Turf Talk: Ray Thomas, Shayne O’Cass’ best bets for racing on Saturday, May 31

Ray Thomas is ‘doing an O’Cass’ on Saturday, tipping a runner at a massive price in one of the weekend’s feature races. Get Ray and Shayne O’Cass’s best bets for the weekend.

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas and Shayne O’Cass debate the chances in all the key races on Lord Mayor’s Cup day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Racenet's Ray Thomas (left) and Shayne O'Cass.

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Ray Thomas: This has been some week, Shayno – Rosehill won’t be sold, NSW won Origin and we are still waiting on confirmation who gets Leilani Lodge.

Shayne O’Cass: I know it is off-season but I reckon there a few decent priced (potential) winners.

Thomas: I do like Kerguelen in race 7. He’s always promised plenty since winning his debut by nearly 10 lengths a year ago.

That was impressive! 👏

Kerguelen gets his second win at start three for @godolphin 🔵

Easy as you like for @zaclloydxpic.twitter.com/TZMveZCOfs

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 10, 2024

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O’Cass: First off before I get to my own pick, equine-wise. Is there anyone riding better or with more success in Sydney at the moment than Adam Hyeronimus? Loving Unstopabull here off that big run at Scone.

Thomas: I know you enjoy delving into the breeding of thee two-year-olds. We don’t see many of that age by English superhorse Frankel racing in Australia but I thought his son, Sarapo, was very good on debut and can turn the tables on Hidden Achievement in the opener.

Hidden Achievement makes it look effortless at Gosford!

Adam Hyeronimus gets an early race-to-race double! ✌️@cwallerracingpic.twitter.com/fxJvCluCGq

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025

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O’Cass: For a Frankel out of a Le Havre mare and one with a double-cross of Sadler’s Wells to do that at Gosford over that sort of trip, well, he might be Chris Waller’s next big time classic colt next season.

Thomas: The Lord Mayor’s Cup is wide open. Private Legacy was very good in Adelaide last start and she might have hit form at just the right time.

O’Cass: My little theory in 2000m/plus races is ‘when in doubt, go Waller’. I know his form reads a bit underwhelming but I can see First Light peaking here.

First Light goes $7.50 in to $4.80 with @tabcomau and bursts clear to win the G3 Colin Stephen Quality 🏇💨@[e-mail]/6lid4FM6AT

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 28, 2024

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Thomas: Have you had a look at the Group 1 races at Eagle Farm? I thought Kimochi was drawn to get the right run in the Kingsford-Smith Cup and I’ve “done an O’Cass” and gone very wide in the Derby with a $41 bolter – Existential Bob.

O’Cass: Didn’t Mrs Waller tip you into that horse before it raced?

He gave the others a crisis! Existential Bob is too good for them at @IpswichTurfClub 🥳@RMaloney_Jockey | @cwallerracingpic.twitter.com/PoAjqonAIt

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 21, 2025

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Thomas: She did Shayno and I’ve been following it ever since. By the way, I’m a scratching from Rosehill tomorrow – my granddaughter, Charlotte, is having her first birthday. Do you mind holding the fort?

O’Cass: No Thomas on a Saturday is like Xmas without Santa. Have a great day!

Originally published as Turf Talk: Ray Thomas, Shayne O’Cass’ best bets for racing on Saturday, May 31