Race-by-race preview and tips for Randwick on Saturday

Race 1 – 12.30PM MIDWAY HCP (1100m)

2. Chief Conductor is a slippery customer when he is on song. The lightly raced five-year-old resumed at Warwick Farm and stuck on well at the finish despite being dictated to by the horse on his inside. The regally bred speedster, by I Am Invincible out of Snitzerland, should be able to clear 8. Annulus to find the fence and the front. That’s the position he loves. 5. Vindication has been freshened up since failing at Canterbury where he had the excuse of being posted deep throughout. Has had a Hawkesbury tick-over trial since then. A dry track and 1100m is a scenario that should see him bounce back to his best form.3. Poseidon Ruler might find 1100m too sharp but if he gets the race run to suit, he possesses the finish to ambush these late.How to play it: Chief Conductor to win.

Espiona is top pick in The Invitation.Credit: Getty

Race 2 – 1.05PM CATANACH’S JEWELLERS HCP (1200m)

1. Atmosphere must be taken on trust. His first up run was a shocker. Too bad to be true. Perhaps the tempo of the race brought him undone fresh. His record tells you that he improves with a run under his belt. Whatever reason for his failure, James Cummings freshened up the four-year-old with six weeks between runs.You just have to roll the dice that he can bounce back from his poor first up showing but there looks to be enough in the early price to take that leap of faith. His stablemate 2. Capo Strada was also disappointing first up but had the excuse of blundering at the start. 4. Pioneer River maps to get the run of the race from barrier 1, holding a spot in behind the leaders.How to play it: Atmosphere to win.

Race 3 – 1.40PM TAB HIGHWAY HCP (1200m)

10. Bandi’s Boy was 55 weeks between runs at Rosehill first up. He was excellent in defeat, despite running sixth. He was run off his feet over 1100m but hit the line powerfully. His closing splits were among the fastest across the entire meeting. He’s now three weeks between runs, out to 1200m second up and drops back to class 3 company from a BM78. Doull ran third there and subsequently beat Spacewalk in a G2 sprint in Melbourne. Bandi’s Boy raced in Highway Handicap company last campaign but travelled deep throughout. Only prior second up run he had he beat Zougotcha as a two-year-old. 11. Florino is going to attract plenty of interest having won three of her first four starts. Her Newcastle win last campaign where she beat Memoria and Coriolis reads exceptionally well. Has looked sharp in two trials, maps to get the run of the race, andAaron Bullock comes to town to ride her.How to play it: Bandi’s Boy to win.

Race 4 – 2.15PM EGROUP PROTECTIVE SERVICES HCP (1600m)

8. Sequestered was suited by a fast tempo up front set by Body Bob at Randwick last start but there was a lot to like about the way she quickened to put her rivals away.The four-year-old rises 3kg but this isn’t harder depth-wise. Being a daughter of Pierro, she was tested over 2000m in the Adrian Knox last campaign, jumping an even money favourite, but the heavy track brought about her undoing. Want to stick with her through the grades, especially on dry tracks. 9. Cinque Torri was waiting around for nobody at Warwick Farm last start. He presented a very fit horse back from a narrow defeat over 1800m in the Bathurst Cup, and was ridden accordingly by Josh Parr. Straight to the front and the result was never in doubt. Parr sticks and could adopt similar tactics.How to play it: Sequestered to win.

Race 5 – 2.50PM TAB BRIAN CROWLEY STAKES (1200m)

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained speedster 6. Keenan is on the 10-day turnaround having won his maiden at the midweeks. It was a showing of sustained speed on the Kensington track. The son of Capitalist was sent around $1.55 and may have been flattered by an on speed pattern but it was the win of a colt capable of taking the next step. It’s all about the map for filly 10. Mumbai Muse. She might be a maiden but is yet to race out of Group company in her five career starts. Has been freshened up since disappointing in the Tea Rose Stakes, but her trial win since suggests she’s stayed sharp. Looks to get the run of the race. 3. Armed Forces will settle out the back but form though his two Melbourne runs has been franked since with Brave Mead winning at Caulfield.How to play it: Keenan to win.

Race 6 – 3.25PM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS CRAVEN PLATE (1800m)

2. Numerian was ridden conservatively first up from the wide gate in the Hill Stakes. He finished ninth behind Montefilia but was only 3.5L away at the finish in what turned into a sprint home. That’s not the right set-up for this eight-year-old. He tends to be more effective riding the speed. Second up he draws barrier 1 and finds Adam Hyeronimus. The lead is there for the taking if he shows early intent from the outset. There doesn’t look to be a lot of pressure on paper and there doesn’t look to be a lot between the top dozen in betting. Forget 5. Zeyrek’s run in the King Charles. He was posted deep throughout and 1900m back to the mile fourth up. The knock is where he’ll be in the run having drawn wide again but form has him right in the mix here. 8. Hinged will bounce out and keep Numerian company up front.How to play it: Numerian to win.

Race 7 – 4PM MOET & CHANDON SPRING CHAMPION STAKES (2000m)

2. Tom Kitten won first up in the Up And Coming giving Encap 5kg. That flagged that he had returned in great order. Unfortunately, it’s all gone pear shaped in his three subsequent runs, through no fault of his own. The one constant in his defeats is the sectionals home he continues to run. Adam Hyeronimus won’t be giving up barrier one out to 2000m now. Expecting him to settle much closer and from there he gets the chance to atone on grand final day. The lone filly 12. Tutta La Vita is the wildcard. The way she flattened out in the Flight Stakes suggested that he is looking for 2000m now. Fillies have won three of the past seven runnings and provided a further two placings in the past two years. 1. Raf Attack made the running in the Gloaming and kept on grinding away at the finish. He profiles to relish 2000m.How to play it: Tom Kitten to win.

Race 8 – 4.45PM THE INVITATION (1400m)

2. Espiona was beaten less than three lengths in the TAB Everest. That’s by far the strongest form reference any of these mares offer. Prior to that she smashed the clock when second to Sunshine In Paris in the Sheraco Stakes before backing that up with a demolition of her rivals in the Golden Pendant out to 1400m. Will just need Kerrin McEvoy to angle her into the clear at the right time. The market looks to have the key chances well pegged. 7. Magic Time was brilliant when winning the Nivison first up. She was kidding to those. Sat handy but loved the way she quickened from in front. She’s versatile but expecting another positive ride here. 6. Roots tends to fire early in her campaigns and she looks well set up herself second up here. Got a long way back in the Alan Brown first up before rattling home into fifth behind Cepheus. Can settle closer in this from another low draw.How to play it: Espiona to win.

Race 9 – 5.30PM CINCOTTA CHEMIST CALLANDER-PRESNELL (1600m)

11. Arctic Glamour has been brilliant in winning both starts this time back. Her late strength has been the key takeaway which should see her improve again third up out to the mile. That’s a scary thought for her rivals. She takes a few strides to get herself organised but once she hits top gear, she asserts her dominance. The clock backs up what we’ve seen to the eye too. Barrier 1 could pose a problem for Kerrin McEvoy but she does have enough speed to settle midfield. From there she just needs clear running. Looking to make it three on the bounce. Takes on the boys again, but there’s nothing here she shouldn’t take care of. 1. Namesake shouldn’t really be doing what he is over the sprint trips. Not the most conventional set-up jumping from 1100m, 1200m and now third up out to the mile but comes through strong sprint races.How to play it: Arctic Glamour to win.

Race 10 – 6.10PM NATIONAL JOCKEYS TRUST HCP (1400m)

4. Gringotts produced the best run of his campaign last start at Rosehill. The race didn’t work out for him at all. He found a three wide running line only for that to disappear which left him exposed and working a long way from home. No excuses now fourth up in a very winnable race drawn to jump straight onto the back of the leaders. Everything looks to have fallen into place. 10. Fall For Cindy went toe-to-toe with Sequestered first up, making up a stack of ground from the back of the field. That saw her jump an odds on favourite in a near identical race two weeks later. She justified the price and always travelled like the winner. Drops 4kg up in grade.2. Felix Majestic was a dominant winner of a Midway last start. Has to transfer his Rosehill form to Randwick but he should find the same spot upon settling outside of the lead.How to play it: Gringotts to win.

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