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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 heavy track.

3. Gallant Star is one of the most interesting runners on the day, an unbeaten youngster who hasn’t been seriously tested in two wins at Dubbo. Put four lengths on his own age on debut then took on the older horses when scoring again on his home track. Has earned the trip to town and has struck a very winnable city race. Small heavy track question given he’s yet to be exposed to it but makes his own luck and should be competitive. Read trainer Brett Robb's comments here.

Dangers: 11. Luna Volanti couldn’t have been more impressive in an all the way win over 900m on a heavy track out at Muswellbrook. Since been back to the trials and won well and could measure up. 9. Troach won first-up last time in before being thrown into a couple of Group races. She ran fifth to Fireburn in the Sweet Embrace on a heavy 10 and this will obviously be easier. 14. Scream trialled quite impressively on a good track at Hawkesbury recently but being by Zoustar he’s a good chance of handling the heavy ground. Could be one to keep an eye on.

How to play it: Gallant Star WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Gallant Star wins at Dubbo on June 26

14. I’ve Bean Tryin’ looks a promising horse and made light work of 60kg when scoring on a heavy track at Wagga last month. Had no luck in a Highway back in December and gets in nicely with the claim for Ellen Hennessy. Seems able to be ridden anywhere in a field and should have options from gate two. Hard to beat. Read trainer Matthew Kelley's comments here.

Dangers: 3. Tags seems to have mended his barrier manners and is jumping well lately. Just behind the placings in a Highway two starts back then up in grade at Canterbury boxed on well on a heavy track. His turn will come shortly. 5. Running Bear chased hard when runner-up in a similar race in May then too good at Wyong back onto a good track. Consistent type who should be in this for a long way. 6. Klopp is racing in peak form at the moment with comfortable wins at Port Macquarie and Taree on soft tracks. Seems to handle the heavy and is in the mix.

How to play it: I’ve Bean Tryin’ WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

I’ve Bean Tryin’ wins at Wagga on June 14

5. Kanazawa is bursting to win a race and if they’re able to run on this might be his big chance. Just missed on a heavy track first-up then back on top of the ground he came from last into third behind Jojo Was A Man. Back a grade and if he can just get a cart into the race around the bend he’ll be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 1. Lease ran third in the same race as Kanazawa at Randwick on May 28 after sitting wide then worked a bit hard early and weakened late on a good track at Rosehill. Drawn out again but will go forward and if that’s an advantage then he will take beating. 3. And We Danced has been costly and she did have every chance when placed over this course back six weeks ago. You’d expect her to be competitive, at this stage she’s lacked the knockout punch but can’t count her out. 11. Riduna is an up and comer who cantered home at Newcastle second-up and drops 4.5kg into this. Will be up on the pace somewhere and interesting to see how she fits in.

How to play it: Kanazawa WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Kanazawa runs third at Randwick on June 11

Tough race. 10. Kirkeby should be at his peak now after three runs back on heavy tracks and while he was beaten into second at Canterbury last time out he did keep finding the line and drops 5.5kg which could be crucial on testing ground. Needs to win one soon but has a nice set up to run well here.

Dangers: 5. Philipsburg wasn’t disgraced when fifth behind Francesco Guardi over 1800m at this track two weeks ago. Last win was on a heavy 9 at Rosehill and his heavy form overall is handy. Capable of being in the finish. Must respect. 2. La Chevalee might be the best wet tracker in the race with four heavy track wins to her name including an easy one here two starts back. It’s been seven weeks since her last run in a Listed race in Adelaide so it will be a big training effort if she’s to win with 61kg. 13. Kouklara is racing into form and did a good job behind Narrated, who dictated, at Canterbury on a heavy track. Must include.

How to play it: Kirkeby E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Kirkeby runs second at Canterbury on June 22

13. Tympanist isn’t far off another win after putting together two solid efforts on end. Slightly held up when chasing Kalino home over this course two weeks ago, wouldn’t have won, so a good effort there and has placed at 2000m on a heavy track at Kembla. In a race up for grabs he’s a good each-way hope.

Dangers: 5. Oakfield Prince is another who deserves a win with three placings on end. Finished ahead of Tympanist at Rosehill when runner-up behind Marnix on June 18. Expect him to be on the speed somewhere and no reason he couldn’t go one better. 9. Segrill was scratched from a winnable race at Canterbury to run here. Last two wins have been on heavy tracks so the conditions are in her favour and she wasn’t disgraced on a good track last time out. 4. Cruel Summer can’t be left out of the chances. Heavy 10 winner three starts ago and was just touched out in this class third-up. Fair effort last time but can bounce back.

How to play it: Tympanist E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Tympanist run second at Randwick on June 25

1. Easy Single is clearly the horse to beat on form but he just hasn’t ticked that heavy box to give you the confidence you need. He had no luck at all when run down by Siege at this track a month ago and there’s a lot less depth in this field. Likely winner if he handles the ground.

Dangers: 2. Snowzone was an eye-catcher on a heavy track here six weeks ago when charging into second behind Rupertaar after turning near the tail. Had a tickover trial since then and the Randwick heavy is no issue so he has to be a strong chance. 7. Saquon should be forgiven for his second-up failure on a good track, go on his Midway win fresh on a heavy 9 and he’s a definite threat. Yet to finish worse than second on a heavy surface so keep in mind. 10. Casino Kid isn’t a noted first-up performer but he does like the heavy ground and trialled very nicely on his home track recently. Will be better over much further but wouldn’t shock if he was the knockout in this race.

How to play it: Easy Single WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Easy Single runs second at Randwick on June 11

9. Snippy Fox did more than enough in the Bob Charley AO Stakes to suggest she’s on track to run a big race second-up. She’s competent on good ground but she does seem to excel when it’s wet and has a wonderful record at this trip so has conditions to suit her. Back a notch in class and a look at her second-up record shows that all being well she will be in the finish of this. Read trainer Joe Pride's comments here.

Dangers: 3. Dream Circle hasn’t won for a while but he is regularly around the placings both fresh and on wet tracks so he stays under notice here. No public trials so is a market watch but has to be respected. 11. Waihaha Falls was an impressive winner first-up over this course almost a month ago and it’ll be interesting to see if he lines up given he was scratched from Rosehill last week on the heavy ground. Did win his maiden on a heavy and in light with the claim so can’t leave out. 10. Mamaragan has been very costly and disappointed when favourite two weeks ago, managing only tenth. But he did run well prior to that in the Bob Charley and if he has his mind on the job he could surprise.

How to play it: Snippy Fox WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Snippy Fox runs fourth at Randwick on June 11

Very hard to go past 3. Taksu back onto a heavy track after he was too good on top of the ground in the Civic Stakes two weeks ago. He is up in weight but in conditions he loves he’ll barely notice it. Romped in, albeit in a small field, on a heavy 10 at Randwick three starts ago and you know what you’re going to get with him. He’ll lead and take running down. Read jockey Glyn Schofield's comments here.

Dangers: 12. Jojo Was A Man is coming through the grades well and while his two wins at Randwick in June were on good tracks he’s more than capable in the wet as he showed winning first-up. Gets weight relief here for the rise in class and while staying at 1400m he’s a good chance. 15. Chief Altony has been well supported and brings solid Victorian form into this race though it must be said it has largely been in Benchmark 78 grade and below. Was beaten by a smart one two starts back at Sandown on a heavy 9. He could measure up. 2. Oscar Zulu was a bit stiff not to run Taksu down in the Civic Stakes after finding an ordinary position in the run. Against him here is the wide gate as he’ll likely be conceding a big start again but with even luck he is an each-way hope.

How to play it: Taksu WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Taksu wins at Randwick on June 25

2. Rubinocchi is creeping up in the weights but it’s hard to knock her at the moment with wins on heavy and good ground this time in. We’ll know by this stage whether barrier one is a plus or a hurdle for her but she has that great on-pace racing style and back in fillies and mares grade she should be a major player.

Dangers: Stablemate 15. Lady Brook will be fitter for one run back and a narrow defeat at Gosford under 61kg. Gets a nice weight drop here and while she failed in her only heavy track attempt her soft form is excellent so prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt. 1. Siege has been very well ridden to win both runs back at Gosford and Randwick and now strikes a heavy track for the first time. Up 3kg after the claim and out to 1100m are the challenges ahead of her but she has to be respected. 5. Irish Angel will relish the return to a heavy track, she just now has to produce her best at Randwick where she’s only one placing from five attempts. To be fair only one of those has been on a heavy track and that was her second race start. Thought she was sound behind Hulk last time. Has a show.

How to play it: Rubinocchi WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Rubinocchi wins at Rosehill on June 18

Happy to stick with 1. Titanium Power regardless of the wide gate as you know he’ll roll forward and by the last they might be staying away from the fence anyway. That can be monitored through the day. He was game from the front on a heavy 9 here two starts back before running them into the ground at Rosehill on good ground three weeks ago. Tough and in-form and a good chance despite the big weight.

Dangers: 7. Cross Talk might be the logical horse to beat but there’s that small query of him being scratched last week, well before the meeting was called off, in the back of the mind. On face value he’s hard to beat as he won easily on a heavy first-up at Canterbury beating a subsequent winner then was run down by Jojo Was A Man who won again after that. A month between runs now but respect. 3. Royalzel could be a surprise packet if he remembers he’s a talented wet tracker. Inclined to ignore last preparation when he took o the likes of Converge, Anamoe and Paulele in Group company. He’s trialled up nicely enough, his only heavy track defeat was in the Randwick Guineas so he could perform here. 14. Cyclone Sally brings some good midweek heavy track form from Melbourne into this race and it’ll be interesting to see how it measures up. Drawn out but goes forward with Titanium Power you’d imagine and is worth throwing in just in case.

How to play it: Titanium Power E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Titanium Power wins at Rosehill on June 18

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