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By Brad Gray

5. Vomo Island looked disappointing first up given he jumped a well-backed and short-priced favourite but it has proven to be a hot race already. The runner up Celestial Legend came out and made a statement of his own at Rosehill last Saturday, stamping himself as a youngster with tremendous upside. Vomo Island also didn’t find the fence in run at that Canterbury meeting which proved to be a disadvantage. Being a son of Dundeel suggests that he’ll relish getting out to 1400m now. He was coming again through the line first up too, having hit a flat spot. He has been back to the trials since and was doing his best work through the line once more. He takes on two-year-olds with wins already to their name but he should have won on debut himself back in February.

Dangers: 4. Rhythm Of Love has brilliant gate speed which should see him offset the draw without too much trouble. His second to The King was excellent before finding one better again last start. 7. Ritzytwenties is another one that’ll spear forward to find the front. Outside of those two, there doesn’t look to be much pressure so they’ll get their chance. He held on for an all-the-way win at Wagga last start with second and third from that race since coming out and running the quinella at Kembla Grange on Thursday. 2. Ravello was a hidden run through the same race as Rhythm Of Love but the barrier does him no favours on Saturday. Need to see more from 3. Godzilla and 6. Matusalem but both could be big improvers out to 1400m.

How To Play It: Vomo Island WIN

10. Amarantz went to the paddock an impressive winner in Highway company out to 1800m. She’ll be allowed to balance up being first up but kicking off over 1400m gives her the chance to get into the finish again.

Dangers: 1. Overlord adds plenty of interest. His strike rate remains his conviction but he looks well placed in this company now that he is eligible, having had a couple of runs for Gayna Williams in BM72 midweek company. Will want the track to stay in the soft range. 8. Demitasse was an eye catching second at Gosford first up and looks well placed out to 1400m now. His upside has been factored into his price though. 11. Mr Severino has knockout claims brining similar form lines to Amarantz.

How To Play It: Amarantz EACH WAY

17. As You Were looks enormous odds. The record of this four-year-old doesn’t do his talent justice. His get back style does require luck in running but he’s had his share of bad luck in his 11 starts to date. The continued last start at Kembla Grange. He was never going to win the race from the position he found himself in and the way the race was run but he should have finished significantly closer. Prior to that he travelled three deep the trip at Nowra. The gelding made a big impression in his first couple of runs in maiden company and although he hasn’t quite gone on with it, he’s had excuses throughout. The prospect of a soft track, 1200m at a big track like Randwick and the promise of plenty of speed with a capacity field could provide the platform for him to remind punters of the finish he possesses.

Dangers: 3. Poseidon Ruler will spot the field a big head start too but he’ll be more comfortable on Saturday’s track. He travelled like he’d be in the finish at Rosehill last start but he deteriorating heavy track saw him out, coupled with the 1500m journey. Has been given four weeks to freshen up coming back to 1200m. 6. Lancaster Bomber has been the definition of hit-and-miss this preparation. The common denominator for his better runs recently has been low gates. He gets that on Saturday. The soft gate is also significant for 15. Super Bright. Like the way she has trialled ahead of her return too. 8. Karedada is untapped and warrants respect while inclined to forgive 9. Moonlight Grace last start given it was Listed company.

How To Play It: As You Were EACH WAY

6. Demiana is a filly still on the improve. The daughter of I Am Invincible resumed after a five week freshen at Rosehill back in late April and her two runs since then are good enough to win this. In the first of those she kept chasing to just miss behind Healing Oasis. Thereafter she was shuffled back at Scone in Saturday company before hitting the line to run fourth. She comes back to her own age now and brings a strong SP profile into this. Has to cope with a little drop back in trip from 1300m to 1200m but there shouldn’t be any other excuses. Draws to settle down midfield and Dylan Gibbons takes 1.5kg off. Not surprised to see her confidently supported in early betting.

