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By Ray Hickson

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

1. Empire Of Japan gets the nod in what should be a fascinating clash of what looks a few smart two-year-olds. He was dominant in the Breeders’ Plate running faster overall time than the fillies. Given a solid enough sound out in his second trial back, over 1050m, and in that trial he showed a bit of tactical ability which may come in handy here. Imagine he parks around fourth or fifth and if that’s the case he gets his chance.

Dangers: 5. Platinum Jubilee produced a faster last 200m than Empire Of Japan in winning the Gimcrack, in a remarkable performance, on the same day back in October and being a Waterhouse/Bott product drawn the outside you’d think she’ll be going forward as she did in her second trial. She’s the logical danger. 2. Godfather gave those who took $1.45 little cause for concern when leading all the way to win a Listed race at Doomben two weeks ago. Consider that a pretty soft target but he did it easily and has the race fitness, and known tactical nous, to give him his chance. 4. Fire Lane would be the next best. She was going to run second in the Wyong Magic Millions until the last 25m or so and she did start a well supported favourite there.

How to play it: Empire Of Japan WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Empire Of Japan wins a trial at Randwick on December 13

Staying with 5. Deficit on the back up from last week where he finished midfield behind Colour Sergeant and, as he did second-up, warmed up nicely enough late. They weren’t really hitting the line out wide in that race a week ago so being a little forgiving, he’s won at the trip and can probably settle a pair or so closer now. Good chance in an open race.

Dangers: 4. Mach Schnell ran a cheeky race first-up, suggesting he could be in for a good prep, then went missing for a couple but his latest at Canterbury wasn’t a bad effort from the front. Probably finds the lead here and that could be an advantage. Expecting him to run well at each-way odds. 3. Logan Street Lion was a Sandown winner in February then was shipped off to Brisbane for the summer and scored first-up at Eagle Farm. He’s been favourite in all three runs up north and been competitive. This might be the right race with JMac and gate one to make it wins in three states in one year. 8. Tympanist can be a bit hot and cold but he was well and truly on last start as he charged past Villaden to score on the Kensington track at this trip. On his side is a 4kg drop in weight, perhaps against him is his last three wins have come on the inner track.

How to play it: Deficit WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Deficit’s last start at Randwick on December 17

8. Ausbred Flirt is flying this preparation and it’s a logical step to move into city class. Probably should have won second-up then made easy work of a pair of Kembla Grange races at 1500m and 1600m, putting big margins on her rivals from on pace. That ability should hold her in good stead here and she’ll be hard to beat.

Dangers: 2. Estadio Mestalla looked all kinds of promising winning at his local debut in November then didn’t seem to want to be there second-up but also found himself back in an on pace dominated race. Probably wanted him to show more than beating nothing home as a $2 shot though. Gets his chance to bounce back. 11. Tenderize led them up and went down fighting in the same race and is still right down in the weights and should kick up from the inside gate and lead again. Must be considered. 7. This’llbetheone is on the back up after a game second behind Lekvarte last week, a nice platform to step up to the mile again. Bumps into some progressive ones here but has each-way claims.

How to play it: Ausbred Flirt WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Ausbred Flirt wins at Kembla Grange on December 10

Tempo and pattern are going to be crucial to 2. Salire’s chances here but it can’t be denied how well he’s going in the face of some tough set ups of late. His settling position has been dictated by wide gates in his last three starts but he’s produced huge finishes to either win or be right in the finish. Smaller field in his favour and if JMac can pilot him as well as he did stablemate Super Extreme last week he’ll be very hard to hold out.

Dangers: 12. Iconic Dame is a huge threat if she can transfer her excellent wet track form from earlier in the year back onto good ground first-up. Easy Highway winner in July then drew 15 and sat wide when a gallant fourth at Rosehill before a spell. Commands respect. 3. Penthouse overcame a wide alley early on to lead and managed to stave them off over 1000m here two weeks ago. Meets Salire 2kg worse but does have that on speed pattern. Should be competitive again. 15. A Guinea is lightly raced and bumped into The Poacher first-up in August before knocking over a Class 1 at Tamworth. Fresh again and gets in light with the claim. Could surprise.

How to play it: Salire WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Salire runs third at Randwick on December 10

2. Made By Khan has come back in nice order and will find this task a bit easier than trying to go with Zoumon second-up at Rosehill. Thought he boxed on pretty well late there to hold fourth. He will roll forward and probably sit second or third in a race that doesn’t look to be particularly fast on paper and with the two runs under his belt now he can be tougher at the finish.

Dangers: 6. Prince Aurelius is on trial at the 2000m but one thing we know about this horse is he will give you a sight. Signalled a return to form two starts back then backed it up going down narrowly to King Ratel over a mile two weeks ago. 3. Media Starguest is an honest performer but is probably favourite due to the JMac factor. Scored an overdue win at Canterbury two starts back then sent out $5.50 and ran well but had his chance there last Friday. Does get a soft run from gate one and has to be included but is under the odds. 7. Ripped shapes as though he will love the 2000m now after three runs since coming across from NZ. Tightened up a bit late in the King Ratel race last start and it wouldn’t surprise if he’s in the finish.

