Saturday racing: The Last Say with the Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas

SATURDAY racing comes to you today from Royal Randwick and Caulfield. Get your last minute tips and info from Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas.

It's Somewhat has never raced better than this spring season.

SATURDAY racing comes to you today from Royal Randwick and Caulfield. Get your last minute tips and info from Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas.

ROYAL RANDWICK

Weather: Sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 27c.

Track: Good (3)

Rail: True

CAULFIELD

Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 23c.

Track: Good (3)

Rail: 6m out

BE WARY: Randwick’s rail has gone from 3m on Epsom Day, 6m last Saturday and is now back in the true today. The track surface has raced extremely well this spring but the rail shift back from the 6m position has some suggesting there could be a leader and on-pace bias. At Caulfield, the rail was in the true for the Guineas meeting last Saturday and again for Wednesday’s raceday but it has been shifted 6m today. This is usual practice for Caulfield Cup day with the track in the good range, it should provide a fair racing surface.

Sir John Hawkwood is a value bet in race 8 at Caulfield today.

ROYAL RANDWICK

THE BEST BET: Bezel (race 2, Randwick) is a superbly bred colt by Winx’s sire

Street Cry out of top mare Beaded and he has created a big impression with easy wins on Newcastle’s Beaumont track in two starts this spring. He has to shoulder top weight of 61kg for his Sydney Saturday debut but he looks a very promising three-year-old and can complete his hat-trick of wins.

THE NEXT BEST: Egyptian Symbol (race eight) is a superbly bred daughter of Our Egyptian Raine who won one Group 1 but was famously runner-up in a further eight majors. Her Stratum daughter trained by Bjorn Baker has been stakes-placed a handful of times herself but is ready to finally nail one here first-up off two wonderful trials and some smart work back at home at Warwick Farm. The mare, who is 2 starts for 2 wins fresh, galloped over 800m in 51.5s this time last week, home the last 400m in a slick 23.1. Egyptian Symbol is unbeaten when resuming, her trials have been super and she ticks a lot of boxes today.

VALUE BET: Bullrush (race 5) is into $2.80 but what is the old saying — any price a winner is a good price? He looks the goods here, stripping at his peak after two runs from a spell including his last start second behind the smart Extensible at Rosehill three weeks ago. Bullrush is a winner over the Randwick 1400m and has a fitness edge over main rival Invinzabeel which could provide a decisive edge in this contest. Bullrush gets in well with Koby Jennings’s 2kg claim and has drawn a soft gate. He is ready to win.

THE WHISPER: Guard Of Honour (race seven) showed plenty of fight to stave off a host of late challengers when he won the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) here at Randwick first-up a month ago. He has clearly thrived since evidenced by his dazzling 4.8-lens win in a Wyong trial running a very swift 32.94s last 600m. The Kris Lees trained chestnut was partnered up with his stablemate and Nivison contender Onemorezeta in an 800m gallop on the Beaumont track on Tuesday timed in 53.1s with a 38.4s for the run home. This colt is flying and he looks the real deal.

CAULFIELD

THE BEST BET: It’s Somewhat (race 6) has never raced better than this spring campaign which began with a good fourth behind Hauraki in the Tramway Stakes, then a competitive third to champion mare Winx and Hauraki in the George Main Stakes before he romped away with the Craven Plate. Dominant effort last start at weight-for-age and although this is a handicap and he has to concede weight to his rivals, his form is clearly superior. Should win again.

It's Somewhat concedes weight today but should have no bother carrying it.

NEXT BEST: Voodoo Lad (race 10) is flying this campaign and followed stakes wins in the Regal Roller Stakes and McLeod Stakes with a gallant effort for second to Bon Aurum in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over the Caulfield 1400m course three weeks ago. Racing in great form and only needs even luck in running to prove hard to hold out.

VALUE BET: Sir John Hawkwood (race 8) followed a string of big-race placings including seconds in the Brisbane Cup and Kingston Town Stakes by breaking through at Group 1 level to win The Metropolitan at Randwick two weeks ago. Took the lead on the home turn and simply outstayed his rivals to score a deserved win last start. Tough on-pace stayer, well drawn in gate five, drops half a kilo for his last start win and will give a great sight at around $15.

