Saturday Best with Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy

PODCAST/BEST BETS: THE Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy discuss the key races at Randwick on Saturday.

Randwick Races

SYDNEY Saturday racing has a track surface close to good for the first time since March — and just in time for the return of Group-class racing at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Randwick’s course proper was rated a soft 5 on Friday with a chance of an upgrade on Saturday. The last occasion a Saturday meeting boasted a good track surface was for The BMW at Rosehill in late March.

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Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form guru Ron Dufficy concedes he doesn’t know what to expect from the much-maligned Randwick track on Saturday.

“The rail is 3m out on an improving Randwick surface so I’m not really sure how the track will play,’’ Dufficy said. “But the field sizes aren’t large so the jockeys can steer their mount into the right positions.’’

Dufficy is confident Temple Of Boom can win the Group 2 $175,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) while The Daily Telegraph’s racing editor Ray Thomas leans to Messene.

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RACE 3: LINDLBAND EXPEDITIONS HCP (2000m)

Thomas: Jim Cassidy returns to race riding on Saturday and how often do we see the Pumper win on his first day back? I think that will be the case again here with Cassidy to partner Duccio. This horse has had two starts back from a spell, both solid efforts, and is just progressing into his campaign while most of his rivals have been slogging their way through long winter campaigns. Duccio goes to 2000m, which I feel will suit, and so too will the firmer track. Dream Folk has been freshened since his good fifth in the Grafton Cup but he has to come back to 2000m here. Casino Dancer and Loophole are also chances.

Dufficy: It does look a pretty thin race and I can see where you are coming from as both of Duccio’s runs have been on heavy tracks with big weights. He is third-up and on his home track so he makes plenty of appeal and is a nice ride for Jim Cassidy. The three horses I am eyeing off are Duccio, Dream Folk and Loophole. Dream Folk ran well in the Grafton Cup, the drier track is definitely in his favour and he looks well graded with the claim. Loophole is on the quick back up and he made up good ground last week so if he reproduces that run he will be in the finish. They are the three I’m looking at without singling one out at this stage.

Jim Cassidy returns to the saddle on Saturday after a winter break. Picture: Simon Bullard

RACE 4: THE ROSEBUD (1200m)

Thomas: Rageese is potentially a really good colt and his sheer class might be enough to get him home here. However, he has only had the one trial and is first-up with topweight of 59kg over 1200m. I just feel he might be a risk and for those reasons I’m going with Sebring Sun. I was taken by his comeback effort at Canterbury, the acceleration he showed to come from last was outstanding and looks to have returned in great order. He has the benefit of race fitness and a 5kg pull in the weights over Rageese. I’m not ruling out Voilier as I thought he ran very well in a strong form race behind Japonisme and King’s Troop.

Dufficy: There are only two hopes here — Rageese and Sebring Sun but I feel the value is with Sebring Sun. He was brilliant first-up carrying 59.5kg and I can see him going right on with the job here as he has the advantage of one run back. I have no knock on Rageese, I’m a huge fan of this colt and I’ve been on him every start so far but let’s face it, he is a maiden giving 5kg to most of his rivals. He did trial very well and I’m sure he will be right in the finish.

RACE 5: THE WALLABIES CUP (1600m)

Thomas: The Wallabies keep running “second” to the All Blacks in Bledisloe Cup — surely they are due on Saturday night? On a similar theme, Richard The First keeps chalking up second placings and he might get his chance in the Wallabies Cup. Richard The First is a very consistent galloper and although he is trained at Randwick, this is the first race start he has had on his home track. I thought he was the value runner from Mardi, who will appreciate firmer going on Saturday. Forget is racing very well and did not have the best of luck at Canterbury, Darci Magic is very fit and has a chance.

Dufficy: Tricky race. I’m leaning to Danjeu — and that man Jim Cassidy again. Danjeu has had two barrier trials in preparation for his return and if there is any betting moves for him, I want to be with this horse as he has more upside than his rivals. Both of his wins have been at Randwick and although he is a better horse second-up, he is resuming at a mile and I would say the Chris Waller stable has given him the work. Mardi has been disappointing on wet tracks but backs up at home today on a dry track and I can see her getting complete control up front. She ticks a few boxes. Hollywood Bound never runs a bad race and Darci Magic was unlucky at Grafton and has been freshened for this race.

RACE 6: MISSILE STAKES (1200m)

Thomas: This is a weight-for-age race and as a rule the cream rise to the top so in this regard I’m sticking with the top three Messene, Weary and Temple Of Boom to be too classy for the fitter sprinters who have been racing through the winter. I’m leaning to Messene although I think he is at rock-bottom odds. Messene looked very good in his trial at Rosehill on Tuesday and I like backing Team Hawkes horses backing up quickly off nice trials. Weary did win the Expressway Stakes first-up last preparation and Temple Of Boom did run fourth in the Stradbroke in June and has since gone really well in two Sydney barrier trials.

Dufficy: I’m all over Temple Of Boom here. I can’t believe they went up $11 earlier in the week — ridiculous odds. One of the systems that usually works in racing is backing these horses in August that are coming out of good Brisbane campaigns. Temple Of Boom’s trials have been excellent and I’m very confident he will run a big race. I’m wary of Liberty’s Choice. I know he has only won one race from 20 starts but he is a horse with talent. Gai has put the blinkers back on, he showed good speed and stuck on well first-up and his second-up statistics are very good. Weary also has that residual Queensland fitness and Messene’s best form is in Sydney. He is coming off a long break and I just want to see how the market reacts to him on track.

Temple of Boom has trialled brilliantly in preparation for Missile Stakes. Picture: Mark Cranitch

RACE 7: TAB PLACE MULTI HCP (1000m)

Thomas: Darciwood’s first-up win over the Randwick 1000m was arguably the best performance in Sydney this winter when he came from last to win on a heavy track. Team Hawkes has worked out how to ride this horse, conservative early and let him unleash a devastating closing sectional. He is exciting to watch because he will be back last again here, but watch for his blistering finish. The firmer track suits Darciwood, too. Straturbo can improve sharply now he is back on a better surface as he has struggled on heavy tracks. Boss Lane returned in winning form and Felines is another I expect will improve.

Dufficy: Darciwood was super impressive first-up, came from last and beat them in a stride and he returns to the scene of the crime on Saturday. The only little concern I have is the horse was a late nomination for this race. It is not like Team Hawkes to do that but I trust their judgment. Darciwood, on form, picks himself because there is good early speed and the race sets up for him. Grand Condor won his recent trial in fine fashion and gets in well with claims and Sweet Serendipity is a 1000m specialist and will be up on the ‘bunny’ all the way.

RACE 8: TAB REWARDS HCP (1800m)

Thomas: Chastened has been racing consistently without winning. I think this could be her day. She does tend to get back in her races early and will need a bit of luck from her awkward draw but if things work out for her, she will be right in the finish. Storm Siren and Just As Cosmic give trainer Jason Coyle two good chances and Sweet Fire has been improved by two runs back from a spell. Open race, Ron.

Dufficy: I haven’t got a feel for this race at all. I want to go over the form again, look at them in the yard, and make a late call. But I do feel Just As Cosmic is racing well and has her hoof on the till. Amazon is jumping sharply in distance but Les Bridge knows what he is doing and this mare is down in class. I concede Chastened has a chance, Miss Hufflepuff maps well and Sweet Fire is lightly raced and has more upside than most in this race.

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