Ray Thomas has the last say on what is a huge day of racing right around Australia

Ray Thomas has the last say on a monster day of racing action right across Australia.

Ray Thomas

5 min read

August 24, 2024 - 8:35AM

Opinion

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Hall of Famer Chris Waller can begin his quest to be leading Group 1 trainer for the 13th consecutive year by winning the first of the major of the season, the $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Waller has a powerful entry in the Group 1 weight-for-age race – six starters including TAB Fixed Odds favourite and defending champ, Fangirl at $2.40.

• FIELDS AND FORM FOR ROYAL RANDWICK

Fangirl ($2.40) has eased slightly in betting in the last 48 hours as her stablemate Riff Rocket vaulted from $15 into $6.50 second favouritism.

Waller’s other Winx Stakes contenders are Via Sistina ($9), Zougotcha ($8), Atishu ($26) and Buckaroo ($61).

James McDonald can move a step closer to the Group 1 century club with victory in the Winx Stakes on Fangirl. @RayThomas_1 @mcacajamez @cwallerracing https://t.co/U6LeurUjwh
— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) August 23, 2024

The champion trainer, who has already won seven Winx Stakes, has been the nation’s most dominant Group 1 trainer since 2012-13.

Waller has finished leading trainer every year since, including his 12 major race wins for the 2023-24 season.

Remarkably, it wasn’t that long ago when Waller prepared his first Group 1 winner when Triple Honour won the 2008 Doncaster Handicap.

In less than 16 years, Waller has taken his career tally of Group 1 wins to 161 and counting. He trails only training legends Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings who both finished on 246 Group 1 wins each.

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ROYAL RANDWICK
Weather: Warm, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 28c.
Track: Soft (5)
Rail: Out 3m entire circuit

THE VALLEY
Weather: Mild, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 21c.
Track: Soft (5)
Rail: Out 5m entire circuit

DOOMBEN
Weather: Mild, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 25c.
Track: Soft (5)
Rail: Out 3m entire circuit

MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 22c.
Track: Soft (6)
Rail: Out 6m from 1000m to winning post

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BE WARY
The Royal Randwick rail position has shifted out 3m after being in the true at the most recent meeting on August 10. It was worth noting that every winner that day made their finishing runs well wide of the inside rail. Randwick was a soft 5 that day and is likely to be a similar surface for the Winx Stakes meeting today. The Valley’s track rating of a soft 5 might improve further with the forecast for sunny weather, With the rail out 5m, it is likely on-pace horses will be favoured.

• READ: JAMES MOLONY’S RACE-BY-RACE TIPS AND ANALYSIS FOR ROYAL RANDWICK

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ROYAL RANDWICK

THE BEST BET
ELIYASS (Race 5 No.3) has firmed into $2 favouritism for the Premier’s Cup and although he is short enough now, he does look the winner. Promising former French galloper who was a stakeswinner overseas before his Australian debut when he toyed with his rivals in the Lord Mayor’s Cup over 2000m at Randwick back in June. Eliyass, winner of seven races (and two second placings) from nine attempts, has trialled nicely twice in the lead-up to this race. Talented stayer destined for better races this spring.

THE NEXT BEST
MANAAL (Race 6 No.1) is the classy filly of the field having won the Group 1 ATC Sires and finishing an unlucky fifth in the Golden Slipper last season. She’s resuming in the Silver Shadow but has looked particularly sharp in two recent barrier trials. Drawn well in barrier four and should get her chance.

• READ: RAY AND DUFF’S TIPS AND PREVIEW FOR ROYAL RANDWICK

VALUE BET
FUTTAIM (Race 2 No.9) is worth a gamble in an open race. He had to do a bit of work early to settle outside the leader and then stuck on well when fourth to Awesome Wonder over the Randwick 2400m course last start . They are clashing again here but Futtaim meets that mare 5.5kg better at the weights. Futtaim is racing well and is a good each way bet at double figure odds.

THE WHISPER
COMMEMORATIVE (Race 9 No.11) won two of her three starts during autumn culminating with and impressive effort in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone. The Godolphin mare resumes off a sensational Warwick Farm barrier trial effort when she came from near last on the turn and zoomed home to finish a close second even though her rider didn’t pressure her at any stage. This race will be run at a solid tempo and that will suit Commemorative, a giant mare with a barnstorming finish.

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THE VALLEY

THE BEST BET
DASHING DUCHESS (Race 1 No.4) can get punters off to a winning start. She’s a promising staying mare building a good record with five wins from 11 starts including her dominant effort over The Valley’s 2500m course two weeks ago. There has been good money for rival Lordship but Dashing Duchess is a mare in form and can win again.

NEXT BEST
SEA WHAT I SEE (Race 7 No.9) went on a six-race winning streak earlier this year, graduating from a maiden win at Bendigo to stakes success in Adelaide. This gifted mare also won races at Flemington, Caulfield and here at The Valley over 1600m. She’s meeting some seasoned, tough horses first-up but is drawn to get the right run and gets in on the limit. Sea What I See could be a player this spring so expect her to get her campaign off to a winning start.

• READ: MARK GUEST’S TIPS, QUADDIE PICKS FOR THE VALLEY

VALUE BET
NAILS MURPHY (Race 6 No.13) was also entered for Royal Randwick but trainer Ciaron Maher has elected to send the import to The Valley hoping to secure his first Australian win. Nails Murphy’s Sydney form has been consistent without winning, including minor placings at Randwick and Rosehill. Maher has found a suitable race for Nails Murphy who has drawn ideally in gate two and is at generous odds of $9.

THE WHISPER
BOLD BASTILLE (Race 8 No.9) won four of her five starts last season, three over 1000m including a runaway win here on debut. Speedy filly resuming and gets into the Carlyon Stakes with only 50.5kg. Her rivals are going to have a tough job reeling her in.

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TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROYAL RANDWICK
Race 1: Smashing Eagle $5-$4.20, Bundeena $6.50-$4.80
Race 2: Kureder $6.50-$4.60, Strathtay $6.50-$5, Awesome Wonder $6.50-$5.50
Race 3: Kreon $2.80-$2.50, Don’t Call Me Honey $8.50-$5.50, Palazzo Prince $8.50-$7
Race 4: West Of Africa $7.50-$4.80, Unusual Legacy $7.50-$4.80, Awash $14-$7.50
Race 5: Eliyass $2.80-$2, Redstone Well $7-$6.50
Race 6: Manaal $3.30-$2.80 with a $2000 bet at $2.80, Ameena $8.50-$5, Erno’s Cube $12-$7.50
Race 7: Joliestar $3.30-$3.20 with a bet of $2000 at $3.20, Our Kobison $3.80-$3.40 after multiple bets of $2000 at $3.40
Race 8: Riff Rocket $15-$6.50, Tropical Squall $11-$8.50, Zougotcha $11-$8
Race 9: Commemorative $4.40-$2.80, The Black Cloud $4-$3.70, Kimochi $13-$8
Race 10: Spring Lee $4.40-$2.90, Panic $5.50-$5

THE VALLEY
Race 1: Dashing Duchess $2.30-$1.90, Lordship $4.20-$4 with a $5000 bet at $3.50
Race 2: Last Druid $11-$5.50, Stoli Bolli $15-$8
Race 3: Dom $2.50-$2.30, Lavalier $9.50-$6.50
Race 4: Manolo Bling $3-$2.70 including a $4000 wager at $2.60, Immortal Star $8-$4.20, All Woke $15-$11
Race 5: Lincoln Rocks $3.40-$3.10, Star Vega $7-$4.80 with a $2290 bet at $5.50, Lauding $7.50-$5.50 including a $1100 e/w at $5.50/$1.90, Rise To It $11-$6.50
Race 6: Step Aside $3.20-$3.10, Trosettee $11-$8
Race 7: Sea What I See $3-$2.90, Holymanz $9-$5.50 with a $2000 bet at $6.50, Rheinberg $8-$5.50
Race 8: Bold Bastille $3-$2.80 including big bets of $6000 a $3, $2000 at $2.90, Sans Doute $8-$5.50, Golden Boom $12-$8
Race 9: Raikoke $3.90-$3.80, Extratwo $6.50-$3.90