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By Brad Gray

1. Barber has the benefit of barrier 1 and he looks to possess the gate speed to use it to lead this field. The son of Exceed And Excel won his first trial on the Warwick Farm synthetic before being eased out of the finish in his second hitout. That was only on Tuesday so he wasn’t there to break any records that close to his debut. Godolphin are well represented in the race but if the trials are any guide he looks the most likely to be a running two-year-old. We are working with limited information, however. Looking into his pedigree, he is a full brother to Manicure who won twice in her two-year-old season, with one of those on a soft track. In what looks to be a lottery, at least we know he is going to bounce out and put himself right there in the run.

Dangers: 7. Stanislaus comes through the same heat at Barber in his latest hitout and he looks capable of a forward showing. Interesting that Sam Clipperton rides on debut given he has been on both Barber and Stanislaus. 8. Dipsy Doodle is a full sister to Magic Carpet and a half to wet tracker Larkspur Run. She looked precious enough in her trials to show up on debut too. 4. Kintyre will likely be forced back from the draw but he didn’t profile as a jump and run type off his trials regardless. Look for her late. Being a half brother to Fireburn suggests that the wet track won’t bother him. The full sister to Bivouac, 9. Faberge, looks to have talent as well.

How To Play It: Barber WIN

We’ll go to the well one last time with 3. Jalmari. He’s had genuine excuses all throughout his campaign. Whether that be trips short of his best, track bias or big weights. The pattern was against him last start at Randwick having settled last. As the meeting played out you needed to be on speed and hard against the fence. He did a huge job to get as close as he did. Leading apprentice Tyler Schiller jumps back on the Danny Williams-trained four-year-old. It might be wishful thinking that Jalmari can take advantage of a low draw to park up closer. He just does himself no favours flopping out the back and setting himself an impossible task. The prospect of a heavy track is key to his chances again.

Dangers: 4. Socrates went straight to the front at Randwick last start and was potentially flattered by the pattern but it was a strong win and he’s even better suited back out to 1800m. Expect Dylan Gibbons to adopt similar aggressive early tactics. Catch me if you can. 5. King Of Spades comes through that same form reference. That’s now back-to-back seconds in Highways for the consistent Goulburn-based gelding. The wet is fine and he’ll put himself right there in the run again. 1. Lord Desanimaux comes off a string of excellent performances in benchmark company. 8. Sumdeel faces a task from the barrier.

How To Play It: Jalmari WIN

The trade off with 18. Tristate coming back to BM72 company is the 64kg. A similar weight didn’t stop Zoushack from winning on Wednesday at Warwick Farm, however. The Anthony Cummings-trained galloper was brave behind Shades Of Rose first up before backing that up with a narrow defeat at the hands of Remarque in a deep race. Be forgiving of Tristate’s last start sixth as he covered ground throughout and was entitled to knock up. The draw is perfect here with Hugh Bowman engaged. The lead is there if he wants it but there will also be the option of taking a trail if one of his rivals wants to scoot across from a wider gate. Has a class edge on these, as his rating suggests, and he is a heavy track winner in the past.

Dangers: 2. Astero has a history of racing well first up, including last preparation when he took late ground off Rule Of Law over 1100m. His second to Rustic Steel in a Provincial Championships qualifier also jumps off the page when assessing his chances in this grade. Has trialled up well ahead of his return. 12. Either Oar didn’t get much luck in Midway company two back before she found the Randwick track a touch too wet last start when third to Kote. She was still only beaten two lengths and Rachel King sticks. 4. Mayrose is another one with proven recent Midway form. She comes through that same Kote race and can improve sharply back on a track on the better side of heavy.

How To Play It: Tristate WIN

6. Willinga Rufio was carved up in front at Rosehill last start and he faded to finish second last. The rival that eyeballed him throughout was last, 50 lengths back. Forgive him that. Best judge him off his first up win at Warwick Farm where Tyler Schiller got him into a rhythm before running his rivals into the ground. The four-year-old is at his best when allowed to roll in front so you do become a target when you are a touch one dimensional as we saw three weeks ago but other than Cognac, there doesn’t look to be too many other speed influences. The son of Dundeel has been back to the trials since last start and he was given an easy time at Randwick. He’s untried on a heavy track but his wins on soft tracks to date have been dynamic so it’s unlikely to stop him.

