Ray Thomas’ Randwick inside mail for Saturday: Trainer David Payne confident of boilover with $61 roughie Sacro Catino

Trainer David Payne has ambitions to set bargain-basement buy and rank outsider Sacro Catino for the Group 1 Queensland Derby if he can win at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer David Payne has ambitions to set bargain-basement buy and rank outsider Sacro Catino for the Group 1 $1m Queensland Derby if he can win the Chalouhi Handicap (1800m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Sacro Catino is at $61 latest TAB Fixed Odds betting after finishing only seventh to Ella Hazel at the Kensington midweeks last start.

But Payne made a compelling case for his three-year-old, who won his maiden at Wyong first-up then ran second to Ahuriri at Canterbury before his unplaced effort last week.

“I thought his last run last start was quite good. He had 61kg, it was just too much for him but he kept working to the line,’’ Payne said.

“At his previous start at Canterbury, he had to make a long run from back in the field and he was only run down near the line.’’

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The master trainer rates Sacro Catino as a promising young stayer and could not believe he was able to purchase the gelding for just $8000 as a yearling.

“Sacro Catino is a lovely individual but no one wanted him as a yearling,’’ Payne said.

“I thought what is going on here because I really liked him. So, I put in a bid and got him for just $8000, I couldn’t believe it.

“He’s a nice horse, improving all the time, he can stay and if he wins on Saturday then I will give him his chance in the (Queensland) Derby.’’

Sacro Catino shifts into gear and wins along the inside for @DPayneRacing with Dylan Gibbons in the saddle! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GM4jwcg3ki

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 16, 2025

Payne also has Trafalgar Square ($8.50) in the Midway Handicap (1400m) but is concerned about the heavy 10 track rating.

“Trafalgar Square is peaking now and she goes well on a soft track but I’m worried if it is too heavy,’’ Payne said.

“She is such a good mover so a really heavy track is not ideal. We could wait for Canterbury next Wednesday with her.’’

Payne has no issue with Tympanist in the heavy going but concedes the gelding, who is sixth emergency, is unlikely to gain a start in the Magnolia Lane Financial Services Handicap (1400m).

“Tympanist handles the wet so I’m hoping he can get a run,’’ Payne said.

“He’s not getting any younger but he looks really well and I think he can a good race but we are going to need luck just to get into the field.’’

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday

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RANDWICK BIG BETS, MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Agarwood $4.20-$2.50
Race 2: Strawberry Impact $11-$8
Race 3: So You Pence $2.70-$2.30, Shropshire Lad $6-$4.80
Race 4: Hurstville Zagreb $5.50-$4.20, She’s A Dealer $7.50-$6.50
Race 5: Ahuriri $4.20-$3.70
Race 6: Grand Larceny $5-$4.80, Epic Proportion $9-$6.50, Power Of The Brave $11-$7.50
Race 7: Zaphod $4.20-$3.90, Quantum Cat $11-$5, Collect Your Cash $6-$5.50 ($2000 at $6), Miracle Spin $15-$9
Race 8: Cool Jakey $3.60-$2.80, Green Fly $5-$4.80 ($2500 at $4.60)
Race 9: King Of Roseau $4.40-$4.20, Spione $6-$4.20, Boltsaver $11-$7.50
Race 10: She’s Unusual $6-$4.80

• MARKET MOVERS: Former Kiwi strongly fancied in Brisbane feature

EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 1,2,4,11
Race 4: 3,4,5,9
Race 5: 5,6,7
Race 6: 4,10,12,13

QUADDIE
Race 7: 5,6,8,14
Race 8: 1,3,4,6
Race 9: 5,6,7,18
Race 10: 3,5,10,13

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PRICE CHECK

Race 7 No.8 ZAPHOD has firmed as favourite from $4.20 to $3.90 but there has also been some significant moves for his rivals. QUANTUM CAT (14) is $11 into $5, COLLECT YOUR CASH (6) $6 to $5.50 including a $2000 bet at $6, and MIRACLE SPIN (12) $15 to $9.

