Monday 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 analyse the big races at Randwick on Monday.

THE Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form expert Ron Dufficy analyse the big races at Royal Randwick on Monday.

HOT TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS

PREVIEW: DAVO’S INSIDE MAIL FOR RANDWICK

WHAT MAKES WINX SO GREAT?

ROYAL RANDWICK

RACE 5 (3.50pm): SOUTHERN CROSS STAKES (1200m)

Thomas: I think this season’s three-year-olds are an outstanding crop so I expect Impending to prove very hard to beat against the older horses. He is a very talented galloper with a strong finishing sprint. Le Romain is the class runner but he is first-up with 61kg over 1200m, which is short of his best. His Majesty had no luck last week and is over the odds.

Dufficy: I’m gambling on Godolphin having Impending ready for this race. He has been a backmarker in his races but I’m convinced he has the speed to sit up close and I’d like to see him have a positive ride from barrier one. He has form around all the right horses from last spring. Le Romain is the definite danger, he ticks a lot of boxes except he has 61kg. Dothraki loomed up but didn’t go on with it at the Gold Coast but he has good second-up form.

TAB MARKET MOVERS: Le Romain $6.50 unchanged ($500 @ $6.50, $400 @ $6.50))

Impending will be hard to beat against the older horses on Saturday.

RACE 6 (4.25pm): SPRING STAKES (1600m)

Thomas: Royal Navy has turned the corner since the addition of blinkers, he is in great form, will appreciate 1600m and is in a winning frame of mind. Gauguin is an improver. Good race, Ronnie, with plenty of chances.

Dufficy: I agree, it is a tricky race and I have gone looking for value with Captain Duffy. I loved the way he bolted away to win a barrier trial at Warwick Farm by five lengths recently and he looks to have been trained up for the mile. I know he won the Geelong Classic last spring but he has good speed and I think he is in the race. His form stacks up well for a horse at $21. First Approval should have bolted in at Caulfield and he will get the right run form gate one. Royal Navy is a well-bred horse who has won his last two.

TAB MARKET MOVERS: Royal Navy $9-$7 ($350 @ $9), Faraway Town $13-$11 ($1,000 @ $13)

Boo Bailey’s cartoon tip for Randwick.

RACE 7 (5.05pm): LIGHT FINGERS STAKES (1200m)

Thomas: Global Glamour is a dual Group 1 winner well placed at set weights against her own age. I realise 1200m is probably short of her best she comes off a Magic Millions preparation where she ran bravely so she has that residual fitness going into this race. She is the type of filly who races up on the speed and makes her own luck. Spright looked something else in her three wins last spring. She resumes here and will be spotting Global Glamour a big start from the turn but this filly has exceptional finishing speed. Honesty Prevails could not have been more impressive in her two trial wins and Gridelin is an improving filly withy race fitness on her side.

Dufficy: Another good race. I’m going for Honesty Prevails who is low flying at the trials, she looks to be trained up to run really well. This filly is beautifully drawn in four and will look the winner at some stage. Spright is the danger. She was unbeaten last preparation and looks to be bigger and better now judging on her trials. Global Glamour is well placed here but my concern is she is coming back from 1400m to 1200m. I also feel Gridelin and Samantha will run well.

TAB MARKET MOVERS: Honesty Prevails $6.50-$6 ($1,000 @ $6.50, $500 e/w @ $6/$2.05)

Honesty Prevails has impressed in two recent trials. Picture: Simon Bullard

RACE 8 (5.40pm): APOLLO STAKES (1400m)

Thomas: Winx has the right barrier to lob into the perfect spot. She is a champion, she races well fresh and only bad luck can beat her. Endless Drama has been trialling superbly and I would not be surprised to see him run the quinella. Hartnell is an outstanding galloper and he did run second to Winx in the Warwick Stakes last spring. Dibayani goes well the Sydney way.

Dufficy: Winx has barrier three, Hugh Bowman reads the pace very well and he won’t get caught behind any stayers here. I can see her one-out, one-back early and she will be just too good. There is no real speed in this race and Bowman knows he is on a good thing and if he has to ride her in front then too bad. Hartnell looked really good in his only trial and the jar out of the track will suit him. Dibayani has been placed in an Epsom and a Villiers, he loves Randwick and did run second to Winx here previously but he just doesn’t win. Endless Drama is a very good horse, his record overseas proves that, and for Chris Waller to run him first-up in a Mackinnon last spring tells me the trainer must have a huge opinion of this horse.

TAB MARKET MOVERS: Winx $1.15-$1.12 ($12,000 @ $1.15, $8,000 @ $1.12 SEVERAL TIMES)

RACE 9 (6.15pm): TRISCAY STAKES (1200m)

Thomas: Dixie Blossoms trialled superbly behind Heart Testa recently and we know she sprints well fresh. She will need luck from her wide draw, she does her plenty of weight but this is a top class mare. Nancy comes of a Rosehill trial win and is a very capable mare on her day. Zara Bay ran a blinder first-up and is over the odds, while Queen Of Kariba is another good longshot.

Dufficy: Dixie Blossoms has a lot against her with a lot of weight, wide barrier and a lack of tempo but she is one of my favourites mares and I can’t let her go without me. She did trial brilliantly. Pearls is the danger as two of the three wins have been fresh and she races well at Randwick. Zara Bay is a good knockout chance as she was the only horse to make up ground in a leader-dominated race last start. Zestful has been freshened and maps well from the draw.

DUFF’S BEST

ROYAL RANDWICK

BEST BET: Race 4, No. 8 SWEET DEAL

NEXT BEST: Race 5, No. 5 IMPENDING

BEST VALUE: Race 7, No. 1 CAPTAIN DUFFY

Originally published as Monday Best with Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy