3 minute read

Danielle Seib - a TAB Highway specialist - is value as adverse circumstances suggest three favoured placegetters from a recent Newcastle episode, Tanglewood ($3.90 favourite on TAB), Ramones ($10) and Zanardee’s Lane ($14) are little hope of staging an action replay at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

All have drawn the extreme outside as Danielle Seib presents with Nipotino ($19), 58kg for Danny Beasley and Sir Ming ($11) with a 3kg claim off 58kg for her promising apprentice Hannah Williams, into the $120,000, Class 3, 1200m.

And the Goulburn stablemates have proven Highway form.

At Newcastle two weeks ago Tanglewood beat Ramones and Zanardee's Lane by a half-length but have drawn barriers 16, 17 and 15 respectively.

Tanglewood rises to 61kg, conceding 4kg to Ramones after it's 3.5kg claim off 60kg.

Extreme wide barriers in capacity Highway fields are usually a "stay home" approach by country trainers so, it's wait and see if they all start.

Early scratchings are Yirrkala (from barrier 21), a dominant last start Muswellbrook winner for Brett Cavanough, and Prophet's Daughter (gate 15).

Enter the winning equation Danielle striving for her seventh series success and a knack for discards with Nipotino formerly with the Thompson and Cavanough stables and Sir Ming previously with Team Hawkes.

Nipotino was narrowly beaten by the promising Atmospheric Rock in a February Highway at headquarters and Sir Ming placed there in a strong episode won by Gallant Star in December. And coming off harder races of late.

"I'm expecting that form to hold up into a regulation class 3, race fit and the barrier draw has done us some favours," offered Danielle amidst productive seasons with a small stable at Goulburn.

"Nipotino is the more race experienced four-year-old, really good second to Atmospheric Rock and last start second in an Albury Open at 1000m probably a trifle short.

"He's well placed I think back to a Class 3 and Sir Ming has placed in a Highway and ran well in that Championship qualifier behind a smart one in Bandi's Boy.

"He was then sixth in the Wild Card at Goulburn so we're going in with expectations."

Meanwhile, favourite Tanglewood again with Josh Parr for Todd Howlett and up 2.5kg to the 61kg, won despite a betting drift from $2.50 to $4.20 at Newcastle.

At present Royal Randwick is a Soft 6 in fine weather.