Dangers: 8. Mahagoni is flying this time back. He finished midfield last start behind Hosier but had the excuse of a lacklustre tempo. That said, don’t think he was completely at home on the heavy track either, which is a little query he takes into this. 9. One Aye was seven weeks between runs and back to 1200m last start at Randwick and thought she stuck to her task really well. Suited back out to the mile now on her past form. 12. Naval Seal beat Willinga Rufio last preparation and maps to jump on his back again from the soft draw. He is first up tackling the mile but that suggests he’s done plenty of work ahead of his return. 2. Cognac has won two of his past three now while 11. Kermanding comes out of a deep midweek race and should come on from that given he was 70 weeks between runs.

How To Play It: Willinga Rufio WIN

8. War Eternal was the first horse beaten in a fast run G1 Epsom last start and he finished out the back 10 lengths in arrears. It was a throw at the stumps in a Group One race with a horse rated just 83. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The four-year-old is much better placed in Saturday’s company and he still only gets in with 52kg on his back. His second at Randwick behind Ita second up suggested that another win was just around the corner. The wet track will be fine for him, he maps to camp on the back of the leaders, in what promises to be a much more sedately run mile, and the blinkers go on now fourth up. He did run fourth in a Randwick Guineas over the Randwick mile last preparation so the ability has always been there.

Dangers: John O’Shea hasn’t hidden the fact that 4. Diamil has a long preparation ahead of him. He is on the seven day back up after not getting the race run to suit last Saturday at Randwick given Ellsberg got complete control in front. He could have attacked the line a touch better late but getting back onto a wetter track can’t hurt. 10. Palmetto won consecutive Listed races in New Zealand before being sent to John Sargent. Happy to forget his first run in Australia last campaign as it was too bad to be true. Liked the way the four-year-old has trialled and he maps to get a lovely stalking run. 2. Purple Sector didn’t fire a shot at Caulfield last start but his second to Top Ranked in the Bill Ritchie prior to that reads exceptionally well for this. Just won’t want it too wet.

How To Play It: War Eternal WIN

2. Kote has only seen daylight twice this preparation and he’s won on both occasions. He was allowed to use his natural speed to take up the running in those victories and can’t imagine anything changes here. It’s just with Jason Collett on board instead of Tommy Berry. He’ll be tasked with firing him out and getting his rivals off the bit and chasing. The son of Choisir found the fast lane at Randwick last start but it was a very soft victory in Midway company. The other obvious box he ticks ahead of Saturday is how comfortable he is on wet tracks. Couple that with four runs under his belt and his rivals face the assignment of catching him, which won’t be an easy one. Suspect that there is still more to come from Kote too.

Dangers: 7. Dashing Legend is a talented filly in her own right. She comes through the Tapp-Craig where she failed to handle the testing conditions. Comes back to 1200m now. There was little between her and 3. Insurrection when the pair clashed at Canterbury and Insurrection has since won at Warwick Farm. A heavy track would be a little query with him, however.

How To Play It: Kote WIN

Godolphin’s latest Group One pin up 1. Golden Mile hasn’t seen a track worse than a Soft 6 which is the only possible knock on the last start Caulfield Guineas winner. He belted a similar field to this in the Ming Dynasty second up before running fourth in the Golden Rose. The son of Astern a whopping 22 rating points ahead of the second highest runner. And it’s a set weights race. Hugh Bowman is tasked with finding a spot from the wide draw but imagine that he tags Burgunder across and settles handy. At least he’s in control of his own fate from out there and won’t be dictated to in the run. Golden Mile’s odds on quote probably tells you everything you need to know about how well placed he is in this. Should win and justify the price.

Dangers: Keen to see 6. Burgunder out to the mile for the first time given his dam Pinot was an Oaks winner. He was run off his legs in a deep race at Canterbury first up over a sprint trip before he couldn’t pick his feet up in the treacherous conditions at Randwick second up out to 1400m. Blinkers go on. 4. Communist is doing a brilliant job given he is still in his first racing preparation. His second to Williamsburg in the Dulcify reads well for this and he is versatile in terms of where he settles in the run. 5. Flag Of Honour hasn’t quite gone on with it like we thought he might this spring and he’s got two lengths to turnaround on Communist but the blinkers could spark some improvement. 10. A Lot More Love reacted well to the blinkers last Saturday. The wet track is the knock on 2. Brosnan.

How To Play It: Golden Mile WIN, 1,6 EXACTA

Despite running second last start, there’s strong case to be made that 11. She’s Extreme’s placing in the Flight Stakes three weeks ago is the strongest form reference here. She was no match for Zougotcha but there were big gaps back through the field and the form through the race has been franked a number of times already with Madam Pommery and Renaissance Woman both winning their subsequent start despite being beaten near eight lengths. Being a daughter of Extreme Choice doesn’t scream 2000m but her dam Keysbrook was a 2400m horse while her half sister won out to 2100m. Anthony Cummings has maintained all along that the Spring Champion was going to be the most winnable race for his versatile filly. Three of the past six runnings of this race have been won by fillies too, with Montefilia the latest of them two years ago.

Dangers: Loved the run of 2. Promitto against the older horses in a fast run Craven Plate last Saturday over 1800m behind Cascadian. That’ll toughen him up for 2000m coming back to his own age. It’s no easy task separating the runs of the trio that fought out a tight finish in the Gloaming Stakes. Not sure why 5. Matcha Latte continues to go unnoticed, however. His effort was enormous after missing the start and given he was a month between runs. 4. Williamsburg profiles like he’ll eat up 2000m and the prospect of a heavy track only enhances his claims. Wary of the Kiwi influence with 3. Sharp ‘N’ Smart getting out in trip for the first time. 1. Elliptical has claims but it wasn’t a high rating running of the Caulfield Guineas last start so he may come here a touch flattered.

How To Play It: She’s Extreme WIN

3. Icebath is well set up to defend her Invitation crown. The six-year-old was disappointing in the G1 Epsom last start given she started $3.60 favourite but she’s well placed to bounce back. Looking back throughout her career, her fifth up form is impeccable. That sounds crazy but she is a mare that thrives on racing. Her four previous fifth up runs have resulted in a four length benchmark win, a narrow second to Cascadian in a Doncaster, winning this race 12 months ago and a third in the G1 Queen Of The Turf coming from last. She isn’t blessed with gate speed but at least barrier 3 gives Tom Sherry, who has ridden her with success in the past, the chance to park up midfield. Prior to the Epsom, Icebath of course ran seconds to Anamoe and Zaaki! This is the most winnable race she has contested this campaign.

Dangers: 10. Espiona clocked the third quickest last 600m split of the meeting when running fourth in the Golden Pendant second up behind 2. Nimalee. That was four weeks ago. Her big win in the James Carr last preparation was on a heavy track over this track and trip on the back of a five week freshen. The winkers go on for the first time. Nimalee also comes through the Epsom and there’s been little between her and Icebath in their previous clashes. In fact, Nimalee has had the wood on her. 1. Forbidden Love is a three time Group One winner. Forgive her Sydney Stakes run given she was posted throughout. Back up seven days later. Just have to take on trust that she can find her best again. Monitor how the track is playing for backmarkers 5. Promise Of Success and 11. Never Talk.

How To Play It: Icebath WIN

4. Coal Crusher’s first up fifth had hidden merit as he wasn’t allowed to use his speed, which is his biggest asset. After being headed, he raised a second effort to come back again through the line. That was a handy race won by Remarque with Zoushack already franking the form line further by lumping a huge weight to victory at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Glyn Schofield also has a terrific association with Coal Crusher. Last start was the first time he has been beaten on the five-year-old having won their previous five. Coal Crusher took giant strides last campaign charging through the grades, relishing wet tracks. The other key indicator to his chances second up is the blinkers going back on. There is some intent to be read into that. They went on before he demolished his rivals at Randwick back in June.

Dangers: 5. Bacchanalia comes through that same Remarque race where he was a heavily supported $2.50 favourite. He was simply no match for the winner. Loves wet tracks this horse. 10. Samoot had no luck first up before atoning for that second up, albeit at the midweeks. The wetter the better for her. 14. Bella Rouge is a lightly raced mare still with upside.

How To Play It: Coal Crusher WIN

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