Shayne O’Cass’s extended preview and tips for Royal Randwick

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass examines every race for Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday to point you in the right direction to finding a winner.

The Everest winner Giga Kick returns to the same track and distance for Saturday's Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes. Picture: Grant Guy

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here.

RANDWICK

Track: Soft 6. Rail: True

RACE 1

Overview: Saltaire is maybe just below the top tier of two-year-old’s this season but not by far and that could change depending on what happens in the immediate future, starting on Saturday. She’s done some very good things when it counts most but I haven’t seen much better from her than in her Randwick barrier trial the other day. Libertad was a $40,000 yearling (with a $400,000 pedigree mind you). Is less than $4,000 short of his purchase price after one run and is the favourite to win the Kindergarten.

The Bet: Saltaire to win

RACE 2

Overview: Osipenko ran seventh to Anamoe in the George Ryder but was only beaten a bit over a length. Glint Of Silver was runner-up to Zougotcha in the Phar Lap. Talk about an underrated horse. Fall For Cindy looks like being another stakes winner bred at Waikato Stud and trained by John O’Shea. Her third dam is Flying Floozie, a three-time NZ Broodmare of the Year, and make no mistake, she isn’t just taking steps, she is making huge leaps mind you, which she needs to do to win this.

The Bet: Fall For Cindy to win

Gin Martini can continue her march towards next week's Sydney Cup with a win at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 3

Overview: Benaud, in cricketing terms, has taken ‘1 for 16’ but he’s had a few excuses and a lot of valid reasons for his losses. The best Benaud with the right pitch could bowl over a Group 1 race. Gin Martini is a stake performer at two, three and four and like all of John Sargent’s army, she only seems to be getting better with each passing year. There can be no doubt that she is at the top of her game at present and it’s full steam ahead now towards the Sydney Cup.

The Bet: Gin Martini to win, quinella 7.19, Pesto to place

RACE 4

Overview: Godolphin filly Sequestered is on trial at the 2000m but she is a daughter of the Darley-bred Pierro who may be a Golden Slipper winner but he is an acknowledged ‘classic sire’. Sequestered is on a hat-trick albeit off a maiden and Class 1 at Hawkesbury but she’s jumped up out of the ground ‘Colette style’ this autumn. Arts is no Duais but she is totally untapped. There’s just something about her and there’s no Duais’ to beat on Saturday.

The Bet: Sequestered to win (best bet), Arts to place

RACE 5

Overview: Talbragar, the son of Snitzel and Overreach, is hands down the X-Factor horse here. He has won five from six, his only unplaced run was in the Kosciuszko and we know his better horse this time around; his trainer says he is going ‘lengths better’ this time and the form guide backs him up. Akasawa is a city winner and earned his spot in the Country Championships Final winning the Hunter and North West Heat which was a very good ensemble of racehorses.

The Bet: Talbragar to win

RACE 6

Overview: Cylinder is very much in the running to be the Champion 2YO of the season; a win here would put him over the line you would think. Run of the race for him on Saturday maybe? Veight won on debut at Pakenham like a good horse but we all didn’t see just how good he actually is until that win in the VRC Sires’. He was held up to some degree before the clock tower but once the great Damien Lane did his thing, they just launched over the top and won eased down. Nice colt.

The Bet: Veight to win

RACE 7

Overview: We might look back after Saturday and in the years ahead and ask ourselves, why did Giga Kick start $21 in The Everest. The Clayton Douglas-trained chestnut has won five of seven but The Everest aside of course, you could make a case to say that his Challenge Stakes third was one of his peak performances. I Wish I Win has been last at the 400m in both runs this prep. The races were run in 56.46s and 1.08.24s so to place in both of them is extraordinary. Nature Strip is, well, Nature Strip.

The Bet: Giga Kick to win

Mr Brightside can join a select group by scoring back-to-back wins in the Doncaster Mile. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 8

Overview: Mr Brightside is one for one at the Randwick mile and it just happened to be in last year’s Doncaster. You certainly have to say that he has gone onwards and upwards in the intervening period. He did beat the eventual Australian Cup winner when he won the All Star Mile at his most recent appearance. Lion’s Roar’s record at the Randwick mile includes a Randwick Guineas win and a very close second to stablemate Kirwan’s Lane in the Ingham.

The Bet: Mr Brightside to win, Lion’s Roar each-way, box trifecta and First 4: Nos. 2, 3, 10, 16

RACE 9

Overview: Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s record speaks for itself. He was the NZ Derby winner and was beaten a half-length in the VRC Derby. Regarding Pericles at 2400m, buoyed to see names like Singspiel and Mill Reef close up in the pedigree. Twigman is a son of VRC Derby winner Preferment and while of course this is a huge step up from a Port Macquarie Benchmark 58 but this horse will stay the trip big time. Full Of Sincerity was the run of the race in the Tulloch in my opinion.

The Bet: Full Of Sincerity each-way, Twigman to place

RACE 10

Overview: Luke Pepper, Takeover Target’s old trackwork rider, has managed Opal Ridge’s career perfectly hence the five wins and two seconds from eight starts. She thrashed Pericles in the Tapp-Craig and was in another league to the others in the Darby Munro. Ojai, the descendant of Bint Marscay, is back in Sydney for The Championships and to a venue where her record is a win and a third from three starts. Any improvement in the track would be welcome.

The Bet: Ojai to win, box trifecta 1, 2, 11, 18