Several early scratchings have left just ten two-year-olds in contention for the first and Reloaded remains a reasonably firm favourite. The Snitzel colt has only made one appearance at the races so far but mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to win and there is no doubt that he has taken benefit from the experience. He’s four weeks between runs but has been kept up to the mark with a trial and looks tough to beat again.
1.5 Units Reloaded
Bombdiggity has stamped himself as a horse to follow during his short racing career so far and looms as the one to beat in this week’s Highway race. The Zoustar gelding recorded two wins a place through his debut prep and has been freshened for this race. He’s trialled well and looks ready to go, while he takes 5.5kgs from the topweight.
1 Unit E/W Bombdiggity
Frenzied faces a rise in class at Randwick on Saturday, but he’s stamped himself as a horse to follow and looms as a live each-way chance, in what is a wide-open race. The Americain gelding was fair on debut for fourth at Kembla Grange, but he has since returned two pleasing wins in tougher races, which have boasted decent city-grade sectionals. He should take further improvement into this race and can fight out the finish at a decent price.
1 Unit E/W Frenzied
Wolfe has enjoyed a glittering start to his racing career, and he can continue his rise through the grades at Randwick on Saturday. The Novellist gelding produced two dominant wins from as many starts during his debut prep and resumed this time for a close-up second over 1400m at Randwick. He clearly relished the rise in trip when he put a good field to the sword at Canterbury second-up and he’s another horse that will only improve third-up on Saturday.
3 Units Wolfe
Asharani has been in excellent form this time and will relish a step back in class into the fifth at Randwick on Saturday. The I Am Invincible filly resumed fort consecutive wins in sprint races at Kembla Grange and Hawkesbury respectively, and has since finished a length fourth in the Group 3 JB Carr Stakes and sixth in the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. She’s rock-hard fit for this assignment and the wide barrier isn’t too much of a concern, as she’ll settle off the pace regardless.
1 Unit E/W Asharani
Gododdin resumed for an impressive win at Canterbury and will carry wholesale improvement into this race. The three-year-old daughter of Exceed And Excel has posted two wins and a minor through only five career starts and with even luck from the wide draw on Saturday, she can add a third.
Stable mate Gongs copped a check at the 200m in Listed company first-up and can be forgiven for that run. The Dawn Approach filly typically enjoys sharp improvement second-up and she’s drawn ideally in barrier 4 on Saturday.
1.5 Units Gododdin
1 Unit E/W Gongs
This field of fifteen looks to be one of the more open of the day from a betting perspective and there is a case to be made for several in the market.
I’m happy to have a small each-way play at the Chris Waller-trained Zumbelina, who is third-up on Saturday. The Stakes-performed mare clearly needed the run when she finished ninth in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes first-up but hit the line well to finish fourth in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown last time out. She’s up to winning a race of this quality and the $26 on offer at publish looks over the odds.
0.5 Units E/W Zumbelina
Sixteen horses remain in contention for the penultimate at Randwick on Saturday and the resumed Cradle Mountain has opened a reasonably short favourite. I can’t find an angle that I am keen to pursue in this race and I am happy to leave this lot and wait for the last.
No Bet
November Man has returned three pleasing efforts this time and if he gains a start in the last, he looks a nice each-way bet. The Your Song gelding was a dominant winner at Goulburn first-up and has since finished on the winner’s heels twice on the Kensington course. He’s rock-hard fit and has the benefit of a good gate here. So far two horses have been scratched from the starting field November Man will get a run if two more are removed.
1 Unit E/W November Man (emergency runner)