Dangers: 2. Plundering has won three of his five starts, adding to that tally last start at the midweeks. Has to transition into Saturday company now but many of his rivals are in the same boat. The gelding jumped 1000m to 1300m second up so should improve again from that. 7. Tashi has trialled exceptionally well ahead of her return. She’s done very little wrong in her four career starts to date and her trials suggest she can go right on with it this time back. 9. Scorch just has to overcome a tricky barrier. Otherwise, he profiles like the one the market has missed. Had the unenviable task of chasing after Frilled over 1000m first up. 10. Union Army can bounce back.

How To Play It: Demiana WIN

5. Air To Air was a class above her rivals at Warwick Farm last start. She’s won two from three since being transferred to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The defeat was due to the heavy track. The six-year-old should get conditions conducive to her producing her best form with a soft track likely. Any drier is a bonus. There looks to be enough speed on paper for Air To Air to get the chance to balance up worse than midfield before reeling off her customary big finish. Winning has become somewhat of a habit for this mare now. Something we certainly couldn’t say earlier in her career. If she happens to win again on Saturday, she probably earns the right to have another crack at a Group or Listed race. That’s the quality she is showing at the moment so as long as she is in benchmark grade, happy to keep backing her.

Dangers: Former Kiwi 3. Pin Me Up adds plenty of interest having her first run for Clarry Conners. She is only six weeks between runs so holds residual fitness and love the way she charged through the line in a more recent Rosehill trial. 4. Kazou made light work of her midweek rivals last start, justifying being sent around an odds on quote. Interestingly, all three of her career wins have been when she has found a controlling position. In the two losses, she didn’t. There looks to be enough speed draw underneath her to make the early stages interesting. 7. Vienna Princess is suited over 1400m first up and promises to be strong through the line. 9. Daralina Belle tackles this on the seven day back up and appears to be looking for 1400m herself now.

How To Play It: Air To Air WIN

12. Naval College has hit the ground running in Australia and looks a lightly-raced stayer going places for trainer Annabel Neasham. The four-year-old, with just six starts to his name, should have won first up, with the winner Storm King since franking the form since by winning again. The import then atoned for that second up comfortably beating Queenmaker who came out and put four lengths on her rivals at Canterbury on Wednesday. Naval College’s last start win was with Jett Stanley in the saddle and the 3kg claiming apprentice keeps the ride on Saturday. That sees Naval College drop 5.5kg. This is obviously harder and eventually he’ll get back out to 2400m but this is a perfect third up assignment out to 2000m. Inclined to stick with him as he works his way through the grades.

Dangers: 19. Wrathful wasn’t suited by the lack of early speed at Scone last start in Midway company over 1700m. He did a big job to get as close as he did given that he was forced to make a wide, sustained sprint. Should relish getting out to 2000m. 3. Unspoken is close to his first win in Australia. He has two seconds next to his name and a luckless ninth wedged in between. Looks well placed out to 2000m himself now. Don’t be too quick to discount 5. Iowa. He was truckloaded in betting to jump a short priced favourite in the Wagga Cup but wasn’t suited by the hot early speed. 10. Miracle Spin’s form through Wrathful warrants respect, as does the record of 6. Our Candidate in similar races to this.

How To Play It: Naval College WIN

14. Iowna Merc raced through the grades in his first preparation. After breaking his maiden at the provincials over 1000m he was a Saturday winner at Randwick two starts later. He failed thereafter as a short priced favourite but pulled up with heat stress and was said to have come to the end of his campaign. The three-year-old resumes as a gelding this time back and love the way he has trialled on two occasions. Coasting to the line with Tamerlane in the first of those before backing that up with an equally impressive hit out at Rosehill. Rachel King, who rode him in three starts last preparation, is tasked with angling into the clear at the right time from the low gate. He is fast himself but there are a couple of noted speedsters engaged so expecting Iowna Merc to let a couple go.

Dangers: 16. Kin lost nothing in defeat when second to Vowmaster first up. The winner simply had too much firepower late. Finds a similar race second up and gets in light again. 5. Billiondollarbaby comes through a key form reference at Scone where she couldn’t reel in 17. Comonic. She was only first up there and should get the speed to suit in this. Forget that 8. Command Approved ever ran first up through the same race as Kin at Gosford. He was never on the track from the wide gate. He won’t have the same issue second up and respect that he jumped hard in the market. 12. Chief Conductor has plenty of speed and will give a sight. He’ll likely be forced to absorb plenty of pressure, however.

