By Nick Berney
ROYAL RANDWICK – BEST BET: Race 10 # 9 – RHAPSODY CHIC
He's an improving type with adaptability/acceleration, and his action suggests he'll be more suited to going in the clockwise direction. The gelding's first-up win was full of merit at Seymour, and he backed it up with a stylish effort at Sandown to score 17 days ago. Further, he was suited stalking a slow tempo, but he showed a turn of foot in the inferior ground and went through the line full of energy. The four-year-old can sprint off slow/fast tempos, is a winner over this distance on a heavy surface, and the booking of Nash Rawiller is significant. In addition, his ratings/sectional/SP profile lines up well against his rivals, and he can rate well to win.
ROYAL RANDWICK – NEXT BEST: Race 5 # 7 – STRATHTAY
He stepped to the 2000m for the first time last start at Rosehill and was completely dominant. The Chris Waller-trained runner was well-ridden, but once he balanced up in the straight and got his mind on the job, he extended away from his rivals. He clocked one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits of the meeting, pricked his ears on the line, and all key indicators suggested he could step again. He rises 3kg but has a positive race setup and strikes heavy ground again, which is ideal.
ROYAL RANDWICK – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 3 # 1 – NAVY BLOOD
He has a very likeable profile, being on the quick backup with Nash Rawiller and the blinkers going on for the first time. He was 35 days between runs last start in the same grade, and he looked the winner with Punter's Intelligence recording he ran the race's quickest 400m-200 in 11.37 before peaking on his run. The colt maintained a strong finish speed to the line to finish second, and repeating that effort/figure will make it him hard to hold out.
WYONG – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 5 # 7 – DU CAP
She's raced well in her first campaign and has run to a consistent figure this prep that wins this event. The filly led at a good-even tempo last start at this track, over 1100m, and battled on well to finish fourth. She is much more suited back in distance, is rock-hard fit and proven on rain-affected ground. In addition, jockey Christian Reith has options from the draw and ride to the pattern.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting