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Ray Thomas’ tips, inside mail for Randwick on Saturday: $5 best bet

A Chris Waller-trained runner who was most unlucky first-up can make amends at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Get Ray Thomas’ best bets for the 10-race program, plus the inside mail from the Bjorn Baker stable.

Ray Thomas
4 min read
July 12, 2024 - 1:02PM
Ray Thomas (inset) has made Aramco, pictured winning at Flemington in March, his best bet of the day at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Ray Thomas (inset) has made Aramco, pictured winning at Flemington in March, his best bet of the day at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Bjorn Baker has decided against aiming War Eternal at a $3 million Big Dance qualifier and will instead start the gelding in the Kanebridge Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Sunday.

War Eternal was also entered for Sunday’s $80,000 South Grafton Cup at Grafton where the winner becomes eligible for the Big Dance during spring.

“I was thinking about having a crack at the South Grafton Cup but I just feel the Randwick race sets up really well for War Eternal,’’ Baker said.

“The horse is in great form and his run last start was very good (third to stablemate Highlights and Testator Silens at Rosehill). He’s racing for Saturday prizemoney in Sydney and that is hard to pass up.’’

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

War Eternal is the $3.60 equal favourite with the Joe Pride-trained Testator Silens for the benchmark 88 Randwick race. But Baker warned punters not to overlook his other runner, Lady Of Luxury, despite the mare’s generous odds of $21.

Lady Of Luxury has been unplaced in two stakes races since resuming and drops in grade for Saturday.

Baker said there was a lot of merit in Lady Of Luxury’s last start effort when eighth to Wollombi in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich.

• RAY & SHAYNO’S TURF TALK: $41 on top selection for Randwick on Saturday

“Lady Of Luxury was super unlucky last start,’’ Baker said. “If you watch her run she should have been right in it. I would not be surprised if she wasn’t in the finish at Randwick.’’

Baker has prepared 99 winners on all tracks this season and should raise the bat for the stable’s century this weekend.

The Warwick Farm-based trainer also has good chances at the Sunshine Coast meeting on Sunday with last start Brisbane Cup winner Alegron contesting the Listed $300,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) and consistent sprinter Wategos is in the Listed $300,000 Glasshouse Handicap (1400m).

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

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RANDWICK BIG BETS, MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Wanaruah $2.50-$2.20, Bartolf $4.40-$4.20
Race 2: In Flight $4.40-$3.80, Detendu $6-$4.60 with a bet of $2,285 at $5, Ballet D’esprit $6-$5.50, Flag Hall $11-$7.50 including a $1,000 e/w wager at $8/$2.50
Race 3: Cranky Harry $2.50-$2 with a bet of $2,500 at $2.40, Rajnish $7-$6, Perovic $11-$8, Field The Moment $11-$9
Race 4: Charming Legend $5.50-$4.20, November Falls $5.50-$4.80, Dr Evil $10-$7.50, Putt For Dough $14-$8.50
Race 5: Don Diego De Vega $3.60-$2.50, Bakerloo $11-$7.50
Race 6: African Daisy $8-$5.50, Hellavadancer $6-$5.50, Zouphoria $7.50-$5.50 including a bet of $2,200 at $6.50
Race 7: Space Age $6-$4.80 with some big bets including $7,850 at $6 and $3,000 e/w at $5/$2, Nana’s Wish $8-$7
Race 8: Testator Silens $4-$3.60, War Eternal $5.50-$3.60
Race 9: Bear On The Loose $2.30-$2
Race 10: South Of India $7.50-$4.20, Dipsy Doodle $10-$4.40 after a $2,500 bet at $5, Memoria $10-$5.50, The Escape $10-$5.50

• Saturday Market Movers: Import heavily backed at Randwick on Saturday

EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 1,3,10,14
Race 4: 2,3,9,10
Race 5: 1,2,4
Race 6: 1,3,10,11

QUADDIE
Race 7: 2,5,10,13
Race 8: 2,5,7,10
Race 9: 8,9,11
Race 10: 5,7,10

Banner : Racenet IqBanner : Racenet Iq

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PRICE CHECK
Space Age (race 7) has been heavily backed from $6 to $4.80 to follow his midweek Warwick Farm win with Saturday success at Randwick. Big bets on Space Age include $7,850 at $6 and $3,000 e/w at $5/$2. There’s also been good money for Detendu (race 2), Cranky Harry (race 3), Zouphoria (race 6) and Dipsy Doodle (race 10).

• ‘She’s getting better as she gets older’: Pride takes Flight at Randwick

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TRIAL POINTERS
High Blue Sea (race 8) wore blinkers in a Rosehill barrier on June 11 and showed speed to lead for most of the way and wasn’t pushed out to finish the closest of seconds. He then trialled again at Rosehill on June 24 without blinkers and he worked to the line nicely to finish fifth, beaten a half length. His two trials have been very good and he is primed to sprint well fresh.

Memoria (race 10) settled outside leader Moonlight Grace and the two controlled a Wyong barrier trial over 845m last month with the latter winning by a half-length. Memoria was kept under a tight hold in the trial and was obviously keen to go much faster. The Kris Lees-trained Memoria is unbeaten first-up and although she is untried on heavy ground, she is very effective on soft tracks.

• Waterhouse, Bott just Wana taste more 2yo success

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SECTIONAL STARS
Bakerloo (race 5) gets back in her races but she has a powerful finish. The Paul Perry-trained filly ran a blinder behind Anagain at Rosehill over 1400m last start, charging home from near last on the turn to finish a close second and reeling of an impressive 35.42s for her final 600m and a 12.07s 200m sectional split as she charged to the line.

War Eternal (race 8) got back into an awkward spot at the 600m but eventually got to the outside and finished powerfully for third to Highlights, beaten less than a length. War Eternal’s sectionals make for impressive reading – he ran his final 600m in 34.29s despite the heavy track conditions, reeling off three successive sub-12s splits from that point including a brilliant 11.49s from the 200m to the finish.

• Waller ‘privileged’ to meet US training legend

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BEST BET
Aramco (race 9) has only had one run back from a spell – what a run it was – and jumps straight to 1800m but this is his right distance range. He won twice at the Flemington 2000m when last in work and his first-up effort to finish fifth behind Highlights at Rosehill was very good. Aramco ran into plenty of trouble from the top of the straight but closed his race off strongly. He broke 35s for the final 600m and a 200m sectional split of 11.57s as he sprinted to the finish. Promising galloper from the Chris Waller stable and will be hard to beat.

VALUE
Bojangles (race 8) was having his first run in five weeks and got held up from the top of the straight before eventually working through the ruck for a close sixth to Kazou at Rosehill. The Kim Waugh-trained three-year-old has been the unlucky runner in successive starts since he chased home the talented Schwarz in the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas. Bojangles will take improvement from his last start effort and he is each way value at close to $10.

Originally published as Ray Thomas’ tips, inside mail for Randwick on Saturday: $5 best bet

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/tips/ray-thomas-tips-inside-mail-for-randwick-on-saturday-5-best-bet/news-story/33cdfa51187da4354146c761e9420333