Tips and previews for racing at Randwick on Saturday

Ray HicksonAugust 6, 2026 — 5:00pmRace 1: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1100M)It’s not what you’d call an ideal set up but 10. Bangkok Hottie does look to have a touch of quality about her and she has found what appears a winnable Midway first-up. She was dynamic winning on Anzac Day by a big space and while she hasn’t trialled you’d expect David Payne will have her ready. She will need a bit of luck from the barrier, but it is only one turn. Hard to beat. 5. Let’s Go Again pounced on the lead first-up at Kembla and kept going to score over a subsequent winner. Comes back 100m but if she jumps with the same resolve she can give a good account. 3. Century Song was a Kembla winner two starts ago and was running into fourth at Kensington in midweek company. Midway likely suits and he should be competitive. 11. Twinkling Star did a good job to score first-up at Hawkesbury off the wide gate. She finished the race with plenty of purpose and draws better this time. Could measure up.How to play it: Bangkok Hottie to win.Race 2: TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1000M)4. Zumbo returns without an official trial but last time we saw her in Highway company she ran a game second in a handy field. All her best have come when first-up, including a close third in BM72 company in January so she should run well in an open race. 3. Lady Olenna is probably not ideally suited at 1000m but she is a Highway winner and she wasn’t disgraced in the Country Championships at Muswellbrook after drawing wide. If she’s in touch up the rise she’ll be hard to hold out. 8. Beaumista is proven at Highway level and he might have been ridden a bit close when he resumed on a wet track at Scone, fading into fourth late after hitting the front on the turn. A firmer track will suit and gets his chance with the claim. His older half-brother 14. Nevermista is a consistent type and scored an overdue win first-up before he bumped into a progressive type in Yes To Infinity. Tougher ask here but he could lob into a place.How to play it: Zumbo to win.Race 3: PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1400M)5. Avista has been putting sizeable margins on her opposition in the country with three straight wins and the latest of them was the most dominant. Obviously a rise in class but she’s meeting a lot of midweek and provincial form so there’s a good chance she can prove up to it. 2. Nullarbor Jane progressed from winning a Midway into open BM72 against her own age a couple of weeks ago and was run down by a handy one in Astronomix. She may get a degree of control up front which would help her with the 1400m. 3. Persian Wonder rallied when he looked under pressure coming to the turn at Canterbury first-up and did a good job to win. Fitter and group 3 placed at 1400m so the trip should suit. 8. Magenta Skies was thrown into the Flight Stakes on the back of a maiden win and she comes off an extended break. Draws soft and she’s a market watch.How to play it: Avista to win.Race 4: MYPLATES HANDICAP (2400M)3. Elle Hudson is in winning form and there’s no reason he couldn’t continue with the job despite a rise in class. He was asked to make an early move at Kensington last time when out to this distance and he was stronger than anything on the post as he put almost four lengths on them. It’s tougher here but he’ll run out the trip and should feature. 2. Golden Century has been threatening to win a race a little bit lately and he boxed on okay in testing ground at Rosehill behind Le Troisir. He might be the one to appreciate the firmer going. 1. Masoun also comes through that race he’s put a couple of good runs together. Has a weight swing in his favour with the claim and should run well. 5. Le Troisir can’t be left out but he is up in weight and back onto a better surface so that could make him vulnerable. He is racing well so have to include him.How to play it: Elle Hudson to win.Race 5: MM ELECTRICAL HANDICAP (1600M)11. Champagne Hero is getting better with each run this time in and ran right up to good support when scoring an easy third-up win at Kensington over the 1550m. Sure to be right at his peak and while up a little in class he’s the type that will put himself in the race from the mile start. 4. The Mona Lisa is hard to fault and she made light work of a Midway two weeks ago, continuing her excellent form. Comes out of that grade but she’ll run another honest race. 14. Leovanni is another in peak form and she’s continued her rise from a Tamworth maiden three runs back to win successive Highways at Randwick. Right down in the weights, versatile and last start showed her toughness. No surprise to see her measure up. 7. Warrior For Peace was a couple of months between runs when an eye-catching third behind So You Pence over the 1300m and he’s going to appreciate getting back to the mile. More than capable at this level.How To Play It: Champagne Hero to win.Race 6: RANVET HANDICAP (1000M)10. Call Me Gorgeous returns from a break and if you’re able to run on it’ll make him hard to hold out fresh at the 1000m. Put a couple of big wins together