How to play it: Made By Khan WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Made By Khan runs fourth at Rosehill on December 3

1. King Of Clubs put the writing on the wall first-up at Rosehill a few weeks ago that a win isn’t too far off as he closed off nicely behind stablemate Zoumon over 2000m. Does have the top weight and outside alley to contend with but with no established leader engaged he’ll just go forward and be on speed somewhere. Josh Parr is a great judge of pace and he’ll give the import every hope.

Dangers: 4. Just A Jedi is back in winning form and gets a nice 4kg drop in weight for scoring over the 2400m at Warwick Farm last start. Obviously comes back up in class now but split Willinga Rufio and Colour Sergeant in this grade three runs back. 5. Whanga Wonder backed up her Midway win a month ago with a narrow defeat to Media Starguest at Canterbury. Another aided by a weight drop, she stretches out in trip here but has won to 2200m and is in good form. Has a case. 2. Smirk finished not far off King Of Clubs at Rosehill but then disappointed when up to a BM88 here last week finishing last. If she runs up to the previous effort she’ll be in the finish somewhere.

How to play it: King Of Clubs WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

King Of Clubs runs second at Rosehill on December 3

6. Democracy Manifest goes to the mile for the first time and it’ll be interesting to see how he adapts given he’s shown nothing else but being a backmarker. Smashed the line to score over 1400m two weeks ago and in his favour here is a smaller field and the softer than usual gate. If the track is playing fairly he has to be the horse to beat again because he has that huge finish.

Dangers: 10. Mahagoni ran a huge race in the Four Pillars then freshened up and worked home nicely from well back behind Nugget over this trip. Down another 2kg and draws a bit kinder too. Expect him to be around the mark. 1. Super Strike caught the eye at his Australian debut then backed it up with a solid third behind Cavalier Charles at Rosehill three weeks back. Group 3 winner in NZ at a mile and now he's had the two runs from a long break he should be close to a peak. 2. Jojo Was A Man is fitter for three runs back and while he did seem to have his chance in the Nugget race from outside the leader his best is good enough to see him be competitive.

How to play it: Democracy Manifest WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Democracy Manifest wins at Randwick on December 10

2. Kir Royale stays at 1200m second-up after a handy performance going down under half a length to Barossa Rosa two weeks ago. Down a grade, unbeaten second-up and is versatile though the race does look to have enough speed to allow her to land midfield or better and get her chance. Done little wrong to date and entitled to go close.

Dangers: 5. Billiondollarbaby probably should have finished a bit closer first-up behind Iowna Merc after just behind held up for runs in the straight. There has to be some improvement on that. She was able to take some advantage of a handy gate there and hit the line and that bodes well. 14. Sunshine In Paris has been scratched a couple of times in the past week but you’d imagine she’ll be here with just 50kg after the claim. Tough to line her up really, a Canberra maiden winner and a run on third in a Listed race at Doomben. Upside can be hard to quantify so rather include her as a good chance than take her on just yet. 8. Vienna Princess is a last start Listed winner at 1400m, her first win in seven starts. Whether this is a gap run to get her to another 1400m task is the question mark but she’ll sit back and be hitting the line.

How to play it: Kir Royale WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Kir Royale runs second at Randwick on December 10

9. Kanazawa should be ready to produce his best now third-up. It was a non-event for him fresh at Kembla and to be beaten two lengths there had merit. Poked through into third behind Democracy Manifest over this course a couple of weeks ago and gets in with the same race for a race that looks to have a bit less depth.

Dangers: 11. Robusto didn’t get the race set up to suit in that race, running tenth after settling back last of a wide gate and finding himself on the fence in the straight and just boxing on. If he can take some advantage of an inside gate, and he’s shown in the past he can, he could rebound. 12. Green Shadows was a late scratching from a similar race last week and it’s now a month between runs since his game second behind Kovalica over a mile at Warwick Farm. He’s getting close to a win and if it’s not this time it’ll probably be next start. 3. Saint Of Katowice was a small drifter in betting first-up but got the job done at Sandown last month and he does have the tactical speed to give himself a chance from a soft enough draw.

How to play it: Kanazawa WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Kanazawa runs third at Randwick on December 10

13. Iowna Merc is a promising three-year-old and Rachel King took luck out of the equation from an outside gate as he scored a strong win over 1100m two weeks ago. Everything about that says 1200m won’t be an issue and there’s every chance he will come across onto the pace again with the light weight. But has also shown he can sit off them. Hard to beat again. Read trainer Bjorn Baker's comments here.

Dangers: 3. Destination is flying for Richard Litt and found the line with plenty of purpose when chasing Spaceboy home at Canterbury. Showed plenty of ability under the Godolphin banner and is right back to his best, from gate one he gets a nice soft run and looks dangerous. 7. Kalino stretched out to 1800m last prep so there’s a chance he might find the 1200m a little sharp fresh. That said he did look to be in order winning a trial a couple of weeks ago and will be popular with JMac on board. Expect him to improve on whatever he does here. 8. Show Some Decorum is an interesting runner, he resumed with a Pakenham win where he was a big drifter but put a margin on them. The form around Old Flame reads well and he could show up.

How to play it: Iowna Merc WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Iowna Merc wins at Randwick on December 10

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