Randwick races: Shayne O’Cass’ tips and extended preview

Chris Waller mare Zing ticks a lot of boxes at Rosehill on Saturday, says form analyst Shayne O’Cass.

Zing has a lot in her favour at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for the Rosehill meeting on Saturday.

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ROSEHILL

Track: Heavy 8. Rail: True

R1: PRECISE FIRE HANDICAP (1200m)

Two interesting debutants on show here starting with O’Tycoon who has trialled as well as anything racing on the day and better than most. Scratched from Kensington on Wednesday to run here for more money. Hawaii Five Oh is a son of I Am Invincible out of Aloha which makes him a brother to Liberitni and De Ann Andretii. Oozes quality. Team Hawkes’ Speith filly Valspur was tipped out after her unsuccessful Inglis Nursery debut. Trialled twice since and went super each time.

BETTING ADVICE: Valspur each-way.

R2: TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1200m)

Several of the main chances fared poorly in terms of the barriers, perhaps none more than Ceasefire who drew 21 on Saturday but barrier one at Muswellbrook on Sunday. Boom Boom Basil drew 15 of 15 when a brave fourth in the Gosford Highway and will have to do something similar again from 18 (minus however many) this weekend. Our Baez was outstanding first-up on Wagga Cup day. Has a featherweight for this and hopefully can make use of her good alley.

BETTING ADVICE: Our Baez each-way.

R3: SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1500m)

Green Flash, the $1m yearling, had his first start as a gelding on May 4 at Canterbury and turned in one of those “back me next time” sort of runs. This is a beautiful race for the son of Redoute’s Choice – at home, 1500m, limit weight. Phillipsburg was never a factor in the $500,000 Coast but he wasn’t alone. Nothing made much ground in the race that day, expect a lot better from here on Saturday from the 2 alley. If they happen to leave Rango Toa alone, he’ll be hard to pass.

BETTING ADVICE: Green Flash to win.

R4: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1400m)

Bazooka has been beaten 23 times in 25 starts but is always popular with the punters. Granted, he is the sort of horse that needs it presented to him on a plate but that might well be the case on Saturday if they run along as expected. Highly Desired can be counted on to go out there and give it his all. Media Starguest is not a guaranteed starter (no) thanks to his wide draw. Pit because he was very likeable here second-up off that excellent return at Canterbury.

BETTING ADVICE: Media Starguest to win or if scratched, Bazooka to win.

R5: CANADIAN CLUB HANDICAP (2000m)

Awesome Wonder is worth a small fortune already and will be worth a large fortune should she ever win a stakes race being a Galileo out of Nechita, thus a sister to Harpo Marx. Has come back super and is going to eat-up the 2000m. Eager to see how much, if at all, she can improve off the provincial win. Ting Tong is a tough gelding with a grand strike rate. Has a good draw here and he is not an easy horse to pass. On trial at the 2000m but very fit and very tough. Nest Egg was backable at 33-1 but she might be half that on raceday.

BETTING ADVICE: Awesome Wonder to win.

R6: FUJITSU GENERAL HANDICAP (1800m)

No one could have missed Oceanic Flash’s first-up run. Not name dropping or big noting but Gerald Ryan told me a few days before the race that it would probably be a tad a short for him but he was/is flying. Dynasties was has only missed a place once in her six starts, one of the placings was in the James HB Carr to Espiona before running out a big winner at the Gold Coast in the Bracelet. This is the type of race that Rebel Rama should run well in.

BETTING ADVICE: Oceanic Flash to win.

R7: LORD MAYORS CUP (2000m)

I am no bookie but I would have thought Aleas would be half the quote he was on Wednesday – he was $4.80. Chris Waller has trained four Lord Mayors Cup winners already including the last two. How is this horse not going to get a few favours from the draw?! Bethencourt has won three of his last four. On top of that, he has 53kg, that’s a postage stamp for a big strong horse like him. Mirann is on an upwards trajectory.

BETTING ADVICE: Mirann to win.

R8: FURPHY HANDICAP (1200m)

Bitcoin Baby hasn’t raced since finishing sixth in the Gosford Guineas on December 29. Goes well fresh and was held together when a distant second to Sky Command in a 900m heat at Rosehill, has no weight and a ripper draw. Irish Angel has a compelling set of numbers here but if the rain comes and the track is soft/heavy, her chances soar. Sunborn won against the grandstand rails bias at Randwick and the fact that she was first-up on a Heavy 10. Drawn one which might be a blessing or a curse. Time will tell.

BETTING ADVICE: Sunborn to win.

R9: KIA HANDICAP (1500m)

Night Of Power was excellent first-up when a closing fourth to the unbeaten Norwegian Bliss at Hawkesbury. Never won first-up but has won three of six when second-up. Solar Apex has raced 18 times for five wins and five placings which is a hugely impressive strike rate. Have to send a lot of praise his way on the score of that first-up win at Gosford; he went a mile better than the rest, first run since Boxing Day off one trial. Zing ticks a fair few boxes – draw, weight, trip, home track, fitter.

BETTING ADVICE: Zing to win.

R10: BOWERMANS HANDICAP (1200m)

Rainbow Connection’s long awaited and much anticipated return to racing has been delayed by a few weeks in recent times, probably by now more than barriers and wet tracks and the like. Trials have been bang on the money. Skywolf was well backed on Wednesday. Hard to line-up the form but it is good form. For what it may or may not be worth, nothing has trialled better racing at Rosehill on Saturday than El Buena IMO. Can’t see it starting on a heavy track but if it is Soft, I think he just wins.

BETTING ADVICE: El Buena to win.

Originally published as Randwick races: Shayne O’Cass’ tips and extended preview