Saturday Best with Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy

TAB BIG BETS: THE Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form expert Ron Dufficy preview Saturday’s All Aged Stakes Day card at Randwick.

THE Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form expert Ron Dufficy preview Saturday’s All Aged Stakes Day card at Randwick.

R3: FRANK PACKER PLATE (2000m)

Thomas: Old North was aided by a brilliant James McDonald ride but he was so good late in the Tulloch Stakes. He missed the Derby to be saved for this race and he can win again. He’s Our Rokkii was very good in the Carbine Club Stakes but has to take that step to 2000m. Manhattan Son was following Old North through at Rosehill last start and his effort was very good. Asinara takes on the boys here but will be competitive.

Dufficy: I’m a big fan of Old North but, in saying that, he is short enough at even money. He did get every possible break in the Tulloch, he was beautifully ridden that day but he was good in winning that race. A soft track will be his only concern but I think Randwick will be OK Saturday. I’m leaning his way without wanting to charge into the short odds. There is nothing wrong with He’s Our Rokkii’s form. He is a nice horse racing well and I can’t see 2000m being a problem for him as he was strong on the line in the Carbine Club Stakes. I’m wary of Asinara. She is a promising filly and comes out of different formlines into this race and she is very solid in betting. If there is a bolter in the field it is Zasorceress. She is a really nice style of filly.

TAB market movers: Old North $2.10-$2.15-$2 ($500 @ $2.10, $500 @ $2.15, $400 @ $2.10, $500 @ $2 TWICE), He’s Our Rokkii $8-$5 ($250 @ $8, $400 @ $6.50)

R4: J.H.B. CARR STAKES (1400m)

Thomas: I think this is an open race. I’m giving Lady Sniper another chance. She was perhaps ridden upset down the other day when sixth to Tempt Me Not in the Bell Stakes. At her previous start, in the Gosford Guineas, she was ridden conservatively early and really attacked the line top win well. Tap This is an emerging filly and won a strong form race first-up at Wyong. Pearls ran very well for second behind Tempt Me Not last start and she does look well placed here. Denmagic also a hope.

Dufficy: Pearls is one of the better bets of the day. I feel she is beautifully placed. She was coming back from 1500m of the Coolmore to 1200m last start when she ran so well behind Tempt Me Not. She is back out to 1400m here and is beautifully placed. Denmagic was very good first-up behind Southern Legend then just a little flat last start when she found trouble. She is definitely worth another chance back out to 1400m. Tremezzina is racing well in easier company and she is very fit, drawn well. I also give Brigadoon Rise a chance.

TAB market movers: Pearls $3.40-$3.20-$3.40 ($740 @ $3.40, $500 @ $3.20), Denmagic $9-$5 ($300 x $332 @ $9/$2.88, $250 @ $9, $1,600 @ $6, $320 @ $5.50, $1,000 @ $5), Tremezzina $11-$9

R5: CHAMPAGNE STAKES (1600m)

Thomas: The scratching of Yankee Rose is very unfortunate for connections but it has certainly opened this race right up now. I’m leaning to Obscura from the Godolphin stable. He is a maiden after two runs but his effort to close late for fifth behind Attention at Rosehill two runs back was an eye-catcher. He should appreciate getting out to 1600m. Prized Icon is backing up from his Fernhill Handicap win and his form is impossible to fault. Divine Prophet did a good job winning at Kembla Grange first-up and is an emerging colt and Faraway Town hit the line well when third to Yankee Rose in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes.

Faraway Town is set to peak in the Champagne Stakes. Picture: Jenny Evans

Dufficy: I’m very keen on Faraway Town here. Her trainer Matthew Smith comes from the Bart Cummings school of setting a horse for a race and he is pretty good at it. Faraway Town had form around Yankee Rose last spring when she was only beaten a head, then ran in the Magic Millions and was competitive. She was then set for the Champagne Stakes and she presents well third-up after a good effort to finish third behind Yankee Rose in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes where she was held up on the turn. Obscura is an interesting horse. I’m not too sure how strong that Rosehill race was but his effort to run fifth was one of the runs of the day. El Sicario has a lot of ability but he does look very green which goes against him at Group 1 level.