I’m so great! 😀 Zaphod gets the win at Eagle Farm for @Leesracing and @mallyon_andrew! @BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/VXoI5xv3yB

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024

• Ray & Duff’s tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday: $5.50 best bet

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SECTIONAL STARS

Race 1 No.5 AGARWOOD was impressive on debut at Warwick Farm, scoring by a widening margin and recording a slick 57.56sec for the 1000m despite the Soft 6 track rating. Agarwood ran her final 600m in 33.97sec and her closing 200m in 11.54sec which was faster time than REGULATED AFFAIR (2) who won his juvenile division the same day in 58.08sec, with sectional splits of 34.02sec and 11.87sec.

A very nice win to Agarwood at Warwick Farm! 💥@clarkyhk | @GaiWaterhouse1 | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/FyBp2m8DAG

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 7, 2025

Race 9 No.18 SPIONE is fifth emergency and might miss a run but if he gets into the field then he looms as a definite winning chance on his very good last start second at Randwick on a Soft 6 track. Spione didn’t have the easiest of runs but he charged home his final 600m in 35.92sec with a 200m split of 12.28sec to just miss behind Yankee One.

Yankee One is in form! That's back-to-back wins for the @BBakerRacing mare. pic.twitter.com/qyY8yIwBaZ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025

• Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday

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TRIAL POINTERS

Race 6 No.2 SOUTH OF INDIA returns to racing after two good barrier trial wins at Kembla Grange and on the all-weather track at Warwick Farm. South Of India showed his usual early pace to race on speed and was strong late in both trial wins. The Ross McConville-trained South Of India is unbeaten on rain-affected going and also has a good first-up record.

South Of India 🇮🇳 wins the last at Rosehill for @Markwellracing and @annaroper!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/VWXjieke49

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 18, 2025

Race 10 No.8 ALLAPERCANTO is resuming off one barrier trial where she caught the eye finishing sixth in a strong 900m Rosehill heat won by Liberty State. Allapercanto settled near last in the trial and was keen to go faster but was kept under a tight hold as she ran on late to beaten just over two lengths. The Team Hawkes-trained Allapercanto is resuming in the Randwick closer but she hasn’t missed a place when first-up and she does handle wet tracks.

Allapercanto easily makes it back-to back wins! 👏@aus_turf_club@[e-mail]/n4IpNUEgqT

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 29, 2024

• Randwick predicted to go ahead despite dire forecast

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BEST BET

Race 5 No.7 AHURIRI finished powerfully wide out to win second-up at Canterbury over 1900m on a heavy track. She’s a handy mare with good wet track form and getting out to 2400m is her distance range. She’s a tough stayer who won the VRC St Leger over 2800m last year. Ahuriri should be at her peak after recent racing and is the one to beat.

Ah, hooray for Ahuriri! She wins the TAB Handicap second up at Canterbury with @nashhot in the saddle for @cwallerracing 🙌@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/gEHeb93GPk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 30, 2025

• Ponsonby’s giant-killer as Group goal in mind

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VALUE

Race 3 No.1 MY LAST HOORAY was a heavy track winner at Goulburn earlier in his career when the track was bottomless. He’s had three runs back this campaign, racing well each time, including his last start effort when he finished strongly for a close third at Warwick Farm. The underrated My Last Hooray has topweight for the Highway but gets the benefit of the apprentice’s 3kg claim, he handles wet tracks and is terrific value around $18.

'WHAT ELSE AM I GOING TO DO?'

Frank Cleary, the racehorse trainer who can't retire, often finds himself reminiscing about what might have been during State of Origin time. Story: @RayThomas_1 👇https://t.co/3IrQzNltRy

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) May 22, 2025

• James launches late Oaks bid with She’s A Dealer

Originally published as Ray Thomas’ Randwick inside mail for Saturday: Trainer David Payne confident of boilover with $61 roughie Sacro Catino