Race 1 - 12:20PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
The seas parted for 1. Dalaalaat at the right time last start and the six-year-old made the most of it, putting a dominant margin on his rivals. He has been freshened up since then with six weeks between runs but that set up appears to work for him. He was a month between runs prior to exploding last start. Has had a tickover trial at Newcastle since, where he cruised through the line. If there is a knock it's the 1100m. Would be much more confident if he was tackling 1200m again but he'll appreciate what promises to be a truly run race and if Dylan Gibbons can angle into the clear again, the gelding will take holding out. The firmer the better.
Dangers: 10. Mayrose is another dangerous closer. She typically comes to hand quickly having fired first up in the past and she has trialled nicely ahead of his return. That's standard for her, however. 2. Xpresso found 3. Mabel too good at Randwick last start but he sets up well to go one better out to 1100m and from another perfect draw. The little knock on Mabel is whether she can replicate her last start win over 1100m and on the two week turnaround. All five of her past wins have been over 1000m. 7. Lancaster Bomber adds a different form line into the mix. He was a little disappointing last start but liked his efforts prior to that.
How To Play It: Dalaalaat WIN
Race 2 - 12:55PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
4. Mogo Magic is two from two and has won by a combined margin of 10 lengths. The speedy three-year-old resumed here after a 13 weeks break with two spaced trials. That might suggest that he had a minor setback in the interim but if he did, he showed no signs of that in his recent Goulburn trial romp. He towelled up his rivals to win by seven lengths, and did it in first gear. Shelby Sixtysix was back in third. Trainer Scott Collings looks to have a seriously talented sprinter on his hands and he finds a 1000m Highway Handicap that doesn't look to have a lot of depth. Should justify being sent around odds on.
Dangers: 2. Iron Will draws to the immediate outside of Mogo Magic so will follow him across and keep him honest. He found that same spot outside of the leader three weeks ago but the 1200m looked to see him out. He's well placed back to 1000m. 11. Sumptuary stalked the speed at Muswellbrook on debut and scored a dominant win over 1000m. The runner up was just as impressive in her subsequent start at Tamworth, franking the form line. She'll be there to pounce if Mogo Magic missteps late. 9. Absolute Legend has a stick gate to overcome but love the way he ran right through the line to win first up.
How To Play It: Mogo Magic WIN
Race 3 - 1:30PM ELITE SAND & SOIL SKYLINE STAKES (1200 METRES)
There is enough in the early price to gamble that 4. Ganbare can overcome the wide draw. It got him beat last start in the Inglis Millenium where he was brilliant in running on into seventh to be beaten two lengths. Only the winner, and current Golden Slipper favourite, Learning To Fly clocked faster closing splits than him. That was on the back of a narrow maiden win at Canberra over 1000m. The son of Maurice will be better again once he gets out to 1400m and beyond but that late strength could come into play here if he is forced to work to find a more prominent spot from the gate. He drifted back to last two weeks ago. Tactics will be interesting. He's a raw talent.
Dangers: 8. Shinzo brings the strong Canonbury form line to the table when third behind Red Resistance and King's Gambit. That was four weeks ago now. Maps to get the run of the race on Saturday. 5. Bases Loaded, the stablemate of Ganbare, was attacked in front at the midweeks on debut but loved how he came clear at the finish. Out to 1200m suits now. The Waterhouse-Bott stable are flying with their two-year-olds. 6. Extreme Spirit only beat a small field at the midweeks himself on debut but he did it in style, and still has upside. 3. Corniche brings strong Melbourne form lines behind genuine Blue Diamond chances.
How To Play It: Ganbare EACH WAY
Race 4 - 2:05PM FITZGERALD JENKINS RECRUITMENT HANDICAP (2000 METRES)
7. Glory Daze is an import trending upwards. The four-year-old had his first run in Australia over 1400m at Warrnambool, ultimately finding the trip too short despite being hard in the market. He atoned for that a month later out to 1700m at Sandown. A clever ride saw him duck and weave his way through the field, scoring by half a length. Two of this stayer's starts in the UK were in Group Ones, the Irish and Epsom Derbys. Glory Daze is in the right hands with Maher and Eustace and they mean business when they book James McDonald with the pairing striking at 37% when they combine. The early money trial is there too. Sets up to run a new career best.
