Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Saturday’s Randwick meeting. Selections based on a heavy track.

6. Honeycreeper looks hard to beat on the back of quite a solid effort against three-year-olds at Rosehill second-up. She jumped well but ended up near the tail and with the leader winning she did a good job to be beaten only two lengths. Close to peak here and chance to race handier so gets her chance.

Dangers: 2. War Eternal was prominent throughout last time at Warwick Farm and while Dragonstone was a bit too good for him he fought on nicely. Clearly the major threat. 3. Miss In Charge had the right run but still needed to overcome some traffic to win at Canterbury so the effort was good. Bit tougher here but could measure up. 1. Revivalist closed off well first-up then hit the line hard late to win a maiden at Newcastle. Shapes as though 1400m will suit and gets blinkers on. Keep in mind.

How to play it: Honeycreeper WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Honeycreeper runs fourth at Rosehill on July 3

2. Anethole has been quite unlucky in his last two Highway appearances and he should have been right in the finish last time at Rosehill. He went to the line untested beaten three lengths. Well in here with the claim and drawn to be a little more forward in the run potentially. Bursting to win one and hard to beat here.

Dangers: 10. Lady River comes through the same race as Anethole and her performance in third was excellent in its own right after having to swing wide. She’s a little worse off at the weights but should be in the finish. 12. Danzadel is a lightly raced filly who enjoyed a super prep in the late summer and is a horse on the up. No public trials, handles the wet so keep safe. 18. Cavalier Charles is a winning chance, he was a beaten favourite in a Rosehill Highway a month ago but it was still a more than handy run.

How to play it: Anethole WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Anethole runs seventh at Rosehill on July 3

8. Super Effort had plenty on his opposition when first-up for the new stable at Newcastle, he sat wide and made an early move and still powered away. Has a heavy track second to Private Eye in his form and while drawn wide this is a very winnable race so he’s well worth a look.

Dangers: 4. Fastconi is Mr Reliable at the moment, he’s been racing well all preparation and it took a freakish performance to beat him at Rosehill two weeks ago. He’ll be thereabouts again. 11. Miss Jay Fox finished ahead of Fasconi when they met two starts back and she was typically game from the front at Kensington last time. Sure to give a good sight again. 12. Yangarra Rose revelled in the ground to win at Kembla then didn't have the best of luck in her close up fifth at Kensington. Drops 1kg and is in the mix.

How to play it: Super Effort E/W ($12 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Super Effort wins at Newcastle on July 3

3. Badoosh looks very close to a win, he lumped 62kg and had to do plenty of weaving in his close up fifth at Rosehill at 1500m third-up. Nice drop in weight, his last two wins were at this distance and with even luck is entitled to be in the finish.

Dangers: 8. La Chevalee drew wide and went back before hitting the line strongly out wide to run fourth, just ahead of Badoosh, and has plenty to recommend her here. Barrier one should give her every chance and she’s the horse to beat. 1. Zing never runs a bad race and he was able to reel in a few stablemates to score over this trip at Rosehill three weeks back. Stays up in the weights but will be competitive as always. 7. Amoretti was almost two months between runs into last time where he charged home from the back beaten less than two lengths. Extra trip a plus and if he gets some favours could surprise.

How to play it: Badoosh E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Badoosh runs fifth at Rosehill on July 3

4. Papal Warrior has really hit his straps this time in and the form around both his recent wins has help up pretty well. Stays at the same weight as last time when he raced well clear of Bethencourt and O’Mudgee at 1500m. No reason why he won’t run out a strong mile and he should get a nice enough run just off the pace. Take beating.

Dangers: 8. Café Royal fought hard to win at Warwick Farm then chased the whole way behind Expat two weeks ago and was still quite strong on the line. Will lead or be right there and is a good chance. 3. Criminal Code was excellent first-up at 1300m here then had excuses second-up a month ago where he drew wide and stayed wide. Nicely drawn here and expecting him to bounce back to form. 12. Bring The Ransom ran right up to her effort behind Expat when scoring an easy win back a notch in class at Kensington. She’ll land in a good spot again here and is an each-way hope at least.