Dangers: Iowna Merc WIN

This race sets up perfectly for 13. Dehorned Unicorn. It looks to be frantically run in the early stages. Dehorned Unicorn should have the drop on those speed horses from the outset, smothered up. He also only has 52.5kg on his back. The four-year-old went to another level last preparation and has a typical Joe Pride profile in that he’ll continue to improve as he matures. Thought Dehorned Unicorn was entitled to do a touch more first up at Scone, particularly given that he was sent around a $5.50 chance but it was at Listed level behind the likes of Quantico and Andermatt. This is a slight step back from that company. He is also already a winner over the Randwick 1100m. Open race but there’s a lot in his favour.

Dangers: 4. Dragonstone is capable of rattling off huge closing splits. He can be a little hit and miss but he has an excellent record at Randwick and has trialled sweetly ahead of his return. He has his first run for Joe Pride on Saturday. 5. Fox Fighter is similar in that few sprinters can match his finishing speed when he gets the right set up. The firmer the better for Fox Fighter. He was taking late ground off Think About It at Gosford last start. 3. Through The Cracks isn’t an 1100m horse but if he can keep in touch in the middle stages, and get the breaks at the right time, he too promises to be closing off hard. 10. Conscript is going to need some luck from the barrier with his best hope tagging a three wide running line.

How To Play It: Dehorned Unicorn WIN

14. Democracy Manifest added his name to the long list of horses that didn’t handle the track at Rosehill four weeks ago. Forgive him that. Instead judge him off his brilliant first up win. He returns to Randwick, where he has a history of racing well, and gets back onto a firmer track. A soft track has proven to be fine in the past. The four-year-old did jump a $2.60 favourite last start too. He carries just the 53.5kg on Saturday and although there are plenty of well credentialed gallopers in the make up of this field, the best is still in front of Democracy Manifest. Interestingly, the four-year-old raced a touch flat second up last campaign after a big first up win before bouncing back third up. There is enough in the early price to give him another chance.

Dangers: 3. Art Cadeau loves Randwick. His record at the track reads 7:4-1-0. His record over the Randwick 1400m reads 3:2-1-0. He kept finding the line first up in the Wagga Town Plate. It was the run of a horse already looking for this trip. 2. Oscar Zulu pulled up lame after Scone first up where he faded out of the finish. The market has been quick to dismiss his chances. He can bounce back at big odds. 12. Cisco Bay looks just about ready to win again now third up, albeit he is dropping back from 1600m to 1400m. 19. Bethencourt boasts a brilliant second up record (4:3-0-1) and was excellent behind Think It Over first up despite finish seventh. 4. Tamerlane and 6. Wild Planet rate mentions.

How To Play It: Democracy Manifest WIN

8. Redwood Shadow has never been at his best on heavy tracks. He handles it. Just. Expect considerable improvement from the Joe Pride-trained galloper getting onto better footing. Would have preferred 1400m now as opposed to a third run at 1300m this preparation but at double figure odds, it looks a gamble worth taking on the five-year-old. The form guide reads nine of nine four weeks ago but it was the last race on a deteriorating heavy track and a slowly run race in the early stages. The four weeks between runs should ensure that Redwood Shadow still has enough speed in his legs to be rattling home into the finish. Look out for a big form reversal.

Dangers: 13. Shipshape continues to pick his way through the grades. This is his stiffest test yet but he gets in light after the claim and shouldn’t be far away in the run. The knock is the price. He’s well found in early betting. 12. Green Shadows resumes a gelding and like the way he recently trialled at Rosehill. Might find a couple too sharp over 1300m but he has form around the right horses last preparation to prove hard to beat here. 10. Huesca is also better suited getting onto a better surface. He isn’t comfortable in heavy ground either. It’s a similar case for 2. Excelladus while don’t discount 3. Spiranac who was always going to take plenty of improvement from her first up run.

How To Play It: Redwood Shadow WIN

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