Dangers: 10. Claim The Crown jumped out of the ground at his second Australian start himself, improving sharply on what he did over the mile at Warwick Farm first up. Out to 2000m suits now. 8. Almania is working his way back to full fitness on a Sydney Cup path. The seven-year-old was brilliant first up over the mile after a two year lay off before working to the line well out to 2000m. Has been freshened up for five weeks since then. Liked his tickover trial since. 13. Tazaral has produced two grinding finishes in his two Australian runs. He looks desperate for 2000m now. Could get on speed favours here. 16. Monfelicity fits in well through her Claim The Crown form line.
How To Play It: Glory Daze WIN
Race 5 - 2:40PM GUY WALTER PROVEN THOROUGHBREDS STAKES (1400 METRES)
3. Hope In Your Heart took huge leaps last preparation. The four-year-old mare kicked off with a luckless eighth in BM78 company before winning three on the bounce, taking out two Group Three races. Then it was a fast-finishing fourth behind I Wish I Win and Fangirl in the Golden Eagle before producing another barnstorming close in The Gong behind Riodini. Two trials should have her ready to go fresh and the inside barrier looks significant given the lack of speed on paper here. She isn't typically a go-forward horse but the gate allows her to settle a couple of pairs closer than she normally would. Can only run well because she doesn't know any other way.
Dangers: 4. Mirra Vision can also take advantage of a lack of pressure. If she resumes where she kicked off last campaign with seconds in the Empire Rose and the Festival Stakes, she is hard to beat in this. Needed a couple of runs to fire, however. Has won first up in the past. Tricky one to assess how fit she'll be. Liked the way 2. Yearning ran first up last preparation at Flemington over 1400m but she looks disadvantaged by how this race is likely to play out. It's a similar case for 9. Dynasties. Her first up 10th last campaign was much better than it reads on paper beaten less than two lengths. Has trialled great.
How To Play It: Hope In Your Heart WIN
Race 6 - 3:20PM CATANACH'S SWEET EMBRACE STAKES (1200 METRES)
1. Skirt The Law is yet to taste defeat in three career starts as she marches towards the Golden Slipper. The Tony Gollan-trained filly made light work of her rivals in her first two outings before running out a dominant winner of the Magic Millions Classic five weeks ago. She was ridden with a sit there but could have led comfortably had her regular jockey Ryan Maloney wanted to. She added another string to her bow. From the wide gate on Saturday, suspect that she'll slide across to take up the running. The role she played when winning her first two starts. She has trialled like a rocket since last start.
Dangers: 2. Blanc De Blanc ran well in the Inglis Millenium, beaten by a better filly in Learning To Fly. She isn't here though. It's going to take a cunning ride from James McDonald to overcome the wide gate. 4. Summer Loving isn't a quick beginner which is costing her. She was an eye-catcher behind Skirt The Law last start rattling home into third. She jumped on terms in a trial since. 5. Lazzago brings the Millenium form line into this and she wasn't beaten far either. 3. Saltaire draws a lovely gate on Saturday and there hadn't been a lot between her and Blanc De Blanc prior to last start. Look for 9. Portorosa late.
How To Play It: Skirt The Law WIN
Race 7 - 4:00PM DRINKWISE SURROUND STAKES (1400 METRES)
It was hard to make much sense of the Light Fingers Stakes two weeks ago given that it turned into a sprint home with just two lengths separating first to ninth. In the end the best filly won, that being 1. In Secret. Her habit of being slowly away doesn't look like going away which is going to make for nervous watching at the start but you've only got to look at her race record to remind yourself of her immense talent. The daughter of I Am Invincible was nosed out in the Golden Rose, so the 1400m holds no fears, before giving her rivals a touch up in the G1 Coolmore. All systems go towards the Newmarket Handicap if she wins again, as expected.
