Photo: Bradley Photos.
We’re off to Royal Randwick again this week for the Highway Handicap, and the race is one of the strongest 1200m county-restricted fields we’ll see this year, apart from The Kosciuscko, with eighteen runners set to go around.
Putting them all together this week was hard, with some runners long into their preparation, others that are first-up and second-up, and some that are lightly raced.
Still, Thunderbet‘s Johnny’ Highway’ Patton has run his keen eye over the field.
The speed map shows a heap of pace in the race, so I think horses that race midfield and get back will have every possible hope.
The track is in the true position, and with rain forecast for the next few days, we’re expecting nothing to change to the track, which is currently rated a soft 5.
My first pick is Super Extreme ($11). This horse has been flying this preparation in a lot harder races.
Last start, it finished second behind Just in Reach, which is a very nice horse in what was a Benchmark 85 event.
The Cameron Crockett gelding heads into this race third-up and should get the run of the race from barrier six.
My only concern is that it goes up four-and-a-half kilos in weight but drops in class.
I think he will be very hard to beat and will be storming home late.
My second pick is the lightly raced Florino ($3.20), which goes into this race fist-up.
During his first preparation, it won three out of its four starts.
It’s had two barrier trials earlier in the month at Scone that were very good.
Aaron Bullock has ridden him at all his starts and stays on him again.
Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich train this up-and-coming gelding, and he should be fit enough to run a very bold race.
The Dramatist ($12) goes in as my third pick. This horse is probably the best horse in the race and goes into the event first-up.
Kerrin McEvoy goes on board, who is riding very well, and Rodney Northam trains The Dramatist.
It goes into this race with two trials under its belt. The only worry is that it gets back and probably needs further, but if they go mad out in front, it will rush home late.
This week’s ‘Each Way Play’ is Smokeshow ($34 win and $6.50 place). This horse looks over the odds. She has had just over a month off and is trained by an excellent trainer, Danielle Seib.
The in-form Tyler Schiller goes on board, and her last three starts were all very good, but she didn’t have much luck and was in stronger company.
The only query will be whether she runs a strong 1200m, but I think the pace in the race will bring this horse right into play.
Thunderbet Selections
1. Super Extreme $11
2. Florino $3.20
3. The Dramatist $12
