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The Ray Thomas Blackbook: A recap of Lord Mayor’s Cup Day at Rosehill

Racing expert Ray Thomas has run the rule over Saturday’s Lord Mayor’s Cup meeting at Rosehill Gardens and found a few he reckons are worth following.

Ray Thomas
5 min read
June 1, 2025 - 1:42PM
Ray thinks Saturday’s Rosehill winner Liberty State can win again this preparation. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.
Ray thinks Saturday’s Rosehill winner Liberty State can win again this preparation. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Racing expert Ray Thomas has run the rule over Saturday’s Lord Mayor’s Cup meeting at Rosehill Gardens and found a few he reckons are worth following.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

Codetta (Race 5) had to ease towards the centre of the track to get into the clear before charging home for a first-up second to King’s Secret. Codetta’s closing sectionals were the fastest of the day and she can be placed to advantage next start.

Island Dec (Race 5) was the “hidden” run of the meeting. She was held up for a run on the turn and had to ease off heels to get to the outside. The race was over at this point but Island Dec ran on to finish only eighth, recording a fast final 600m of 34.27s and closing 200m split of 11.59s.

Kerguelen (Race 7) always looked to be in a controlling position and sprinted home strongly under 57.5kg to score a good first-up win from a very game Brave One. The winner and runner-up put nearly three lengths on their chasing rivals.

Don Diego De Vega (Race 8) was first-up in the Lord Mayor’s Cup and his effort to finish fourth was full of merit. The winner, Touristic was far too good, but Don Diego De Vega caught the eye running on strongly late for fourth, recording fast closing sectionals.

Liberty State (Race 10) was never on the track, racing three-and-four wide without cover then went even wider on the turn before unleashing a brilliant burst of acceleration to reel in her rivals for an outstanding first-up win. Follow her with confidence as she has an unbeaten second-up record.

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ON THE CLOCK

Hidden Achievement (Race 1) wasn’t suited by the slow early tempo but ran on well for third, producing a final 200m of 11.55s, the second fastest closing sectional of the day.

Lady Extreme (Race 3) was resuming in the Midway but impressed with her fast-finishing win. She ran her final 600m in a swift 34.60s with a final 200m split of 11.85s.

Codetta (Race 5) didn’t have a lot of galloping room in the straight but still sprinted her final 600m in 34.07s with her closing 200m split of 11.45s to finish second. Both sectionals were the best of the day.

Touristic (Race 8) reeled off a sub-12s final 200m split at the end of 2000m to win the Lord Mayor’s Cup. Touristic ran his closing 200m in 11.98s to win by a widening margin.

Liberty State (Race 10) covered so much extra ground but was still able to rip home her final 600m in 34.89s to score a very good win.

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WHAT THEY SAID

“It wasn’t a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, Zebra Finch is going to be better again. He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the locker,’’ jockey Kerrin McEvoy said.

“The race lacked tempo, it was a sit and sprint. Adam (Hyeronimus, jockey) is adamant that when you can put the bit in his mouth a little bit better, he’ll have a better turn of foot. Adam is strongly pushing for Chris (Waller to go to Brisbane with him). He said ‘I don’t care if I ride him or not but you should be running the horse in the JJ’, that’s his opinion’,’’ stable representative Charlie Duckworth said.

“Today was my first time on Kerguelen’s back and he really took my eye in the parade. He’s a nice horse and gave me a really good feel. He travelled like the winner during the race and to dig in first up at the 1200m like that was a good effort,’’ jockey Kerrin McEvoy said.

“King’s Secret switched right on today, showed good speed, travelled the whole way and when I asked for him, there was plenty there. He showed a good turn of foot so that’s nice to know that he can handle a wet track like that. It’s opens more doors going forward,’’ jockey Andrew Adkins said.

“Any stakes winner is rewarding but to get two winners back in town today is very satisfying and it helps build that confidence. I’ve been back at the provincials for a while now and I’ve had great success there. It’s been great for my confidence and now as we head into the winter months, the opportunities to come back and ride in town are opening up and like today, I’ve made the most of some really great opportunities,” Adkins again after winning the Lord Mayor’s Cup on Touristic.

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STEWARDS SAY

Maori Chief (Race 4) was hampered near the 250m when obliged to shift in away from the heels of Kundabung but was still very disappointing in the manner in which it gave ground in the home straight. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.

Pure Alpha (Race 6) was inconvenienced near the 1400m when carried out by Forecast. Pure Alpha had some difficulty obtaining clear running prior to the 200m then just prior to the finish line became unbalanced due to contact from Little Cointreau, which shifted in.

Sir Lucan (Race 8) was expected to settle in a prominent position, however, due to crowding at the start between Shahzad and Kadavar, Sir Lucan was required to settle near the rear of the field. Kadavar was severely crowded on jumping between Sir Lucan and Speycaster, which jumped in abruptly, and, as a consequence, settled at the rear of the field.

Liberty State (Race 10), the eventual winner, raced three and four wide and without cover throughout the event.

Summer Flame (Race 10) was bumped on jumping then travelled satisfactorily through the early and middle stages, however, when placed under pressure she gave no response and made an audible respiratory sound. When Summer Flame commenced to give ground abruptly from the 200m she was eased the filly down over the final stages of the race. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be lame (1/5) in the off-foreleg.

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NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday: Corowa, Warren

Tuesday: Kembla Grange, Moree

Wednesday: Warwick Farm

Thursday: Taree, Wagga Wagga

Friday: Dubbo

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle

Sunday: Wyong, Sapphire Coast

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ROSEHILL SNAPSHOT – RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY

Kerguelen resumed off a long spell in testing conditions doing an admirable job winning. He probably has the most upside moving forward to go through his grades.

FORGET THEY RAN

Pure Alpha hit more than a couple of snags in the run never really getting fully balanced. Given a clear run with momentum he probably would have won.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

It’s hard to get carried away following horses off wet tracks but King’s Secret and Liberty State were both quite dominant in their wins on the day and have more to offer.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Andrew Adkins showed with opportunity he is more than capable coming home with a winning double although Dylan Gibbons also rode a couple and it was his daring initiative that stole the show on the Victorian Half Yours.

Originally published as The Ray Thomas Blackbook: A recap of Lord Mayor’s Cup Day at Rosehill

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