Race-by-race preview and tips for Saturday meeting at Randwick

Race 1 - 11.25am: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

3. Tenderize creeps up in the weights after an all the way Midway win in heavy ground at Rosehill but gets the chance again to roll to the front and be hard to run down. He’s been placed up to a mile so the 1400m doesn’t hold too many fears in itself, it comes down to how the first 400m or so pans out. Racing in career best form and is a good chance. 5. Apollo Mission brings some handy form from his second-up effort in the Provincial-Midway Championships heat at Kembla which was won by Imposant, who was placed in the final, with subsequent winner Flying Bandit getting past him late. Any unforeseen tempo would help his cause. 2. Forecaster is an interesting runner, he resumes at a suitable trip having kicked off last prep over shorter. He was consistent at this level last time in and no surprise at all if he’s breathing down their necks at the finish.
How to play it: Tenderize WIN

General Salute winning earlier this month at Rosehill.Credit: Getty Images

Race 2 - 12pm: TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

9. Win The Day gets to Highway level at the right time with a couple of solid wins at Canberra on a good track and Sapphire Coast on heavy ground. Dominant in the latter after enjoying a nice run in transit. There’s a good chance she lands in a similar sort of spot and with the stable’s tail up she should run well. 8. Urafiki is building a handy record and resumes after winning a Highway at Rosehill back in February where she led all the way. Brushed home well in her trial and expect she will look to go forward and land on the speed. Has a big chance fresh. 11. Salute Again sat wide under a big weight when resuming at Wagga and he was as strong as anything on the line as he ran third. Fitter for that, drawn well and the trip is right up his alley. Commands plenty of respect. 17. Ballinderry Sal is often well supported and that was the case again when scoring on a heavy track at Scone a few weeks ago. Not out of place at this level.
How to play it: Win The Day EACH-WAY

Race 3 - 12.40pm: TOYOTA FORKLIFTS FRANK PACKER PLATE (2000m)

This is the race for 1. Swiftfalcon. He won’t find a better assignment, regardless of his negative racing pattern. He’s chased home Linebacker and Broadsiding and Aeliana etc this time in then couldn’t beat the clock when he got too far back in the Carbine Club over the mile. The horse that beat him goes pretty well too. It’s all about timing with him and if he tracks the right horse home he can get over the top. 2. Firm Agreement was unfortunate not to win the Tulloch then backed up four days later and beat all but Aeliana in the Derby is an admirable performance. It’ll be interesting to see if he can make use of a soft barrier but only has to hold form to be competitive. 3. Plymouth ran well in the Rosehill Guineas then probably not suited to leading in the Derby so happy to forgive. Blinkers go back on and he’s entitled to another chance. 4. Shangri La Spring is the likely leader again, they got to him comfortably in the Carbine Club but he is worth considering.

How to play it: Swiftfalcon WIN.

Race 4 - 1.15pm: MOSTYNCOPPER JAMES H B CARR STAKES (1400m)

2. Zeitung is very close to a win and the form around her is looking good too. Started hard in the market when placed to Enriched first-up then a month between runs and she had to give away too much start in the PJ Bell beaten just over a length. Proven at 1400m and drawn a bit better this time. 1. Clean Energy is the logical horse to beat, she had a wide run in the same race and went down fighting in fourth as a solid favourite. No excuses from the draw this time and just has to stretch to that 1400m and she’ll be hard to get past. 3. Snow In May gives away a start from the wide gate but she wasn’t disgraced against the mares in the Emancipation on a heavy track. Arguably should have finished closer too. Won the Canberra Guineas in good style and with even luck she should be around the mark again. 6. Churchill’s Choice is unbeaten in three starts and it’ll be interesting to see where she fits in.
How to play it: Zeitung EACH-WAY

Race 5 - 1.50pm: CATANACH’S JEWELLERS HANDICAP (1200m)

8. Need Some Luck went to the paddock with the confidence up following successive wins at 1400m in the early spring and his record looks a lot better now. Fitter for two trials in good company and travelled well alongside Evaporate in the latest. Should be enough speed to offset the middle gate and he’s looking a solid chance. 11. Iron Man is a consistent type with a good fresh record, yet to finish worse than second, and has drawn to do no work. Fitter for two trials and the latest was a solid one chasing Passeggiata. Can’t be left out of anything. 6. City Of Lights looks to be trialling well for a big first-up run. She had three starts in the spring in stakes company and ran a handy fourth in the Tibbie when fresh. Might be short of her best trip but she will appreciate the easier contest. 9. Countyourblessings didn’t come up last time in with two unplaced runs in Queensland in a couple of tough races.
How to play it: Need Some Luck WIN