in his first preparation back from Hong Kong then started favourite behind Midnight Dynamite and again when midfield behind Wanaruah. Both those horses have since won stakes races. He should be charging home. 8. Amazing Eagle did a few things wrong when he last raced behind Ice Kool two months ago, where he was solid in the market, and he’s a big watch here fresh. Good effort first-up on heavy ground but he handles all conditions and if he can find his best he’s in this. 6. Durova was two months between runs when scoring a strong win at the Grafton carnival in the Kirby Handicap. She’s built a good record for the stable with seven wins from nine starts and if she’s going to measure up in town this is a good chance for her to do that. 11. Zouripper backs up after fourth behind Annie’s Rose at Rosehill last week. He was a winner over this track and distance in July and back down in the weights he’s an each-way chance.How To Play It: Call Me Gorgeous to win.Race 7: TAB PREMIER’S CUP PRELUDE (1800M)14. Boniface has an ideal set up to turn the tables on Tazima for their two recent clashes and if he’s going to beat him it’s under these conditions. He was excellent when narrowly beaten two runs ago but last time he was forced to go back from an outside gate in testing ground and chased hard but couldn’t match the winner. He strikes a better surface, more favourable draw and has a 2.5kg swing in his favour. 5. Tazima is the logical horse he has to beat and it’ll be a fair fight too as he’s also drawn nicely for the third round between the two. He keeps stepping up and there’s no reason he couldn’t win again. If he does, he’s well above average. 6. Matusalem ran a very nice sixth first-up in the Winter Stakes a month ago and there’s no worries with the 400m jump in trip. Doesn’t have a great Randwick record, but he has run in a few unsuitable races at the track. Keep in mind. 11. Poison Chalice should be close to peak fitness after three runs back and there’s been enough merit in the last couple to say he’s ready to show something right down in the weights.How To Play It: Boniface to win.Race 8: KIA ORA STUD MISSILE STAKES (1200M)2. Ninja built a smart record as a three-year-old and looked to have trialled up nicely leading into his first-up assignment. He was a bit unlucky first-up last preparation before winning the Vo Rogue by a big margin and he was unlucky in the Magic Millions Guineas. Has a win over Napoleonic and Autumn Boy as well. Can put himself in the race and prove hard to get past. 3. Napoleonic was Group 1 placed in Brisbane two starts ago and we all know he’s a quality galloper. He’s been trialling alongside Ninja and must be respected. 1. Angel Capital could blow them away if things pan out for him. He has the barrier he can work with and he’s had a couple of nice trials leading in. His first-up record is excellent and this is an important race for him. 7. Gangsta Granny is yet to miss a place in 12 starts so she’s pretty hard to fault. The inside gate and getting down in the weights are big pluses for her against a smart line up and she’s a definite chance.How To Play It: Ninja to win.Race 9: TOYOTA FORKLIFTS HANDICAP (1200M)11. Rose Aye steps out of country grade first-up and she’s a very interesting runner likely on The Kosciuszko trail. She set a winning margin record in her Highway victory in February before failing up to 1400m in a Country Championship at Sapphire Coast. While drawn the outside she has tactical speed and looks likely to get across okay. This is a winnable race for a progressive horse. 3. Scripted hasn’t raced since she was a beaten favourite in the Country Championships Wild Card at Scone in March. She was around the mark without winning all last preparation and interesting that she’s trialled in Sydney leading into this. Definite chance. 1. Mareth has collected a couple of stakes placings and she’s first-up since chasing home Beskar at Listed level in April. Claim a plus, draw probably not so bad considering where others are. Keep in mind. 2. Jellicious was much better last time at Rosehill giving Sword Of Legacy a run for her money. Missed a place in all four Randwick runs but could correct that here.How To Play It: Rose Aye to win.Race 10: CHANDON HANDICAP (1200M)3. Columbia Blue looks a horse that can continue to work through the grades this time in. Atoned for a narrow first-up defeat when scoring a strong win at Rosehill on heavy ground. He’s probably going to be better on a good to soft track and he’s drawn a barrier that can be used to his advantage. 4. Watson was a strong winner first-up at Canterbury beating a subsequent winner and he’s the type that can offset the wide gate quickly. More than likely he’ll be in front and the one to run down. 8. Alabama State shouldn’t be underestimated first-up off what was a deserved win in January. He tends to react well fresh. One of the chances. 1. Ready To Shine comes back a notch in grade after running fourth at Rosehill in BM78 company. An all the way winner in this class before that and getting away from the heavy track is in her favour.How To Play It: Columbia Blue to win.Supplied by Racing NSWFrom our partners