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By Nick Berney

An in-depth look at every runner in the Group 1 $1.5 million TAB EPSOM HANDICAP (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

1. Top Ranked (Annabel Neasham): Was run to suit and an obvious winner first-up in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie (1400m), but the race rated well, and the high-pressure event set a strong platform for his preparation. The import raced in elite Group 1 WFA events overseas before arriving in Oz. Further, his starting price profile is solid relative to his rivals at this level.

Summary: The seven-year-old will be fitter, is suited up in distance and maps to have all favours with Hugh Bowman riding. Expect this prep to be the making of him in Oz, and he is undoubtedly a major player.

Top Ranked (Pic: Steve Hart)

2. Converge (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): Has been disappointing this preparation, but that has been due to not handling the rain-affected ground. However, third-up last prep the gelding won the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and produced his career peak figure that day.

Summary: The Waterhouse & Bott galloper has struggled to find form this prep and, with the forecast, it is almost certain the gelding will have to contest with a heavy track again.

3. Ellsberg (Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou): Started the $3.20 favourite in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) seven days ago, and he had all favours battling on well for third. The five-year-old started $16 in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) third-up last campaign and was honest.

Summary: The galloper is a consistent type, coming out of time/sectional merit races this prep and will roll forward.

4. Nimalee (Matthew Smith): sat outside the leader at a moderate pace seven days ago in the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) but was brave when challenged over the concluding stages and held on to win. Prior to that start, she tried hard to run third behind Zaaki in the Group 2 Tramway (1400m).

Summary: The six-year-old is on a backup and last preparation she produced her career peak figure at this track/distance when winning the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m). Further, albeit starting a longer price, she beat home key rivals in Icebath and Fangirl that day. Will roll forward and is a definite chance.

5. Icebath (Brad Widdup): The six-year-old mare is in terrific form and is on an upwards ratings spiral this preparation. She was outstanding last start in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) after being unsuited by the slow tempo and having to make a long-wide sustained run. Further, she ran on well into second, maintaining a strong finishing speed to the line behind Anamoe and clocked 12.02 for her final 200m. Before that start, she had the pace/bias against and ran some of the fastest closing splits of the meeting in 24.48/12.52 in the Group 2 Tramway (1400m) won by Zaaki.

Summary: The mare had no luck in this race last year and profiles well for this event. She is ready to peak and follows a similar pattern to last campaign, where she produced her prep peak figure at this track/distance. In addition, she revels in the testing conditions, has multiple winning figures, James McDonald rides and is a definite chance to win her elusive first Group 1.

6. Fangirl (Chris Waller): Had too much to do first-up in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) and hit the line hard, running the fastest final 400m of the meeting in 22.00. The mare then started $6.5 in the Group 1 George Main (1600m) Stakes second-up but raced slightly flat.

Summary: She is an improving type who brings a last-start starting price profile edge relative to some of the key rivals. However, she has rated down considerably when striking heavy tracks and is a late market watch.

Fangirl (Pic: Steve Hart)

7. Kiku (Chris Waller): Was run to suit when winning the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m), but she did it and ran time. Moreover, that race rated highly relative to the day after adjusting for age, class and additional factors. The mare also clocked some of the fastest closing 600m/400m/200m splits of the meeting in 33.52/22.40/11.32.

Summary: She is a consistent type proven on rain-affected ground but again maps to settle at the rear of the field, albeit she may get the track pattern to suit.

8. Hinged (Chris Waller): was 28 days between runs last start in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) and, although suited to leading at a slow pace, she was brave in defeat after having Anamoe settle outside of her. Prior to that start, she had no luck and was checked/blocked for most of the straight but once clear, she was strong through the line.

Summary: Four-year-old mares have a strong history in this race, and she gets in well at the weights relative to her rivals. Further, she is a Group 1 winner on a heavy 10-rated track, will roll forward with a lightweight and is a consistent type. In addition, her sectional/ratings profile suggests she is ready to peak third-up and any improvement off her last start figure will make her hard to beat.

9. Cross Talk (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): He was caught in a speed battle last start in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie (1400m), and his run was full of merit. Further, he chased a very fast tempo and stuck on well to only be beaten by 2.1 lengths where the leader finished a distant last.

Summary: The Waterhouse & Bott galloper has started favourite in all his career starts and is rock-hard fit. In addition, he maps to control the pace, has no weight, and all his peak figures have come on rain-affected ground. Some query running a strong Randwick mile, but he will give a sight and must go in the wider exotics.

10. Character (James Cummings) SCRATCHED.

11. Pippali (Jason Coyle) Started $81 in the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) seven days ago and ran third. The mare travelled in the inferior ground and tried hard in defeat.

Summary: Racing well but needs to improve significantly against this opposition.

12. War Eternal (Bjorn Baker) Has had excuses his past two starts and arguably should’ve won last start. Moreover, he was checked/blocked at a critical stage and charged late to miss.

Summary: The Bjorn Baker trained galloper is proven on the rain-affected ground and is a place chance.

Overall analysis: Hinged profiles well for this race coming through Group 1 WFA events, and four-year-old mares have a strong record. Further, her sectional/ratings profile suggests she is ready to peak third-up and gets in well at the weights. Top Ranked set a strong platform first-up and has elite Group 1 WFA overseas form lines. Nimalee produced her career peak figure at this track/distance that lines up well, and Icebath gets her ideal conditions.

Selections:

8. HINGED
1. Top Ranked
4. Nimalee
5. Icebath

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