How to play it: Papal Warrior WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Papal Warrior wins at Rosehill on July 3

6. Just Field is flying at the moment and was quite unlucky not to win a Midway at Rosehill two weeks ago. She was last on the turn and found all sorts of traffic in the straight but still reeled off slick sectionals to go down half a length. Similar sort of contest here, an extra 100m, and if she gets a crack at them she’ll go close. Read trainer Damien Lane's comments here.

Dangers: 3. Catapult resumed in the same race as Just Field and also hit the line well from near the tail, making his run through the field, into fourth. Fitter and carries the same weight. One of the chances. 8. Wander finished third in the Midway in question coming down the outside with Just Field. He’ll also be fitter for that first-up effort and is in the mix. 4. Henschel was far too good for last week’s Highway winner From The Bush when running away at Kembla a month ago. Draws to be prominent and is a good chance.

How to play it: Just Field WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Just Field runs second at Rosehill on July 3

7. Great House might have been a beaten favourite second-up but his run was excellent and he sets up well in this race to post another win. He had to do plenty of chasing in that race and just couldn’t sustain such a long run. Much fitter now, this race will likely be truly run and he’s better equipped for it. Beat Harpo Marx comfortably in January so has plenty of talent. Read jockey Tommy Berry's comments here.

Dangers: 6. Canasta is a bold front runner who loves the rail and he’ll give a big sight again. Has won up to 2100m so if he happens to get any control he’s capable of sustaining the gallop. 8. Steely has been racing well through this campaign and was simply too good at Rosehill two weeks ago. He’ll get a nice run here and can be in the finish again. 1. Opacity looked very good beating Order Again two starts ago, he hit the front last time before just weakening late at Rosehill, same race as Great House. He's a chance again.

How to play it: Great House WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Great House runs third at Rosehill on June 26

11. Blondeau has been costly since a brilliant first-up Gosford win but he’s drawn to settle a lot closer this time. Had to make quite a long run last start which isn’t his style. Drops 4.5kg and draws to be closer in a race that doesn’t look to have high pressure like some recent tasks.

Dangers: 4. Oscar Zulu has been a revelation this time in with three very easy wins on end and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t go close once more. Enjoyed a solid tempo as the field broke up and he was there to pounce in the latest win. Goes up 3kg but drawn to get his chance again. 5. Surf Dancer is an interesting import for the Waterhouse-Bott stable and his two local trials have been promising. Keep an eye on betting and it wouldn’t surprise if he does something fresh. 8. Mirra Vision raced up on the speed and fought them off for a game win over 1400m at Rosehill, downing Blondeau, to make it two from three this prep. One of the chances again.

How to play it: Blondeau E/W ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Blondeau runs fourth at Rosehill on June 26

1. Expat is a very promising filly in great form, she’s run them off their legs in winning her last two at Rosehill and only goes up 1kg for the latest of them. There could be competition for the front but if she jumps with them she’ll lead and take some running down.

Dangers: 13. Eight Diamonds resumed with a very easy win at Canterbury and it’ll be interesting to see how she measures up. Thrown in the deep end in the autumn so there must be an opinion of her. Keep in mind. 9. Steel Diamond just missed behind Gravina on a soft 7 here first-up then no match for Expat at Rosehill with the winner dominating from the front. Tougher for that and can improve. 10. Exotic Ruby tried hard behind Expat last time and she's been consistent without winning of late. Each-way.

How to play it: Expat WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Expat wins at Rosehill on July 3

1. I Am Power hasn’t raced for eight weeks and yet to see a heavy track on race day but his last start win was very strong and he looks capable of up another grade or two yet. Claim helps and there’s a chance he could be the best horse in the race.

Dangers: 8. Our Bellagio Miss closed off well behind Malkovich over 1000m here then had the right run and was too good in the Midway two weeks ago. Reliable type and a good wet tracker so she’s right in this. 9. Van Giz backs up after a tough heavy track win here last week. Drops to 1000m but hard fit and hard to ignore. 3. Handspun might find 1000m a bit sharp but she handles a heavy track well and clearly didn't come up last prep. Form two preps back is good enough for this.

How to play it: I Am Power WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

I Am Power wins at Rosehill on May 22

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