TAB market movers: Chimboraa $17-$18-$8 ($637 @ e/w $18/$3.26, $230 e/w @ $17/$3.13, $220 e/w @ $18/$3.26), Faraway Town $17-$16-$7.50-$6.50 ($1,000 @ $17, $500 e/w @ $7.50/$2.33, $500 @ $7.50), El Sicario $26-$31-$23-$16-$7.50 ($200 @ $26, $100 @ $31 TWICE). Deductions: Yankee Rose 55c Win 27c Place

R6: HALL MARK STAKES (1200m)

Thomas: I’m giving Speak Fondly another chance. She had a rushed preparation going into the Challenge Stakes, which was only 1000m and short of her best. She has had more than a month between runs and goes into this race after a brilliant barrier trial win last week. Much better placed here. Artlee resumes here but has had two very good barrier trials leading into this and when first-up last spring he ran a blinder to finish third to Dothraki in the Lightning. He can sprint well fresh. Music Magnate is also resuming here off a very good trial effort and I feel this trio can be followed with confidence going onto Brisbane.

Dufficy: This is one of the better races of the day. I think you said it all about Artlee. The run that excites me most was his first-up run in the Lightning last spring — it was an absolute beauty and he should nearly have won. He then went to Flemington but I think he had feet problems as he raced in bar plates that day and obviously wasn’t himself. I found some vision of his second Scone trial as it wasn’t readily available and he was given a good hitout. He looks a good horse to me and he is at double figure odds. Music Magnate could develop into a Stradbroke horse. Speak Fondly’s trial was brilliant and she is back to 1200m, while I have a soft spot for My Favorite who is going well. At the odds, I want to be with Artlee.

TAB market movers: Charlie Boy $8.50-$7.50 ($500 @ $8.50 THREE TIMES, $500 @ $7.50), Speak Fondly $11-$6.50 ($250 @ $11, $200 @ $8.50, $200 @ $7.50, $1,000 @ $7, $900 @ $6.50), Artlee $13-$12 ($200 @ $13), Music Magnate $7-$4.80 ($800 @ $7, $250 @ $5 MULTIPLE TIMES, $520 @ $4.80)

R7: ALL AGED STAKES (1400m)

Thomas: Press Statement looks the one to beat here. He is a top class colt and has been set specifically for this race. Trainer Chris Waller decided not to go to the Doncaster and keep Press Statement fresh for this, with the colt then likely to go to England. Malaguerra, how good is he? This horse is a winning machine. Rebel Dane is over the odds and back out to 1400m and is some sort of hope. Kermadec had a back problem in the Doncaster but his form before that was outstanding.

Dufficy: Press Statement and Malaguerra have the racing style to suit this race. They are the only two go-forward horses in this race and I have it advantage Press Statement. He has the Winx form and that is gold at the moment. Press Statement is a genuine type and has had a month off to freshen up for this. But it is a competitive race and I think English is the danger. She is low-flying this preparation. She can adapt to the slow speed because she has such blinding acceleration. I have to give Kermadec another chance as he beat Press Statement home in the George Ryder Stakes when they ran the placings behind Winx. I have to trust Chris Waller that he has Kermadec right again. This is a very good horse, Goldstream. On paper it looks too short for him but he has shown some dash in his trials and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran a race. I haven’t got Malaguerra in my selections and although I have no knock on him I want to see him measure up at weight-for-age first.

