This week we have a Class 2 Highway Handicap over the 1400m at Royal Randwick, and again, Thunderbet‘s Andrew Price has run his eye over the race to try and find our readers a winner.
This week’s speed map provides guidance on sorting out the ‘puzzle’ that the Highway inevitably is.
We can see from the Thunderbet speed map (below) that there is a lack of speed, and with the rail out 6m for the meeting, the track might well favour an on-pacer on the fence early in the meet.
I’m always reluctant to put one on top at $3.80 in a Highway field, but MISS THATCHER ($3.80) from the Tim Martin yard jumping from the inside will be very hard to toss.
She went around at Goulburn first up at $1.55 and put them away like a nice horse.
While this is comparatively a step up in grade, she ran sixth in a Class Three Highway last prep at 1400m, beaten only two lengths, which was a stronger race than this.
The 1400m second up looks perfect, she maps to get a soft lead, and with Amy McLucas claiming three kilograms, she gets in with just 53kg (-5kg on her last start).
She is one-from-one second up, and I can see her leading them a merry dance out in front.
BURRANDANA ($9) from the Peter Morgan yard at Wagga should also run very well in this grade.
This gelding is only lightly raced and has plenty of class about it.
Last preparation, he progressed very quickly from maiden grade to running two outstanding races in the SDRA Champs and the Southern Wild Card, being only narrowly beaten.
The SDRA run was enormous coming from a mile back and note that both races are a much stronger grade than this.
A good track will suit, and off a trial win on 17 June, Peter Morgan should have him ready to go first up.
The query is where he will get to from the wide draw. If he goes too far back, it might be hard to run down Miss Thatcher (-7.5kg), which is why I have her on top.
$9 about this horse is a great price, and had it drawn a better gate, it would be shorter in the market.
To fill the placings, I’m putting in LEGGY POINT ($10), which absolutely bolted in last start at Scone (six lengths), and there is no reason she cannot go on with it here for Rodney Northam.
She drops 3kg on that run, and while it’s her first go at the 1400m, she is a fit horse, and it won’t be a problem.
Any rain around Thursday will only help her chances. Andrew Adkins rides from a slightly sticky gate 12 but with limited speed inside; I think she will be able to take up a position in the forward half.
If she can replicate the last run, even against this grade, she will be thereabouts at the pointy end.
The $10 on offer represents good value.
I will give Matthew Dale and ALLGEMEINE ($15) another chance as the ‘each way play’ this week.
I liked her last week at $51, and she ran a great race, beaten 2.5L, and arguably unlucky in the concluding stages.
That run shows we can put the first up effort down as one to forget.
This horse has good ability and can go close in this grade (easier than last week).
The knock is that she is coming from gate 18 and may well go back again.
I would like to see Robbie Dolan try and find a place midfield, which requires luck, but the 1400m pace might give her a chance.
Allgemeine is also $15 this week, not $51, but she definitely has the ability to win.
Thunderbet Selections:
1 – Miss Thatcher $3.80
2 – Burrandana $9
3 – Leggy Point $10
Each Way Play: Allgemeine $15
Author’s Hoofnote:
As I wrote this Thursday, Sydney has a 5-10mm rain forecast this afternoon.
Maybe it hits Randwick, and perhaps it doesn’t, but either way, coming off a good 4 track, we should see a soft five at worst. Fingers crossed.
For Thunderbet’s Highway markets, click here.
For Royal Randwick fields, click here.
