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By Tony Megahey

After enforced misfires hot prospect Somerton Sniper is back on target for Saturday’s highly anticipated TAB Highway at Royal Randwick.

Through city and regional washouts in June where he was set and strongly favoured, the three-race winning Shooting to Win five-year-old gelding hasn’t raced since scoring on June 19 at Dubbo.

But the galloper trialled at Tamworth recently into a $120,000 Class 3, 1000m support event to the Group 2-Darley Missile Stakes.

Somerton Sniper (Matthew McGillivray) lands the money at Armidale. Image by Bradley Photographers

For Tamworth racing doyen Sue Grills, Somerton Sniper ($11 on TAB) is appealingly weighted on 57kg with Ashley Morgan after they impressively won a Dubbo Class 3, 1100m with 58kg coming from near last.

However, the 'flashing blue light' for punters and betting agencies was prior to that winning double at short odds, Somerton Sniper beat Group mare Opal Ridge, the Listed-Ortensia Stakes winner in a Tamworth 950m trial in late May.

Neither were extended but it was still admirable for Somerton Sniper, Class 1, at the time and coming off a modest maiden win.

And the form has been franked with Somerton Sniper following up with a dominant double. However, is the lack of recent racing a factor?

Over to Sue: “No, not worried at all, we’ve had some bad weather up here, but he hasn’t missed work and we’ve kept him up to the mark with a nice trial - he’s where we want him,” Grills enthused.

“He has the makings of a really nice horse, but this is the acid test up in grade and these Highway races are getting harder and harder to win.

“It’s also his first trip away, but he has the right temperament, we’re coming down the day before and staying at Randwick.

“Nice draw we’re happy, he's likely to settle midfield at 1000m.”

Somerton Sniper has never led winning his three short course races. He’s been midfield or further back and comes with a powerhouse finish.

Hence, his suitability for the big track and long straight, and high pressure at 1000m.

Again, the presence of James McDonald will see the Messara & Gavranich three-race winner Florino start favourite, resuming (currently $2.60 on TAB).

The Mikki Isle (Jpn) five-year-old gelding has been primed by two recent trials, and J-Mac’s masses of supporters will be all forgiving of last week’s Highway defeat of the stable's $2.60 favourite Intervarsity.

After bumping at the start and steadying off heels, McDonald was unable to find clear running and was beaten than two lengths.

It rarely happens with the champion rider, especially successive weeks.

And the winner Lonhro’s Queen might be better than many think as a Kosciuszko prospect with four wins from eight starts and successive Highways.

At present headquarters is a Soft 6 in fine weather with no rain forecast.

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