Race 6 - 2.25pm: MYPLATES JRA PLATE (2000m)

3. Encap has his first attempt at this sort of trip and it’ll be interesting to see how he goes on the back of that excellent third in the Doncaster Mile. Draws well so imagine he’s not conceding as much start and if he can manage the extra ground he’s definitely good enough. 6. New Endeavour looked to have his chance chasing Just Folk in the Doncaster Prelude second-up but it was still a good effort. Does need a win and 2000m might be what he wants now. 4. Klondike is a curious runner, formerly with William Haggas. Was a Group 3 winner over 2500m in August and imagine he’ll be more effective over that sort of trip. But he’s trialled OK and finds James McDonald. Likely gives away a start but look for him late. 13. Touristic showed he might be back in business with a fast closing fourth behind Ceolwulf in the Neville Sellwood. Good record at Randwick and if he can repeat that effort he’s in the mix.
How to play it: Encap WIN

Race 7 - 3pm: MOET & CHANDON CHAMPAGNE STAKES (1600m)

3. Buffalo was the real eye-catcher out of the Sires’ and that looks the right form line for this race. It comes down to whether he’s one of those horses that always runs on and looks good or if he’s a serious racehorse. If it’s the latter then he’s a massive chance up to the mile. Hit a small flat spot in the Sires’ before almost swallowing them up, so a repeat makes him tough to beat. 1. State Visit was runner-up in the Sires’ in what was a handy effort. Will have to be negative you’d imagine from that wide gate but he has James McDonald to help him out. Not the biggest colt at present so there’s a chance it’s all a bit soon, but he’s clearly got the ability. 7. Within The Law was only getting warm at the end of the 1200m behind Tempted last week and we know that Slipper form is pretty good. Showed she can make use of a gate in that race and being out of a Dundeel mare she might relish the trip.
How to play it: Buffalo EACH-WAY

Race 8 - 3.40pm: SCHWEPPES ALL AGED STAKES (1400m)

This is a defining moment for 14. Broadsiding and a test for James Cummings in freshening him up from that huge win in the Rosehill Guineas where he just held off Derby winner Aeliana. Showed in the Hobartville, albeit fresh, that he can take a position at the 1400m and the barrier gives him the option to land handy or midfield at worst. Everything is there for him to run a big race. 4. Jimmysstar found himself back last in the TJ Smith and he did an amazing job to sprint home into fourth beaten 1.5 lengths. Going to 1400m looks nice for him and the draw may well see him that couple of lengths closer this time. That makes him dangerous. 2. Briasa got the better of Overpass to claim the TJ Smith after getting the nice run in transit. He promises to find a similar sort of run here so third-up he’ll be right at his top and the chance to stamp himself as a Group 1 performer and Everest contender. It’s no gimme, though. 1. Antino comes here fresh having ventured to Hong Kong at the end of the spring, and he didn’t have any luck there. Honest at group 1 level prior and split Mr Brightside and Fangirl two starts back.
How to play it: Broadsiding WIN.

Race 9 - 4.20pm: TAB HALL MARK STAKES (1200m)

10. Xidaki is back having finished midfield in the Ingham, and he’s shown that he’s a handy type on his day with placings in the Silver Eagle and Festival Stakes in the spring. He worked home nicely in his trial and is rarely too far away. 7. Ostraka sat outside the leader and hit the front before being reeled in late by General Salute in the Star Kingdom. Probably has to go forward again but is right in the mix. 13. Coal Crusher gets his blinkers on third-up which makes him dangers. 12. Dragonstone who ran second in the General Salute race.

How to play it: Xidaki EACH-WAY.

Race 10 - 4.55pm: 4 PINES PACE SETTERS HANDICAP (1400m)

5. Tavi Time has a much better set up to resume at 1400m than he did last time in where he ran a cracker fresh then won second-up. He trained on to win the Summer Cup at 2000m and the form out of that was solid. He just doesn’t run bad races and with a good tempo likely and a handy draw he can land in a striking spot and be hard to hold off. 8. Strait Acer has his first run for the O’Shea/Charlton yard after a mixed preparation through the spring and summer. Moved well into second in his latest trial and is sure to get an easy run around midfield or so. Could surprise. 2. Amenable looked a coming winner after his slashing first-up second at Newcastle then had excuses for the 12-length margin in the Doncaster Prelude. Firmer ground a plus and drawn well, strike rate is a concern but this is a good set up for him to bounce back to his best. 16. Cool Jakey looked the winner at Rosehill last time only to be ambushed in the last couple of bounds. He’ll be up there and giving a big sight again.

How to play it: Tavi Time WIN.

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Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au