Saturday action in Sydney returns to NSW headquarters this weekend, with a strong 10 race card scheduled at Royal Randwick.
The track is currently rated a Soft 7 with 10-25mm of rain forecast. Punters should be doing form for a Heavy track with a downgrade expected.
The rail is out 6m in the straight, which should produce a fair racing surface early before the inside chops up later in the day.
Randwick Race 1 Tip #4 Dragonstone $4.60
I've liked this gelding from his first trial and he showed his true ability last start when winning impressively.
He was very unlucky not to score on debut after closing off in the inferior ground and having to check off heels at a crucial stage. He was able to sit 3 wide on pace second-up and won well, in heavy conditions.
He has recorded two big last 400m sectionals against all benchmarks, which will hold him in very good stead come Saturday.
At Warwick Farm, he recorded the fastest last 600m (34.64) and last 400m (23.03) of the entire meeting.
He possesses a sharp turn of foot and has the versatile racing pattern, which is key for a 2YO. He isn't a big horse and has quite a small frame which suits perfect to these wet track which he motors through.
He has drawn barrier 10 and will come into 8 if the emergencies come out. There looks to be a huge amount of speed up front and I expect them to go at a frantic pace up front. This should suit Dragonstone, who can let the speed go and get a nice tow into the race.
The only slight query I have is the rail out 6m and the wet track, a set-up which can sometimes favour on-pace runners. However as long as they go hard up front, he will be fine.
I expect him to start with a 3 in front of his price. Happy to play early.
Randwick Race 5 Tip #3 Harpo Marx $3.00
It's fair to say the Bjorn Baker trained stayer has returned a better horse this campaign and looks set to peak third-up from a spell on Saturday.
The 5YO son of Galileo (GB) has put in two sensational runs this campaign over trips short of his best.
First-up he hit the line well behind subsequent Saturday winner Oscar Zulu against the fence-in-run bias at Rosehill.
He then stormed home at the end of 1800m last week, taking ground off Wicklow, Lackeen and Steely who would be very short in a race like this.
He's reaching peak fitness now, and the step up to 2000m on the seven day back up looks the ideal progression at this stage of his preparation.
He is proven to handle a wet track, with rain predicted and a choppy Randwick on the cards holding him in good stead.
From the gate, he will get back off a rolling tempo and look to swim over the top of his rivals with regular rider Rachel King in the saddle.
Last preparation he was able to win over 2400m, indicating there is still more to come this preparation as he steps up in journey.
For a list of all the tipsters who have posted Randwick Tips for today's races, checkout the dedicated page at theGreatTipOff.com.