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The Last Say: Ray Thomas’ best bets, inside mail across four states for Saturday racing

The Group 2 Missile Stakes headlines racing at Royal Randwick on Saturday, with big programs also scheduled for The Valley, Sunshine Coast and Morphettville. Get all the best bets and market movers for today’s racing.

Ray Thomas
4 min read
August 10, 2024 - 9:35AM
Punters Previews for Randwick on 10:08:24

Racenet’s Ray Thomas previews a massive day of racing on Saturday, which includes the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick and the Travis Harrison Cup at Moonee Valley.

With Eagle Farm still out of play, Queensland racing is at the Sunshine Coast.

RACENET EXPERT TIPS
• Randwick: James Molony’s race-by-race selections
• The Valley: Mark Guest’s best bets, quaddie picks
• The Valley: Cameron Happ’s best bets
• Morphettville, Belmont: Heath Pope and Aaron Mills’ best bets
• Laurie’s Longshots: $21 value selection at The Valley
• Sunshine Coast: Graeme Carey keen on $4.40 chance
• Kembla Grange: Greg Polson’s race-by-race tips and rated prices

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

ROYAL RANDWICK
Weather: Cool, partly cloudy day and a forecast top temperature of 20c.
Track: Soft (5).
Rail: True.

THE VALLEY
Weather: Cool, mostly sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 16c.
Track: Soft (6).
Rail: True.

SUNSHINE COAST
Weather: Mild, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 22c.
Track: Soft (6).
Rail: True.

MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Cool, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 17c.
Track: Soft (6).
Rail: 4m out entire sectional 605m.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

BE WARY
The Randwick rail position is back in the true after being out 11m two weeks ago when horses got out very wide on a wet surface later in the meeting. Randwick is a soft (5) today and should provide an even surface but watch the early races for any discernible bias to those racing on the inside. The Valley’s track rating should also improve to near a soft (5) with fine weather forecast.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

ROYAL RANDWICK

THE BEST BET
OUR KOBISON (Race 5 No.1) is a very promising sprinter with five wins (and three placings) from nine starts. He holds the Rosehill 1200m track record when he stopped the clock at 1m 8.3s when winning there back in February. He’s resuming off two barrier trials including a runaway win by nearly six lengths at Wyong in fast time. Our Kobison has a good first-up record and the improving track conditions are in his favour.

THE NEXT BEST
AGE OF SAIL (Race 4 No.1) has been luckless in three runs this campaign, most notably at Rosehill last start when he was held up behind starters in the straight before charging home to finish second behind Kapakiri. Age Of Sail should be at his peak after three runs from a spell and gets his chance to breakthrough. Ready to win.

VALUE BET
LADY OF LUXURY (Race 6 No.1) has been struggling to find her best form of late but she has been racing without much luck. At her recent run, she got back in the field then didn’t have a lot of galloping room in the straight as the field drifted to the outside rail before she ran sixth behind Cadetship. With the Randwick track surface close to a soft 5, Lady Of Luxury will be better suited, she’s racing against her own sex, and on her best form, the $18 being bet about her is generous.

THE WHISPER
ARAMCO (Race 9 No.9) has had a month between runs since winning impressively over the Randwick 1800m course at his second run back from a spell. Although he did a few things wrong that day, Aramco won well with the promise of more to come. He is up in grade but stays at 1800m and the improving track is in his favour.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

THE VALLEY

THE BEST BET
BIG ME (Race 6 No.12) looks a standout selection. He raced twice in Hong Kong for a debut win and a third placing at Sha Tin nearly two years ago then resumed off a long spell in his Australian debut when heavily backed into favouritism before a close third to Moonhaven at Flemington. Big Me’s first-up effort was very good and he’s drawn to get all the favours.

NEXT BEST
WAIMARIE (Race 1 No.5) goes to the Valley in top form with wins in two of her last three starts including a dominant all-the-way effort at Sandown two weeks ago. She has a very good racing pattern, putting herself on speed, and she ran 1600m right out in her last-start win. Waimaire can get punters off to a winning start.

VALUE BET
PERFECT PLAY (Race 4 No.6) is a former English stayer who has been competitive in five Australian starts without winning. His most recent effort was a close third to Kapakiri and Age Of Sail over 2400m at Rosehill. Perfect Play lacks acceleration but he stays strongly and from gate two, he will settle on speed and give himself every chance. He’s good value around $7.

THE WHISPER
WALLENDA (Race 9 No.15) was a dual acceptor for the Randwick meeting but trainer Ciaron Maher has elected to go to The Valley. His recent form is excellent including a competitive fourth to the in-form Right To Party in the Creswick Stakes then he ran on strongly when second to Piastri at Caulfield. Wallenda is in top form and drawn to settle a little closer from barrier two before unleashing his powerful finish.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

INTERSTATE MAIL
Sunshine Coast Race 4 No.5 BOHEMIAN LAD
Sunshine Coast Race 9 No.11 LIQUOR
Morphettville Race 3 No.2 GOVERNOR KING
Morphettville Race 8 No.8 SEE YOU IN HEAVEN

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

PROVINCIAL MAIL
Kembla Grange Race 5 No.1 VOMO ISLAND
Kembla Grange Race 7 No.2 C’MON MATE

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROYAL RANDWICK
Race 1: Detendu $5-$4.60, Smashing Eagle $9-$7, Ces Soirees La $21-$11
Race 2: Florino $3-$2.60, Gundy Guy $9.50-$6.50
Race 3: It’s A Knockout $7.50 to $3.50 (after scratchings of Invader Zim, Getafix)
Race 4: Age Of Sail $3.40-$2.25, Our Anchorage $14-$8.50, Kureder $14-$10
Race 5: Our Kobison $2.40-$1.75
Race 6: Hi Dubai $4-$3.50, Tulsi $7-$6.50, Cosy Corner $9.50-$8
Race 7: Space Ae $5-$3.50, Green Shadows $5-$4.60, Yasuke $9.50-$4.80, West Of Africa $7-$5.50, Tiger Town $23-$11
Race 8: Schwarz $2.40-$2.15, Shezanalister $6.50-$6
Race 9: Aramco $4.20-$2.80, Super Strike $14-$11, Changingoftheguard $23-$12
Race 10: Willaidow $4-$2.90, Iron Man $5.50-$4.40, World Alliance $7-$5, Cloudland $23-$14

THE VALLEY
Race 1: Waimarie $3.90-$3.20
Race 2: The Showvinist $6-$5.50, Blue Stratum $9-$6.50 including a $1,500 wager at $8.50
$2.70, Immortal Star $9-$7, Zestiman $11-$8
Race 3: Flamin’ Romans $6-$5, Captain Electric $7-$5.50 with bets of $1,500 at $6/$2.20, $1,000 at $6/$2.20
Race 4: Dashing Duchess $6.50-$5, Perfect Play $9-$7
Race 5: Acromantula $5-$4.40, Mornington Glory $6-$4.40, Moonhaven $6-$5.50, Keep Reading $10-$6
Race 6: Big Me $6-$3.60 with a big bet of $6,000 at $4.80, Fission $6.50-$6, Tiz Enuf $9-$7, Mafia $8.50-$8, Charmed Run $10-$8.50
Race 7: King Magnus $7.50-$6
Race 8: Angry Skies $8-$5.50
Race 9: Why Worry $8.50-$8, Pioneer River $9.50-$9

#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners.

Originally published as The Last Say: Ray Thomas’ best bets, inside mail across four states for Saturday racing

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