THE WHISPER: Acatour (race 2) maintained his unbeaten record this season with a dominant effort against older horses at Rosehill, putting a three lengths margin on his rivals with a blistering burst of acceleration in the straight. He also scored at Newcastle first-up last month and has improved his career record to three wins from four starts. Promising three-year-old facing his big test today but he should cope with the class rise.

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROYAL RANDWICK

In race 1, TAB Fixed Odds reports Darhad $6-$4.60- $3.80.

Race 2, No bets or market movements of note.

Race 3, Power Law $13-$6 with bets of $200 at $9, $220 at $7.50, $228 at $7, $450 at $6.50.

Race 4, Pumpkin Pie $4.60-$3.80 with a bet of $800 at $4.20.

Race 5, Invinzabeel $4.60-$4.20 with bet of $500 at $4.60 twice, $400 at $4.60.

Race 6, Junoob $3.60-$3.80- $3.50 with a $2,000 wager at $3.80.

Race 7, Guard Of Honour $5-$4.20 including a $500 bet at $4.20, Fox Tales $21-$15-$13 after bets of $500 at $21, $250 e/w at $17/$4.65.

Race 8. Egyptian Symbol $3.20-$2.80-$2.60 with bets of $1,800 at $3.20, $4,500 at $2.80, $1,000 at $2.60 multiple times.

Race 9, Kinglike $5 unchanged after a $750 bet at $5 and $300 at $5, Spieth $4-$3.80 after bets of $250 at $4 twice.

CAULFIELD

In race 1, TAB Fixed Odds reports Sylpheed $2.40-$2.10-$2 with bets of $2,000 at $2.40, $2,000 at $2.20, $550 at $2.20, $6,000 at $2.10.

Race 2, Acatour $4-$2.60-$2.50-$2.40 with bets of $1,000 at $4, $1,000 at $3.80, $10,000 at $3.50, $4,500 at $3, $4,000 at $2.90, $1,000 at $2.70, $2,500 at $2.50.

Race 3, Almighty Gal $8-$6.50-$7, Chloe In Paris $13-$8.50-$8.

Race 4, Sebring Dream $3.50-$3.60 with bets of $580 at $3.50, $570 at $3.50, $300 at $3.50, Eleonora $6-$4.40-$4.80 with a $1,000 wager at $5.50.

Race 5, Throssell $15-$10-$9 after bets of $300/$200 at $15/$.11, $450 at $11, $300 at $11, Kent $17-$15 with bets of $250 e/w at $17/$4.55, $200 e/w at $17/$4.55, $500 at $15.

Race 6, It’s Somewhat $3-$2.80-$2.60-$2.70 with bets of $450 at $3, $300 at $2.80, $600 at $2.70, $500 at $2.70.

Race 7, Tycoon Tara $3.80-$3.50-$2.70 after bets of $333 at $3.80, $350 at $3.50, $6,000 at $3.50, $3,000 at $3.20.

Race 8, Jameka $3.30-$3.40-$3.50-$3.60 with bets of $2,000 at $3.30, $1,000 at $3.30 twice, $900 at $3.30, $2,000 at $3.50, Scottish $8.50-$7.50 with bets of $1,000 at $8.50, $1,000 at $8, $750 at $8.50, Articus $7.50-$8.50 after bets of $265 at $8.50, $200 at $8.50 multiple times, $1,000 at $8, Sir Isaac Newton $13-$11-$12 with a $400 wager at $13, Real Love $7.50-$8-$7.50-$7 after a $1,000 wager at $7.50, Go Dreaming $101-$81 with a $1,000 e/w bet at $101/$26.

Race 9, Lankan Rupee $8-$9 after bets of $300 at $9, $200 at $8.50, Hellbent $2.70-$2.30-$2.10-$2 with wagers of $1,000 at $2.70, $500 at $2.50, $725 at $2.40, $1,040 at $2.10.

Race 10, Voodoo Lad $4.80-$3.50-$3.40 after bets of $400 at $4.80, $1,500 at $4.40, $1,500 at $4, $480 at $3.50.

INTERSTATE

Eagle Farm race 2: Emerald City

Eagle Farm race 6: Londehero

Morphettville race 7: Shaf

Morphettville race 8: Entrancing

NSW PROVINCIAL

Beaumont Newcastle race 3: Jemadar

Beaumont Newcastle race 7: Raijinz

Wagga Wagga race 2: Unyielding

Wagga Wagga race 5: Irenic

#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners

Originally published as Saturday racing: The Last Say with the Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas