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By Brad Gray

2. Bartolf was sent around an odds on favourite on debut at Scone, justifying the market confidence to score an impressive win. The margin flattered his rivals. He swung widest and rounded them up to win going away. That was on a Heavy 10 track so we know he’ll handle the ground, whatever Randwick throws up come Saturday. The visuals of the victory was backed up on the clock. His was comfortably the quickest of the four 1200m races across the meeting. Loved his late strength too. The son of So You Think accelerated from the 400-200m before sustaining that through the line. He finds Nash Rawiller, draws perfectly to stalk his main threat and early favourite Wanaruah and should relish getting out to 1400m. Happy to be in his corner at the better price.

Dangers: 1. Wanaruah ran along at a strong gallop at Canterbury on debut. He ran his rivals into the ground. That’s easier to do at Canterbury than Randwick but he too profiles like he’ll appreciate getting out to 1400m. He was heavily backed late to jump even money and always looked in control. That early tempo saw his overall time also prove much faster than the other three 1250m races across the midweek meeting. 9. Verona’s Cleopatra raced through to hold the front at Hawkesbury on debut over 1400m, beating off a late challenge from 7. Sacred Fort who didn’t get the clearest of passages. Sacred Fort gets blinkers first time. 3. Tikiroo was beaten nearly five lengths on debut at Scone but the winner was a four-year-old mare that had has seven previous starts and was sent around $1.50. His times didn’t compare favourably to Bartolf on the day but respect him coming back to his own age.

How To Play It: Bartolf WIN

1. In Flight has won three from four this time back as she builds an impressive record. The challenge for her on Saturday is now doing it with 60kg. The daughter of Flying Artie has won at Rosehill over 1100m at her past two starts, carrying 53.5kg and then 56.5kg with Jay Ford in the saddle for both victories. Last start she overcame a slowly run race to still score comfortably. Trainer Joe Pride has never been afraid to run horses with weight. In Flight finds another winnable BM72 and looks destined to be given her chance in better company down the track. For now she is doing all that is required of her. The early market suggests that her main dangers come through maiden and Class 1 company. They have upside but she is the three-year-old with the run on the board. Maps to have no excuses.

Dangers: 5. Detendu comes through a midweek super maiden at Warwick Farm but liked the killer instinct he showed to run right away from his rivals late leaving favourite Gram in his wake. Looks progressive. Should jump straight onto the back of the leaders from the soft gate. 7. Ballet D’esprit is still a work in progress but she is a talented filly. Went straight to the front at Kembla Grange first up and despite looking a little lost when taken to the middle of the track, she never really looked in danger of being beaten, despite the half length margin. Just needs to settle in the run. Harness that speed. Especially if she is ridden with cover. Races in winkers for the first time. 2. Flag Hall comes off a five length Gatton win. 6. Mafia led from start to finish at Wyong first up.

How To Play It: In Flight WIN

1. Cranky Harry looks too good for these, especially under the set weights conditions. The Matt Dunn-trained gelding comes through stronger races than this in his three starts for his new stable. Despite being a four-year-old with 12 starts to his name he still isn’t the finished product and cost himself winning at Doomben last start. He wasn’t the best into stride, overraced, was held up momentarily and wanted to lay in late. Take your pick of the excuses! Despite that he was beaten in a photo finish. The third horse subsequently won while the winner ran second to Atlantic Ocean last Saturday. The Ipswich race Cranky Harry won prior has produced four subsequent winners. A tickover trial has kept the son of Spill The Beans ticking over to bridge the five weeks between runs. Finds Nash Rawiller. Deservedly short in betting.

Dangers: 6. Perovic relished getting out over further last start at Lismore to win a Class 1. His two runs prior to that were better than they read on paper. Also trained by Matt Dunn and this three-year-old has also only had a handful of runs for his Murwillumbah-based stable. Not convinced that 3. Rajnish loves wet tracks but he gets through it. He boxed on well at Dubbo last start when very firm in betting. Is no stranger to running well in Highways and could get on speed favours. 14. Field The Moment matched it with Toes In The Water at Goulburn last start, who franked that form by winning a Highway two weeks ago. Matt Dale has the mare humming along nicely. Gets blinkers. 7. Victory Roll can bounce back. He was too bad to be true last start. Respect the strong SP profile.

How To Play It: Cranky Harry WIN

11. November Falls comes through a fast race at Rosehill last start where she more than held her own. That was behind smart import Bear On The Loose out to 1800m. The mare looks well set up two weeks later back to Midway company with 54.5kg on her back. In her two prior runs she was run down late by Bakerloo and then Decadent Tale. She beat the rest of the field comfortably. Rachel King also jumps back on and she looked to have the key to the four-year-old, allowing her to roll along out in front. She tends to hit a flat spot but sustains a run right through the line. Not an easy horse to get past. Her turn in Midway company looks to be imminent and she gets conditions to suit again with another wet track.

Dangers: 9. Charming Legend is likely to be the best horse in the race. He has a lot to overcome, however. The Les Bridge-trained gelding wasn’t suited by the lack of speed on debut but once he clicked through his gears, he powered through the line to win his maiden. Ignore the overall time. His last 200m was the quickest across the entire meeting. The next best was two lengths slower and it was over a 1000m race. Should relish getting out to the mile. He is four and a half weeks between runs. 13. Verbek has hit a run of form. He made light work of Micky’s Medal at Hawkesbury, who has since run well at Warwick Farm. 2. Dr Evil was excellent against the bias at Canterbury last start. Never far away at this level.

How To Play It: November Falls WIN

It was a disaster from start to finish for 1. I’mintowin at Rosehill last start. He began on the backfoot and never really recovered having been expected to lead. If he jumped clean, he’d have won. Convinced of that. Instead he found himself buried in behind the speed, a crawling speed at that, before having to duck and weave for a run. It eventually came but the bird had flown. Highlights led as he liked throughout. I’mintowin sprinted home well, running right through the line late. It was one that got away. Hopefully the four-year-old gets the chance to atone for that here. Don’t mind the wide gate allowing Amy McLucas time to come across to settle in the first couple. He possibly even crosses them all. Comes back in grade and gets out to 1800m. His turn of foot is his asset over Don Diego De Vega.

Dangers: 2. Don Diego De Vega would be on top if this was 2000m. The knock is staying at 1800m and coming through a fast run race. Hopefully he still has some speed in his legs, tackling this two weeks between runs. Like the depth of his overseas form and he was first up there after a 50 week spell. Follow him whether he wins on Saturday or not. 9. Aix En Provence comes through a Class 1 win at Wyong but he drops 7kg off that and liked how he ran through the line. Maps to get the right run and could have upside out to 1800m. That was only his seventh start. 7. Associate drops in weight and looks well suited to a senior rider.

How To Play It: I’mintowin WIN

1. Hellavadancer brings the strongest last start form reference into this. The four-year-old mare, trained by Kris Lees, never looked the winner at Rosehill first up but she was only beaten a length by the speedy Kazou. She never shirked her task in the run home. Hellavadancer has never been one to fire first up nor is she a genuine sprinter these days. This race sets up much better, out to her pert trip of 1400m against the fillies and mares. She is probably still a run away from being at her best, having won third up at her past two campaigns, but she can still get away with this. She handles all going but like the prospect of her running on another rain-affected track. If it’s not Hellavadancer, you’re left to pick up the pieces from the 5. Anagain race.

Dangers: 9. Hide Your Heart was just as strong through the line as Anagain four weeks ago and started similar odds. We’ve seen that form franked. The start prior there was little between her and 3. Defining . The market has been quick to forget her. Will need the speed to be on given her pattern. Respect the starting price of 2. African Daisy through the Anagain race a fortnight ago. She was three and a half weeks between runs and that told the last 100m, peaking on her run. Strips fitter again and Nash Rawiller sticks. Can lightning strike for Anagain? Goes up 2kg. 11. Zouphoria wasn’t beaten far there while a wet track brings 7. Monfelicity into play first up.

How To Play It: Hellavadancer WIN

8. Nails Murphy gets his chance to chalk up his first Australian win on Saturday. No more excuses. This is such a winnable race for the UK import that has had five starts in Australian for Ciaron Maher. The four-year-old looks to be building towards another win. Forget his run at Randwick behind Diamond Diesel two starts ago. He never, ever, saw daylight and was eased out of the finish. It was a non-event. Respect how heavily backed he was late on that occasion. He then stepped out at Rosehill and kept chasing behind Franz Josef and I’mintowin. The first three to the corner were the first three home but he kept chipping away into the margin late. Gets out to 1600m now, proved himself in heavy ground last time out and looks well paired with Jason Collett.

