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Racewatch: Shayne O’Cass’ tips, analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday

Kerrin McEvoy knows when to press the button on the electric finish of a Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained mare who is ready to start her campaign in a winning note. Get Shayne’s tips and inside mail for the 10-race card.

Shayne O’Cass
4 min read
August 8, 2024 - 2:57PM
Arctic Glamour can kick off her campaign on a winning note at Randwick. Picture: Grant Guy
Arctic Glamour can kick off her campaign on a winning note at Randwick. Picture: Grant Guy

Form analyst for Racenet and The Daily Telegraph, Shayne O’Cass, provides his tips and analysis for the 10-race card at Royal Randwick on Saturday, August 10, 2024.

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Race 1 - Midway Handicap (1100m)

CES SOIREES LA (11), a $2,000 online buy, has done some good things the majority of times in her 10 starts. You could say she is off a peak coming into this given she was third to Cosmonova last start and we know that form has been franked. Scratched from Wednesday and is the ‘weight-horse’ the day. As a fan of SMASHING EAGLE (2), it is with no disrespect to say he is one-dimensional. Perhaps ‘too’ one-dimensional now to have on top. Huge watch on the three-year-old filly TRAFALGAR SQUARE (12) who ran a big one in the Golden Gift on debut.

Bet: Ces Soirees La each-way

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Race 2 - TAB Highway Handicap (1000m)

GUNDY GUY (4) is a smart gelding. The Todd Smart-trained son of Capitalist has been wholly dominant in his three wins and probably needs to be forgiven for his two losses. Trialled brilliant the other day. DON’T CALL ME HONEY (9) was impressive in her two Country wins and her Scone trial was a beauty as well. FLORINO (1) was runner-up in his Dec 16 Highway. Spelled, trialled twice, went super each time. SOMERTON SNIPER (5) is three out of four and has a desirable draw.

Bet: Gundy Guy to win

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Race 3- Inglis Yearling Enteries Close 16 Aug Handicap (1400m)

BELLA KHADIJAH (8) was very good in two runs for Brad Widdup, trust me, the 14th of 15 in the Inglis Millennium, was a lot better than it reads. The daughter of Pierata was ‘331’ in Queensland for Darwin Cup-winning trainer Peter Robl. Back with Brad Widdup now, she might be in stakes races this season. Rewaaya’s daughter ZARROSE (4) was backed like a good thing at Newcastle and was too good there. Right in this too, I love INVADER ZIM (1) as a horse but I hate his weight.

Bet: Bella Khadijah each-way

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Race 4 - TAB Handicap (2400m)

AGE OF SAIL (10) was, not to put too fine a point on it, an absolute certainty beaten at Rosehill last start when he split Kapakiri and Perfect Play who are both listed as rivals again on the weekend. The issue last start was barrier 2, he’s got barrier 1 this time; that’s something to factor in perhaps? Outside of KAPAKIRI (3) and PERFECT PLAY (6), one has to respect the Galileo gelding OUR ANCHORAGE (5) who made some ordinary horses look ordinary at Hawkesbury. Regarding the 2400m, he did run fifth in a Queen’s Vase (2847m) at Ascot in 2022.

Bet: Age Of Sail to win

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Race 5 - Ranvet Handicap (1000m)

Stats time. OUR KOBISON’s (1) jockey James McDonald’s percentages for trainer Angela Davies are 66.7 per cent win, 88.9 with placings added. His record on Our Kobison is three rides for two wins and third. Barrier 7 of 8 over 1000m at Randwick is nothing to worry about (hopefully). If for some reason, they really overdo it in front and something has last look, you can bet your bottom dollar it will be DANCING ALONE (2). The small field suits her down to the ground.

Bet: Our Kobison to win, exacta 1 to beat 2

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Race 6 - James Squire Handicap (1200m)

The market will tell a story here given the presence of the Chris Waller-trained stable recruit ANAHITA (6) who resumes as does this fascinating Kiwi mare TULSI (4) who makes her Australian debut off a fantastic trial at Warwick Farm. I am a little bit worried that Anahita’s best runs are on Heavy tracks but she has a Good 4 win at Sandown-Hillside. Tulsi, a $550,000 Classic Yearling (the equal third-highest price at the sale) was third in the NZ 1000 Guineas. James McDonald is a key booking.

Bet: Anahita each-way, quinella 5, 6

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Race 7 - Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1600m)

UNLIMITED (11) is $41 with TAB Fixed Odds. His seventh of eight at Canterbury on June 24 was a lot better than that. It was short of his best for a start, he was first-up and he’s not a first-up horse. That said, he was safe in the market at $7 so he must be going alright, he just didn’t have much luck from back in the pack. Big fan of ARTS (8), the Adrian Knox winner, who resumed with a creditable fifth in a 1300m, heavy 8, at Randwick. Good run, expecting more again from her on Saturday.

Bet: Unlimited each-way, quinella 8, 11

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Race 8 - Darley Missile Stakes (1200m)

ARCTIC GLAMOUR (9) beat The Everest spruik Joliestar in the Reginald Allen on The Everest Day last year. That’s not the only good thing this daughter of Frosted has done in her 11 starts either. Kerrin McEvoy seems to like her, he’s there more times than not and thus knows when to press the button on her electric finish. Hawkesbury Guineas winner SCHWARZ (3) is a good horse, pure and simple, but he is also a good fresh horse. Brilliant trial winner at Warwick Farm. SEMILLION (2) is fit, stakes-placed last start, and likes Randwick.

Bet: Arctic Glamour to win, quinella 3, 9

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Race 9 - Precise Air Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m)

One thing (among many) that Chris Waller does better than most is to get good horses into good races with light weights. Case in point here is ARAMCO (9). This very promising son of Sea The Moon is on his way to better races than this, not that it isn’t a tough challenge for him. He’s been running well on Heavy 7s and 8s but his best has always been on Good 3s and 4s. CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (1) won the 2022 Chester Vase by panels then was fifth in the English Derby. With Kris Lees now and bears the closest of attention.

Bet: Aramco to win, quinella 1, 9

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Race 10 - Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1200m)

UNION ARMY (13) wasn’t great at Rosehill when soundly beaten by Iron Man who runs here also. That said, there was a gap there for him at the 200m that was either a half-gap so we can forgive him or he was just a bit reluctant to go through? Whatever the case was, we know him well enough by now to know that can really charge late when circumstances allow. Got to say again how impressive IRON MAN (7) was - wow. SIR ARTIE (8) is value.

Bet: Union Army each-way, Sir Artie to place

Originally published as Racewatch: Shayne O’Cass’ tips, analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/racewatch-shayne-ocass-tips-analysis-for-royal-randwick-on-saturday/news-story/e88747535b4b02c9d3bfb7eb683c8bb3