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By Tony Megahey

James Ponsonby, prolific in harness racing including Group 1 glory, continues to consolidate in a code switch with an eye for a bargain and a wayward talent into the TAB Highway $120,000 Class 3 over 1800m at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Ponsonby's last start winners Socrates ($4.80 on TAB) and Alloway ($26) thrive on rain-affected surfaces and their history is intriguing.

Socrates (Dylan Gibbons) bolts in at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

Alloway ran second to boom stayer Explosive Jack in the 2021 Tasmanian Derby and was placed at Flemington with the Price stable before losing all form completely.

Socrates, a dominant series winner on a Heavy 10 last start, was previously with John O’Shea and contested the 2020 Group 1 Spring Championship Stakes won by Montefilia and similarly went backwards.

“Yes, they lost their way and desire for one reason or another, but they came to us healthy and sound and they’ve certainty revived in the right country grade,” explained Ponsonby, a previous Mark Newnham foreman from The Oaks stables and track.

On Saturday Socrates carries 57kg, rising 3kg after the 2kg claim for Dylan Gibbons after winning with 54kg, and Alloway 59.5kg for Koby Jennings.

Socrates returned to form to win at Tuncurry and took it to another level at headquarters, while Alloway won at Forbes with 61.5kg and early prep at Wyong.

“We’re coming with the confidence of last start wins race fitness and knowing they’ll handle the conditions.

“In particular big weights were an issue with Alloway after that Derby placing, he was invariably 60k plus.

“Even this prep he carried 61.5kg to win at Forbes and he’s got the 59.5kg on Saturday. But at five they certainly haven’t been over-raced.”

They’ve won four races between them for Ponsonby. He and Gibbons worked out race tactics perfectly last start.

On a “bottomless” track, in front was the place to be and with more rain, its likely to be a similar story on Saturday.

Socrates was rated to win by near three lengths over 1600m and as a 2000m winner the 1800m is ideal for a “swimmer”.

He’s a $4.80 second favourite behind the Danny Williams-trained Jalmari ($4.60) and has more convincing form as it finished near five lengths behind him last start.

Alloway is much wider in the markets at $26, value considering he’s a recent winner with a big weight has also won at 2000m and thrives on rain-affected.

At present headquarters is a Soft 6 but in overcast conditions with plenty of rain threatening over the next two days.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Royal Randwick here