Randwick Turf Talk: James McDonald mount can get punters rolling, Mitch Cohen says

Form analysts Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate all the key chances on Group 1 All Aged Stakes Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Form analysts Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate all the key chances on Group 1 All Aged Stakes Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Shayno: Hello Mitchy. I know it’s not the official tag, but Saturday is Day 3 of The Championships on Saturday in my book. What a great meeting. That All Aged Stakes is an absolute beauty. You are a Briasa man?

Mitch: I am Shayno and hello again. You know I was with him in the TJ and there’s no sense in dropping off him now. He still only goes into this third-up so tipping there might be a bit of improvement in him. If that’s the case, watch out. Saver on Kimochi.

Briasa is brilliant in the G1 T J Smith Stakes! He makes it 7 wins from just 9 starts as he races away for @HawkesRacing and @G1TySchil! 💨@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/ee1N0fCLm4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025

Shayno: You might think I’m mad but I have been poring over the replays from across the ditch and I am just taken with Grail Seeker. Her co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan wouldn’t bring her over unless rates her as, at least, competitive.

Mitch: You are mad but she’s a two-time Group 1 winner this prep so you could do worse. What about the Champagne Stakes? Personally I am with Buffalo. He’s landed in the Five To Follow column a few times in recent months and looks like he will relish the mile. Plenty of respect for Nepotism too.

Take care of your own! Nepotism takes the G3 Baillieu eased down for @G1TySchil and @HawkesRacing! 💪@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/2Nba7knUcx

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 1, 2025

• Nepotism set to prove Champagne and Caviar are a perfect match

Shayno: Everything Nepotism has done has him pegged as a good horse. He might be a ‘really good horse’. He’s got the big pedigree to back him up and it takes something special to win a Group 1 at only your third start.

Mitch: Plenty of good racing away from the Group 1s on Saturday and I don’t mind one in the Frank Packer Plate. I am tipping the girl to beat the boys again. This time it will be Miss Alexis. She’s a nice stayer in the making.

Shayno: Could be a big day for Team Hawkes. They’ve got Swiftfalcon in the same race and in the absence of Broadsiding, Aeliana, Evaporate and Linebacker, it’s touchdown – surely!

Another thrilling edition of the @SkyRacingAU Rosehill Guineas!!!

Broadsiding holds off Aeliana and Swiftfalcon in a tremendous finish 🤯@godolphin nab another Group 1 while @mcacajamez registers a winning treble on @tabcomau Golden Slipper Day 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/aukUAQWoBa

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 22, 2025

• Waller on verge of another Group 1 record

Mitch: I see what you did there. What else has caught your eye?

Shayno: Just onto Nathan Doyle for a sec Mitchy. I wonder what Private Harry will have achieved by the end of 2025? The same goes for his (similarly) unbeaten stablemate, Churchill’s Choice, in the James HB Carr Stakes. She’s a horse with no known ceiling at present.

Mitch: I’ve got no doubt Churchill’s Choice is a very nice filly but I will save my pennies for later in the prep for her. I am with Lilac, Shayno. She’s been very consistent this campaign against some good fillies. Barrier one with J-Mac on looks like a recipe for success for mine.

Originally published as Randwick Turf Talk: James McDonald mount can get punters rolling, Mitch Cohen says