Dangers: 4. Madame Pommery improved sharply second up out to 1400m last preparation and liked the way she returned. Trusting that Light Fingers form reference, it's hard to ignore the run of 7. Revolutionary Miss. She was badly held up in the straight yet still produced some of the quickest closing splits in the race. 8. Sunshine In Paris wasn't left with any excuses when second to In Secret two weeks ago but keen to see her out to 1400m and she maps to get the right run again. 2. Zougotcha is the impossible one to assess with any confidence having missed the Light Fingers with a minor setback. It's been a month since she trialled now. Can 12. A Lot More Love and 13. Razeta back up their eye-catching first up runs at huge odds?
How To Play It: In Secret WIN
Race 8 - 4:40PM TAB CHIPPING NORTON STAKES (1600 METRES)
How do they beat 1. Anamoe? Doubt they can, as reflected by his price. The four-year-old is looking to add an eighth Group One to his tally. The margin was only 0.6L first up in the Apollo Stakes but he was always in control. He just does what he has to now. The most ominous part for his rivals is that he is even better set up out to the mile second up and he again maps to find a stalking position one-out-one-back. There isn't too much more to say about the son of Street Boss. He is one of the best horses in the country and he'd have to underperform to be beaten. That appears unlikely given how bombproof he appears to be at the moment.
Dangers: 11. Fangirl was exceptional in defeat behind Anamoe. Only bad luck will deny her running into the money again on Saturday but she's going to need her share of it to angle clear at the right time from the inside gate. She clocked the second fastest last 600m split across the entire meeting first up. Wherever Fangirl is typically 12. Hinged isn't far behind or visa versa. He is genuine and makes her own luck on top of the speed. 8. Benaud profiles as an interesting long shot. He was brilliant first up last preparation over 1400m in the worst part of the track. There is a neat tie in there with Anamoe and Fangirl. 2. Mo'Unga has place claims while don't want to underestimate 10. Montefilia.
How To Play It: Anamoe WIN, 1-11 QUINELLA
Race 9 - 5:20PM LIVERPOOL CITY CUP (1300 METRES)
1. Profondo brings weight-for-age form into this. It's been 71 weeks since the four-year-old last won but seven of his 10 career starts have been in Group One company. It's been far from smooth sailing for the son of Deep Impact since he burst onto the scene winning the Spring Champion at just his third start, which saw career curtailed by wide gates and wet tracks. First up last campaign he resumed in the G1 Winx Stakes and despite covering ground throughout he was beaten less than two lengths by Anamoe. A Heavy 10 fourth in the Tramway thereafter appeared to knock the stuffing out of him as he didn't recapture that form. Liked the way he has trialled and maps well.
Dangers: 7. Gravina is going to put himself in the right spot again from the draw and will run to his level, which invariably sees him somewhere in the finish again. Just as he was first up when beaten a narrow margin by 5. Quantico, who has obvious claims to go back-to-back. Is likely to be spotting Gravina further length or two head start from where he has drawn but Quantico had spent 44 weeks on the sidelines prior to resuming. 10. Think About It is the new kid on the block having won five of his six starts. Last start was the best of them too. Earns a crack at this level. 4. Riodini and 6. Sibaaq will make the running but 1300m is on the sharp side for them both.
How To Play It: Profondo EACH WAY
Race 10 - 5:55PM DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
There is a depth to the recent form of 4. Much Much Better that few of his rivals here can match. The front-running grey was deep ended in the G2 Expressway Stakes third up and he ran much better than his starting price suggested. On the back of that he gave cheek over 1300m here at Randwick two weeks ago, in this same grade, only to be run down late. That was a handy race won by Think About It with Pizarro in second. Another win looks close and you know where he is going to be in the run. Don't mind the wide draw for him either and he pairs well with Brock Ryan who has ridden him four times in the past for two wins and a narrow second.
Dangers: The four week freshen looks the key to 2. Kalino bouncing back. Respect that he started hard in the market four weeks ago when third to Spacewalk. That was after two dominant wins over the sprint trip. Well set up to find that form again. 16. Sonora comes off a career best at Randwick three weeks ago and drops to 50kg after the claim. Just has to hold that form to be hard to beat again. 3. Easy Single could get a cart across from Much Much Better to offset the wide gate. 1. Never Talk prefers wet ground but can't be discounted while 6. Cavalier Charles deserves respect.
How To Play It: Much Much Better EACH WAY
