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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting. Selections based on a heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

8. Excelladus resumes as a gelding and looks to have come back in top order after two hidden trials. He has been not extended in both heats and has hit the line full of energy under a tight grip. The three-year-old raced in time/sectional merit races last preparation, and there have been multiple subsequent metropolitan winners since. The John Thompson trained galloper maps well, his figures line up, and if he can reproduce his trial form, he will be in the finish.

Dangers: 1. Oxford Vision had all favours last start at Wyong 13 days ago but sprinted hard, and there was a big margin to third. He brings a fitness edge relative to his rivals and expect an aggressive ride. 2. Giancarlo is a first starter and has trialled well enough. 7. Maralago cost himself winning after wanting to lay in for most of the straight at Newcastle 18 days ago.

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

Excelladus runs sixth in a trial at Randwick on April 19

Tricky 2YO race with first starters engaged and a small sample of disclosed heavy track form. Debutant 5. Ringmaster looks a nice type and has trialled well on rain-affected ground in preparation for this assignment. The Michael Freedman trained galloper ran fast time/sectionals relative to the morning and showed the key attribute of acceleration in his latest 1050m heat at Randwick eight days ago. Jockey Tommy Berry will have options from the wide draw with a considerable run to the first turn and ride to any early evident pattern.

Dangers: First starter 6. Shaquila, who represents value, has responded well under pressure in his heats. He maps well and looks to have improved between trials. Market watch 7. Silentsar who will be wound up ready to run well for training partnership G Ryan & S Alexiou. 8. Surreal Leo ran above market expectations first-up at Hawkesbury 14 days ago and had excuses but hit the line hard to run third. He brings a fitness and race experience edge.

How to play it: Ringmaster WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Ringmaster wins a trial at Randwick on April 19

4. Samarkand resumed at Kembla 11 days ago for new trainer Bjorn Baker and won dominantly. The three-year-old gelding led at a fast pace and ran strong sustained sectionals throughout to run his rivals into the ground. He was sound last preparation when contesting feature group races in the spring and looks well placed here. Expect an aggressive ride; the step-up in distance suits, Hugh Bowman rides for the first time, and all his peak figures have come on heavy ground.

Dangers: Irish import 5. Colour Sergeant hit the line hard to win at Canberra 19 days ago and looks a real trier. He was not run to suit, settling worse than midfield in a farcical tempo but overcame this with a burst of acceleration, running one of the quickest final 400m sectionals of the meeting in 23.48. The four-year-old gelding will need to step in figures to make the grade, but he does look an improver and undoubtedly has a chance. 7. Vittoriosa had all favours last start at Canterbury 7 days ago when running second but sprinted hard, and there was a big gap to third. The four-year-old mare, who is on a backup, will roll forward and is racing consistently. Forgive 2. Dream Runner who had cardiac arrhythmia last start and has trialled well in between runs. 6. Chateaux Park will be running on strongly.

How to play it: Samarkand WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Samarkand wins last start at Kembla on April 16

4. Main Stage has been a model of consistency this preparation and is a last start winner at Canterbury seven days ago. The pace negated the bias on that occasion, and the seven-year-old gelding was simply too strong for his rivals. He maps to get complete control of the pace, races well on a backup, is proven on wet ground, and a repeat of his last start figure will make him hard to hold out. In addition, Rachel King has ridden him five times for two wins and two seconds.

Dangers: Forgive 2. Pesto last start at Hawkesbury, where he was slow to recover. Since arriving in Australia, the six-year-old gelding has been a costly conveyance, but this is his easiest test. Further, he has always promised to have the ability and is a key late market watch. 3. Hemmerle got too far back in the Orange Cup 19 days ago and hit the line hard to run fifth. He gets in well at the weights after the regular rider Hannah Williams claim. 8. Stylebender is the knockout where he produces his peak figures with the blinkers off.

How to play it: Main Stage WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Main Stage wins at Canterbury on April 20

5. Italian Informant was specked $12.0-$7.5 late in betting at this track nine days ago and was honest in defeat after racing wide throughout. Further, the overall time was solid, with plenty of merit in the final section relative to the day, and there were decisive margins throughout to confirm the form. The three-year-old third-up last preparation had the pace/bias against and savaged the line to run the entire meeting's fastest final 600m/400m splits in 33.83/22.53 at Gosford. Trainer Edward Cummins is flying at 13.1% profit on turnover from his last 100 runners, and all the gelding’s career peak efforts have come on rain-affected ground. In addition, he maps to get all favours, and if he can repeat his last start figure, he is sure to be in the finish.

Dangers: 8. No Statement led at an even tempo last start at Nowra 10 days ago and sprinted away to win dominantly. He rises in class but is rock-hard fit and benefits from a recent run relative to his rivals. 1. Rebel Shadow is the class runner of the field and although he may be suited over further, expect him to be hitting the line hard first-up. 2. Hold On Honey broke through for his maiden win last start at Newcastle 18 days ago, albeit running slow time. However, one of his career peak figures is at this track/distance.

How to play it: Italian Informant WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Italian Informant runs second at Warwick Farm on April 18

2. Coal Crusher went out a dominant winner last preparation and returned in style, winning at Wyong 13 days ago. The four-year-old gelding was checked/blocked on the final turn, but once a gap came, he sprinted one of the fastest final 200m splits of the entire meeting in 11.08 and won with ease on the line. Expecting an aggressive ride, the step-up in distance suits and his career peak figures have come on heavy going that align well against his opposition.

Dangers: 1. Game Theory is in career-best form, winning his past two starts, and has a fitness edge. Further, the form of his latest win has been confirmed with a subsequent winner. He maps to lead and is rock-hard fit. 14. River Mac is suited up to 1200m second-up and is proven on heavy ground. The five-year-old gelding has no weight and will be running on strongly. Although 4. Go Troppo is suited over further distance; he raced well in this grade last preparation has ratings to win.

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

Coal Crusher wins at Wyong on April 14

Best Bet: Race 5 # 5 – Italian Informant

Next Best: Race 1 # 8 – Excelladus

Quaddie:

Leg 1: 4,5,7,2
Leg 2: 4,2,3
Leg 3: 5,8,1
Leg 4: 2,1,14

Combinations = 108.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting