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By Nick Berney

An in-depth look at every runner in the $2 million Ingham (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

1. Huetor (Peter & Paul Snowden): Broke through for his maiden Group 1 last prep, which has earnt him the top weight here. The gelding produced a flashing light finish in a recent trial at Canterbury over 1100m and hit the line hard. He has a fantastic record, can sprint fresh and will be running on.

2. Sunshine Rising (Mark Newnham): Was enormous first-up running fourth in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) after having 671 days off the scene. The nine-year-old was wide throughout, wasn’t suited to the pace of the race and ran one of the fastest final 400m splits. He undoubtedly has the ability but will be set a task from the wide draw and is second-up off a long break.

3. Polly Grey (Chris Waller): Drifted in the betting when contesting the Group 2 Matriarch (2000m) at Flemington and had every chance battling on for seventh. All her peak figures have come on heavy surfaces and happy to risk on dry ground.

4. Kirwan’s Lane (John O’Shea): Is a consistent type and ran honestly into third last start in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m). He has held his rating this prep, and the step back up to 1600m suits where he has a solid record.

5. Surf Dancer (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): Had the pace/bias against him last start in The Gong (1600m) and stuck on well to be only beaten a couple of lengths. He will make his own luck again, rolling forward from the wide gate and can be one for wider exotics.

6. Riodini (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): Started $6.50 favourite in The Gong (1600m) and deserves all honours after a brave win. Further, he ran fast time relative to the day even after adjustments, and his run was full of merit. The six-year-old raced wide throughout at a strong tempo, sprinted hard and when challenged, just kept finishing under pressure to score. He does rise 2.5kg off that effort, but all indicators suggest he can improve again, which can offset that. In addition, the wide draw is of little concern coming out of the back chute, and he can rate to win. Definite chance.

Riodini (Pic: Steve Hart)

7. Berdibek (John O’Shea): Was run to suit in The Gong (1600m) and ran on ok, albeit being blocked over the concluding stages. Prefer deeper into his prep and over more distance.

8. Lion’s Roar (John O’Shea): Got too far back and wasn’t suited to the race shape in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) but ran on well, clocking solid closing sectionals. The gelding is getting fitter, but profiles to be one or two more runs off his peak.

9. Sky Lab (Paul Perry): Got too far back, raced in the inferior ground, and his run had hidden merit in The Gong (1600m). The five-year-old has come back well this prep, and his sectional/ratings profile suggests he is ready to peak third-up. Moreover, he will need luck from barrier 1, but if he gets the breaks at the right time, expect him to be in the finish. Over the odds.

10. Skyman (Chris Waller): Had too much to do last start in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) and had to make a long-wide sustained run. Further, he ran hidden closing sectionals relative to his finishing position. The gelding is cherry ripe to peak here coming out of the Waller yard, and if he had drawn kinder, he would have been right in the numbers. Knockout chance.

11. Atishu (Chris Waller): Started the $2.80 favourite in the Ballarat Cup (2000m) and tried hard to run second. The mare is suited back to drier ground and has winning figures for this event. However, she has been up for a long time and maps to settle worse than midfield from the wide gate.

12. New Mandate (Chris Waller): Was solid in his OZ debut at Rosehill Gardens in the Five Diamonds (1800m) and will be fitter for that effort. He has since won a trial in style and looks to have improved between runs. The five-year-old maps well and will appreciate the anticipated genuine tempo where he can absorb the pressure and look to have the last shot. Knockout chance and over the odds.

13. Bartholomeu Dias (Annabel Neasham): Had all favours when winning a Listed race at Flemington last start but still ran time. He has raced well this prep and has been freshened up for this but prefer him over more distance.

14. Diamil (John O’Shea): Had the bias against but ran on well into fourth place in The Five Diamonds (1800m) last start. The gelding has since had a solid hit out at the trials and wasn’t extended going through the line full of energy. He maps well, gets in well at the weights and brings a competitive last-start figure. Goes in all exotics.

Diamil (Pic: Steve Hart)

15. Aramayo (Sam Kavanagh): Was honest running fifth in The Hunter (1300m) for his new trainer. He’s recently won a trial at Newcastle but needs to improve significantly to win here with a tricky setup.

16. Dajraan (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): Was perfectly ridden to win the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) last start. Further, the five-year-old stalked a moderate tempo and sprinted well to score when asked for an effort. The dry track is key to his chances, and he’ll roll forward and make his own luck again.

17. Brutality (Joe Pride): Carried 64.5kg last week in a Benchmark 88 over 1400m at Rosehill Gardens and ran home some of the fastest closings splits of the meeting with the track pattern against as well. The six-year-old won this race last year and can go back-to-back. Additionally, he produces his peak figures on seven-day back-ups, drops 10.5kg, and will appreciate the anticipated genuine tempo where he will get the race run to suit. Chance.

18. Spirit Ridge (Annabel Neasham): Resumes for his new trainer and won a recent trial at Canterbury, albeit being ridden out. He has a solid first-up record but prefer him over more distance in this grade.

19. Longvillers (Chris Waller): Got too far back in his OZ debut and ran slick closing splits to only be beaten under three lengths in the Five Diamonds (1800m). He will be fitter for that, has a strong second-up record and can rate to win. However, he maps to get a long way back from the outside gate.

20. Wild Planet (Team Hawkes): Was brave in The Gong (1600m), and his run had hidden merit after having the pace/bias against him. He is rock-hard fit, the dry track suits and is a knockout chance. Goes in all exotics.

21. Purple Sector (John Thompson): Was 28 days between runs and ran honestly in The Gong (1600m) last start. He gets in well at the weights and excels on dry tracks, but he hasn’t won in a long time.

22. Nugget (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace): The import was heavily backed second-up at Kembla Grange, and he bolted in, doing it in style. The gelding has a fantastic record, drops 6kg, which will only enhance his key asset in acceleration and brings the best last start figure. In addition, his ratings/sectional profile suggests he will only improve third-up and is the one to beat if he gains a start.

Selections:

6. RIODINI
12. New Mandate
9. Sky Lab
17. Brutality

**Nugget goes on top if he gains a start.

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