TAB market movers: Black Heart Bart $6 unchanged, English $5 unchanged ($1,000 e/w @ $5/$1.69), Rebel Dane $17-$21, Malaguerra $4.60-$4 ($520 @ $4.20, $500 @ $4), Press Statement $3 unchanged ($3,000 @ $3, $1,000 @ $3), English $5 unchanged

Press Statement, left, will be hard to beat in the All Aged Stakes. Picture: Simon Bullard

R8: JRA PLATE (2000m)

Thomas: I’m all over Guardini. He has shaped well in both Melbourne runs this autumn and he ran up to win the Easter Cup but his condition gave out. Trainer Lee Freedman is talking of setting Guardini for the Doomben Cup and third-up here he is ready to show his best form. Havana Cooler was brilliant first-up at Rosehill and can only improve getting out to 2000m. Messene is going very well but needs a dry track and Rudy is a chance at each-way odds.

Dufficy: I’m on the same wavelength as you with Guardini. I’ve liked his two runs from a spell. He was competitive first-up in a high pressure Blamey Stakes and The United States came out of that race. I agree he just knocked up late at Caulfield second-up so the timing is perfect for him here. He just needs run of the race stuff to go his way and I will leave that to Hugh Bowman. Havana Cooler is the main danger as he comes off a very good first-up win. He seems a more switched on horse mentally this preparation. Rudy gets the right run from the inside gate and Weary is some hope, too.

TAB market movers: Havana Cooler $3.60 unchanged ($250 @ $3.60), Hawkspur $15-$11 ($285 @ $15, $300 @ $13)

R9: ROYAL RANDWICK HCP (1400m)

Thomas: Nancy is a consistent mare who is ready to win after two runs from a spell. She was just beaten by her stablemate Artistry at Rosehill last start, she likes her races spaced, comes into this with the limit weight and the right draw. Dances On Stars is racing very well, Medcaut loves Randwick and Mighty Lucky can run a race at odds.

Dufficy: I might be way off the mark here but Tales Of Grimm interests me a lot. He is coming off a long break, is drawn wide and I want to look at him in the yard first but his two barrier trials have been very good. He has sprinted well fresh in the past and he has a big finish. I would like to see some on-track confidence about him. I’ll tip him on suspicion. Medcaut coasted in a recent trial, Nancy has a great chance and Dances On Stars continues to race well.

TAB market movers: Nancy $3.60-$3.30 ($1,500 @ $3.40, $1,000 @ $3.30), Great Esteem $35-$18 ($1,500 e/w @ $35/$9.50, $2,000 e/w @ $26/$7.25)

DUFF’S SUGGESTED BETS

BEST BET

Race 4, No. 1: PEARLS

VALUE BEST

Race 5, No. 10: FARAWAY TOWN

Race 6, No. 8: ARTLEE

TAB MARKET MOVERS

RANDWICK

Race 1: Murranji $11-$9 ($500 @ $11, $200 e/w @ $9.50/$3.12)

Race 2: Rock For the Ladies $11-$10-$11 ($250 @ $11, $600 @ $10, $300 @ $10), Ammirata $9.50-$7 ($350 @ $9, $300 @ $8)

CAULFIELD

Race 2: Urban Ruler $5.50-$4.60 ($500 @ $5, $250 e/w @ $5/$2, $250 e/w @ $4.60/$1.90, $200 @ $4.60)

Race 3: Scarlet Billows $4-$3.70 ($500 @ $4), Mossbeat $21-$19 ($400 @ $19)

Race 6: The Quarterback $2.45-$2.50 ($440 @ $2.45, $2,000 @ $2.50, $600 @ $2.50)

Race 7: Bondeiger $4-$3.60 ($2,000 @ $4)

Race 8: Dan Zephyr $7-$5.50 ($200 e/w @ $7/$2.50, $250 @ $6, $200 @ $6 TWICE, $200 @ $5.50), Precious Gem $10-$8 ($300 @ $8)

Race 9: Ruettiger $6.50-$7-$6 ($550 e/w @ $7/$2.50)

Boo Bailey’s cartoon tip for Randwick on Saturday.

Originally published as Saturday Best with Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy