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Ray Thomas’s Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick on Saturday

Racing expert Ray Thomas has run the rule over Saturday’s Bob Charley Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick and found a few he thinks are worth following.

Ray Thomas
4 min read
June 8, 2025 - 2:41PM
Headley Grange looks set for a big campaign going off his first-up win at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.
Headley Grange looks set for a big campaign going off his first-up win at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Racing expert Ray Thomas has run the rule over Saturday’s Bob Charley Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick and found a few he thinks are worth following.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

Kujenga (Race 1) was the rank outsider at $81 for the juvenile opener but gave backers of odds-on favourite Hidden Motive a real fright before losing by the narrowest of margins. Kujenga finished powerfully late to just miss but this improving filly can be placed to advantage over winter.

Gentileschi (Race 3) was coming back slightly in trip and wasn’t suited by the slow early tempo but she started to gain momentum late and was charging through the pack to finish a close fifth. She’s only had three starts this campaign and will keep improving, particularly as she gets out to a middle distance.

Wooloowin (Race 6) appreciated coming back in grade and ran a much improved race to finish a close third to Thunderlips at big odds. She’s been improved by two runs from a spell and is working her way back to winning form.

Quietness (Race 7) ran a blinder at her Australian debut to finish third and cap a great weekend for the John O’Shea-Tom Charlton stable. They celebrated a Queensland Derby quinella with Maison Louis and King Of Thunder and the trainers will be doing the same with Quietness, winner of five of her 11 starts in England, who ran so competitively behind Loch Eagle.

Headley Grange (Race 9) scored brilliantly first-up and was the middle leg of a Joe Pride hat-trick. Headley Grange is extremely consistent and did win at his second and third runs in last preparation.

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ON THE CLOCK

Callistemon (Race 2) was held up for a run in the straight but when clear she charged home the final 200m in 11.88s to claim third.

Shohisha (Race 3) was a clear last in the small field of seven on the turn but although the race developed into a sprint home, she was able to sprint her final 600m in 34.08s to score an impressive win.

Bengal and Shropshire Lad (Race 4) broke clear of their rivals to fight out the finish of the Highway. Bengal ran his final 200m in 11.82s compared to Shropshire Lads 11.89s with the former edging clear near the line.

Loch Eagle (Race 7) finished powerfully at the end of 1600m to score a good win. He savaged the line with a closing 200m of 12.04s to run down Grebeni.

In Flight (Race 8) sprinted her final 600m in a fast 33.73s, the best of the meeting. She ran a closing 200m split of 11.65s to run down Brudenell and win the Bob Charley Stakes.

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WHAT THEY SAID

“In Flight is going to keep getting better with age. This time next year she will be a better horse again. But she’s a pretty thing. Look at her tail, there are so many different shades of grey in it, she’s a beautiful filly,” said trainer Joe Pride.

“It’s easy to say now she has two stakes wins to her name but she is just oozing confidence,” said Jay Ford, rider of In Flight.

“I’m happy for Joe (Pride) because I think he’s an outstanding trainer and he’s got a good horse with In Flight,” Bob Charley said.

“Shohisha has been looking for the mile, if it is in their genes, they will get the trip,” said trainer David Payne.

“I’ve got a few doubles but it’s my first city treble. I have been here seven years now and it’s probably only this year it has really developed into something,” said Ash Morgan after he rode three winners.

“We feel he is a four-five lengths better horse than what he showed today. He over-raced, he got pestered in front and did a bit of work there. He will improve a lot. Wait until you see him on top of the ground. At home what he has shown us, he is absolutely electric,” said Sean Driver, part-owner of Hidden Motive.

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STEWARDS WRAP

Callistemon (Race 2) was held up for clear running from the 400m and approaching the 200m was disappointed for a run between Engine Room and Allegro Miss. Callistemon remained held up until passing the 150m where it was finally able to secure clear running.

Danish Prince (Race 2) was ridden by apprentice Jace McMurray who was questioned by stewards regarding a towel remaining caught around his left leg during the race. McMurray stated that he had inadvertently left the towel draped across the wither of the gelding after entering the barriers and, as such, this resulted in it remaining attached to his leg through the race.

Rotagilla (Race 5) came out of a wide barrier and was shifted behind runners in the early stages. After passing the 1200m was inconvenienced by Mille De Lune, which shifted out when over-racing. Rotagilla raced wide and without cover until passing the 800m where he was awkwardly placed at the heels of Elivina, which was carried out.

Oh Diamond Lil (Race 6) travelled strongly throughout the middle stages but when expected it would quicken in the home straight she didn’t respond as expected. Her rider, Jay Ford, told stewards the mare may have raced flat second-up from a spell.

Whinchat (Race 9) reared on jumping and missed the start by six lengths. As stewards were satisfied that Whinchat reared simultaneously to the start being effected, the horse was declared a starter.

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NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday: Canterbury, Grafton

Tuesday: Scone

Wednesday: Kensington

Thursday: Gosford, Lismore

Friday: Goulburn, Muswellbrook

Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Newcastle

Sunday: Coonamble, Port Macquarie

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SNAPSHOT – WITH RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY

You have to give it to the inexperienced three-year-old filly Shohisha who sat back last in a slowly run race giving weight to the older mares. Not only that she was 1100m to 1600m second-up on a heavy track.

FORGET THEY RAN

Callistemon never really had a chance to balance up right down the straight in the Midway. With clearer running early she would have gone close to winning.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

Shropshire Lad is just out of class 1 company and lacked Highway experience but his turn is not far off. It was hard to miss the run of the imported mare Quietness who has a nice future in Australia.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Ash Morgan stole the limelight with his winning treble. His best ride was on Millie De Lune, parking her in a beautiful position, conserving energy from a wide draw. It was the difference between winning or losing.

Originally published as Ray Thomas’s Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick on Saturday

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