign has a couple of lengths to turnaround on Ita from last start but was only second up and meets her 2kg better off. More wins are just around the corner if 7. Sophia’s Magic’s return is anything to go off. She should have been fighting out the finish. The barrier is the problem on Saturday. 10. Darlington County was an eye catcher in her first Australian run while expect sharp improvement from 5. Whanga Wonder second up.

How To Play It: Queenmaker WIN

Can 7. Mach Schnell hold his form from last start? That’s the gamble. Three weeks ago he caused an upset, knocking off Zoumon. We’ve seen that form franked since. Mach Schnell carried just 52kg there. Admittedly, the six-year-old hasn’t been the easiest horse to catch in his time in Australia but trainer Joe Pride’s assessment of Mach Schnell was interesting post race. He pointed to the fact that the gelding race so much better when he finds the fence. He shouldn’t have any trouble doing that on Saturday from the barrier and looking at the two drawn inside of him. There doesn’t look to be a lot of pressure on paper either. Expect Adam Hyeronimus to be given instructions to find the front. That sees him hard to chase down.

Dangers: 2. Bold Mac’s Randwick form is the opposite to his Rosehill form. He doesn’t tend to race as well at Randwick. That said, the last time he race at the track he ran second to Glory Daze. Bold Mac backs up after failing to reel in Zoumon in the McKell Cup. Won’t get the same cosy run from the wide draw here. 11. Verona was climbing all over heels first up at Rosehill in what looks a deep race. 4. Super Strike promises to be strong late again.

How To Play It: Mach Schnell EACH WAY

Not sure where 13. Cotehele ends up from the widest gate but was taken by the way he let down to win at Rosehill last start. The four-year-old was ridden more conservatively on that occasion and let rip late to overcome traffic problems to score an unlikely victory. The four-year-old has been given five weeks to freshen up since then. He trialled at Randwick since and there was a lot to like about how he towed Tom Sherry to the line. It was Sherry that weaved some magic to get into the clear at Rosehill. He’ll need more of that to overcome the draw on Saturday, there is no denying that, but look out late if Cotehele gets that early slice of luck he needs. Expecting him to at least hold that form now he has found it.

Dangers: 2. Frosty Rocks is a control freak. If he doesn’t lead, he doesn’t win. Simple as that. He found himself outside of the leader at Eagle Farm first up, which happened to be the eventual winner Prince Of Boom, but he threw in the towel to be beaten 12 lengths. He was first up for 65 weeks too. He could be a sharp improver given he looks to find the front. 9. Longvillers resumes as a gelding. Have liked the way he has trialled on two occasions. This is no easy task from the gate over 1400m. Would greatly respect any market confidence. 12. Waihaha Falls loves Randwick boasting a 7:2-3-0 record at the track. Was only beaten four lengths by Opal Ridge last start. 6. Cisco Bay risks being buried away on the fence from the draw but a repeat of last start is all that’s needed. Keep 16. Fox Fighter safe.

How To Play It: Cotehele WIN

2. Iowna Merc is a sprinter going places. Dropping back from 1200m to 1100m probably isn’t ideal but he has the class to overcome that in this company. He tackles BM78 company for the third start in a row. The first up win was better than the margin suggests while second up he went tow to toe with a Group winning three-year-old In Kibou. Sure, he caught him on the hop fitness-wise and carried 4kg less but there doesn’t look to be any rivals in Kibou’s class in the race on Saturday, with due respect to his rivals. Bjorn Baker has said the Ramornie Handicap is on the table should Iowna Merc make it three wins in a row. He looks well in after the claim of Amy McLucas and should stalk what promises to be a fast run race. Keen again.

Dangers: How much early work will 5. Insurrection and 9. Omni Man be forced to do to cross from their wide draws? That’ll decide their fate. The pair clash again after there was little between them at Warwick Farm first up over 1000m. Omni Man beat him fair and square but Insurrection is capable of better. 18. Narito gets a fast run 1100m which looks to suit first up, returning from bleeding from both nostrils. Hs trialled well. Listed winner 3. Ruthin is the most intriguing runner in the field. The former American-trained ran in two races at Royal Ascot such was Wesley Ward’s opinion of her. She’s now trained by Joe Pride. Her trials have been okay. Big market watch.

How To Play It: Iowna Merc WIN

2. Battleton was just touched off late over this same track and trip, in this same grade, two weeks ago. This is a near identical set up. He maps to get a similar run. Has to find a touch more to convert it into another win but fourth up, he can. This is certainly no harder than a fortnight ago. The leveller is again the big weight but he is a proven weight carrying now. There has been merit in all three of the four-year-old’s runs this time back. Two starts ago he finished a luckless seventh behind Devil’s Throat and arguably fights out the finish with even luck. Just want to see him put a field away again given its now 89 weeks since he last won. Looks the right price in early markets to take the punt that Battleton can go two better than last start. Can only run well.

Dangers: 16. I Am Lethal draws wide but like the way he found the line behind Iowna Merc and Kibou first up over 1200m. That sets up his preparation nicely as he can only improve off that. Out to 1400m is perfect. The gate isn’t. 7. Too Much Caviar will make his own luck up on top of the speed and like him resuming over 1400m. his record at Randwick reads 3:2-1-0. 3. Excelladus has form through Battleton. He looks well placed out to 1400m again. Just faces a tricky draw too.

How To Play It: Battleton WIN

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