Randwick Race 8 Tip #3 Through The Cracks $14.00 each-way
This talented galloper has battled injuries his entire career and once again overcame a chequered preparation before winning the Provincial Championship Final at Randwick.
Sure, some would question his class. However, in his run two starts back he fell 0.48 lengths short of Asharani in the qualifier. Asharani lines up as a $10 chance in a wide-open Group 3 Nivison in Race 7.
Through The Cracks appears to have had an uninterrupted preparation this time in and has had two strong trials in readiness for Saturday's assignment.
The unfashionable combination of Angela Davies and Ryan Maloney ensures we get a big price early, but I expect this galloper to be much shorter come start time.
From barrier 13, Maloney will head straight for the rear and watch the race unfold in front of him.
Assuming the track is playing fair, he'll be the one rattling home down the outside.
He handles all conditions which is a huge plus given the light showers predicted.
I expect the son of Wanted to win first-up and reach a career peak rating this prep.
I'm saving the best of the day for the last. This looks a perfect race for Icebath to break back into the winners' circle.
The talented mare from the Widdup camp is extremely well placed and weighted in a race of this calibre.
She's raced without luck this prep, having bumped into some smart horses as well as being negatively ridden at times.
Last start in the Silver eagle she was deep ended, after getting too far back in the run. She was able to balance up and rush home in 33.95, which was only 1 length inferior to the winner Flit.
In that clash, she finished 2.1 lengths off Alligator Blood, 1 length off Dawn Passage and half a length in front of Subpoenaed, which is superior form for this BM78.
She steps up to the mile which will suit her down to the ground. Her lone run at this distance came in the Keith Nolan Classic, where she was only 0.8 lengths off Shout The Bar, Missile Mantra, Subpoenaed and Asiago.
She gets here at peak condition, with 54.5kg after the claim for Tom Sherry and a dry Randwick deck will suit (9:1:2:1).
With a dig in the ribs, she can settle in front of her main dangers before edging her way into the clear and show her class in a race that lacks depth.
The three-year-old Godolphin colt has strung some very impressive runs together.
He went to a new level last start when just missing behind Wild Ruler, who is two from two this prep. He got out late in that clash and powered to the line, running the fastest sectionals of the day.
He was the only horse on the day to break 33 seconds for last 600m sectional, and the only horse to break 11 seconds for the last 200m sectional.
To the eye, the run looked smart and the sectionals backed it up.
He has had a clean-up trial since and now rises an extra 100m to 1200m, which is ideal.
Rachel King is in great form and from barrier 2, she will be able to sit off the hot tempo up-front.
He will need a touch of luck as he looks to be on the rail, but he is an explosive horse who can accelerate at the drop of a penny.
He has perfect form lines around Prime Star, Wild Ruler and Forbidden Love who have all come out and run very well in their following starts.
The Bopper is a false favourite, who is coming off a first-up defeat and rises from midweek grade to a much harder race.
The $3.20 is a great price and looks a fantastic bet. Keen.
Michael is a life-long punter who enjoys the challenge of unearthing value buried within betting markets. The former golf pro knows a thing or two about performing under pressure.