Dangers: 3. Space Age goes around in the same colours and he looks the biggest threat to his stablemate. Another import but he comes into this as a last start winner. The initiative of the ride won him the race at Warwick Farm, bouncing out to lead. Ran right through the line to win well and that Danish Prince formline ties in here with Nails Murphy. 7. King Of Florida has a few tricks. Chris Waller will work him out but his raw talent could see him surprise at odds. He travelled deep the trip first up. Loomed like he might get into the finish but he blew out badly the last 200m. Don’t be too quick to give up on him. Not sure how to assess 2. Ha Ha Ha off last start. Perhaps it was second up syndrome off a lengthy break.

How To Play It: Nails Murphy WIN

3. War Eternal did an enormous job to get as close as he did last start at Rosehill. The Bjorn Baker-trained galloper was forced back to near last in the run from the draw and horribly suited by a lack of pressure up front. He rattled home into third to be beaten less than a length. First and second in the run ran the quinella. Prior to that the five-year-old fought off Xidaki to win over this same track and trip. It was in BM78 company. War Eternal should be able to settle midfield from the gate. Jason Collett has ridden him twice back in 2022, for a win and a fourth in the Randwick Guineas behind Converge and Anamoe. He looks perfectly suited to the horse. Hold him up and give him the chance to ambush.

Dangers: 5. Testator Silens missed by a nostril behind Highlights two weeks ago, through the same race as War Eternal. Showed tactical versatility there. Gets the blinkers on now fourth up. 10. Bojangles didn’t get the clearest of passages in the straight when sixth behind Kazou. He should have finished closer. He was six weeks between runs having suffered a minor setback. Fitter for that and well placed out to 1400m. 4. Substantial worked home well in the Civic Stakes first up. He edged past 1. Excelladus late and had more improvement to come out of that. Excelladus lines up for his third run in 18 days. Well placed back to benchmark company. 7. Russian Roni stuck on well behind Kazou given he is more of a 1400-1600m type now. That sets up his winter perfectly.

How To Play It: War Eternal WIN

9. Bear On The Loose did it the hard way first up. The import was backed as if unbeatable two weeks ago and the four-year-old landed good late bets. He rode the speed, tracked a three wide path to angle away from the inside but found under pressure to hold a decisive margin on the line. That saw his price slashed form a number of spring features. Its still a long way away for Bear On The Loose but that fresh win stamps him as a horse that should race his way through the black type company in a matter of time. The secret is well and truly out now though. He is even money in early betting. Nash Rawiller sticks. In an ideal world the gelding would perhaps be better placed out to 2000m and three weeks between runs.

Dangers: 11. Aramco wasn’t suited by the lack of pressure behind Highlights first up. He travelled strongly throughout but didn’t get much luck in the straight. He trucked through the line like he had more to offer. That was his first run for Chris Waller. Is already a four-time winner, the latest two of those out to 2000m. Melbourne raider 8. Amberite ran over the same track and trip as Bear On The Loose two weeks ago at Rosehill. The overall time was considerably slower. Amberite got complete control from in front. Will be interesting to see how the former Kiwi reacts in a truer staying test. Loves wet ground. 1. Redstone Well can improve second up out to 1800m.

How To Play It: Bear On The Loose WIN

5. Memoria is unbeaten fresh. Three from three. This is the deepest race she has contested first up but she sets up well. The four-year-old grey ended last campaign as a dominant Gosford winner out to 1200m. That was a Wednesday metro meeting and she was backed into an odds on favourite late in betting. Even her second up run had merit when third to Hanau and Ebony King. It was hot rails in run that meeting at Canterbury. She looked sharp in a recent Wyong trial to tune up for her return. Although untried on heavy, the Kris Lees-trained mare has a terrific record on soft going. This promises to be a fast run 1000m race and she’ll camp on the back of the speed from the soft draw. Hard to hold out with the breaks at the right time.

Dangers: Punters are probably running out of patience with 7. Dipsy Doodle. She raced in patches at Warwick Farm last start. She clearly has her quirks but is a talented filly on her day. Drops 4.5kg from last start. Needs to harness her speed. The barrier here doesn’t help her.

How To Play It: Memoria WIN

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