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

SATURDAY racing comes to you from Royal Randwick and Caulfield. Read all the last-minute tips and info from Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas.

Great Esteem is worth a look in race eight at Caulfield this Saturday.

SATURDAY racing comes to you today from Royal Randwick and Caulfield.

Here are all the last-minute tips and info from The Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas.

ROYAL RANDWICK

Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 22c.

Track: Soft (5)

Rail: True

CAULFIELD

Weather: Cool, partly cloudy day with the chance of a shower or two and a forecast top temperature of 19c.

Track: Soft (6)

Rail: 9m out

BE WARY: Randwick raced particularly well when the track was rated a good 4 for the Warwick Stakes meeting a month ago. The track rating is bordering on the good range today and the track should race fairly although hard up against the inside may not be advantageous. With small fields in most races, it is race tempo rather than track bias which will play a big role in the outcome of most races.

At Caulfield, the rail is out 9m and the track is close to heavy. Watch the early races carefully to determine if there is any track bias. Big fields and 10 races suggests the track will get cut up later in the afternoon so this may favour those runners out wider on the track.

Balls of Muscle offers value to punters at Royal Randwick today.

ROYAL RANDWICK

THE BEST BET: Leami Astray (race 1) resumed with a dominant win at Moruya late last month. Talented mare who improved her record to three wins and two placings from just five starts with her first-up effort. Drawn ideally today and the firming track conditions will suit her. Leami Astray has the natural speed to take full advantage of her inside barrier and will prove very hard to beat.

THE NEXT BEST: Tsaritsa (race 8) endured a luckless run when resuming, making a mid-race move off a slow tempo and being forced to cover extra ground with no cover when a tiring third to Burning Passion on heavy track here two weeks ago. Her form during the winter was most impressive with three consecutive wins including the Queensland Guineas. Talented mare, drawn to get the right run today and the firmer track suits.

VALUE BET: Ball Of Muscle (race 7) has been very sharp in two recent barrier trial wins in preparation for his return today. A reliable first-up performer, Ball Of Muscle has brilliant early speed and from the inside gate he should go straight to the front. He could lead this field without too much pressure which means he is going to prove hard to run down. At $9.50, he looks the value runner in an open The Shorts.

THE WHISPER: Guard of Honour (race three) is a chestnut, reminiscent of his dam’s sire General Nediym in many ways. Trained at Newcastle by Kris Lees, Guard Of Honour was tipped out after he and Hugh Bowman streaked clear to win a 1000m midweek maiden at Warwick Farm on Jun 15. Aaron Bullock was in the saddle for Guard of Honour’s recent smashing trial win at Wyong where he was doing it easy all the way, beating Shorts hopeful and Country Championships king Clearly Innocent by more than two lengths.

Tsaritsa has shown impressive recent form.

CAULFIELD

THE BEST BET: French Emotion (race 4) ran up to win the race at Flemington before her condition gave out before her close seventh to Don’t Doubt Mama in the Let’s Elope Stakes. Fitter for two runs back from a spell and is well placed today coming back in grade. She handles soft ground and there is not a lot of depth to this race. The one to beat.

NEXT BEST: He’s Our Rockii (race 9) finished strongly to edge out the race-fit Prince Of Brooklyn to win over 1400m here when resuming three weeks ago. He has been given plenty of time to get over that run and is well placed today, even though he is staying at 1400m. He’s Our Rockii won the Carbine Club Stakes and Frank Packer Plate during The Championships at Randwick and he is a talented, progressive galloper. Excels on soft going and has a decided class edge over this field.

VALUE BET: Lord Macau (race 5) was left flat-footed when they sprinted but he did not shirk his task and ran a game third behind Hey Doc and Rocketeer over 1514m at Moonee Valley last start. Lord Macau clashes with Rocketeer again today but the track conditions and expected on-pace favours gives Lord Macau and opportunity to turn the tables. Tough three-year-old, likes soft tracks and is great value at $17.

THE WHISPER: Tom Melbourne (race 8) chased Great Esteem gamely but could not bridge the gap when a first-up second in the Heatherlie Handicap. Only the lack of race fitness cost him last start and he will take considerable improvement into today’s race. The distance is ideal, will handle the soft track and drawn to suit. Should settle on speed and prove very hard to run down.

Track conditions, distance and draw all suit Great Esteem at Caulfield today.

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROYAL RANDWICK

In race 1, TAB Fixed Odds reports Leami Astray $5-$4.80-$4.40 after bets of $200 at $5, $500 at $4.80, $250 at $4.80, $400 at $4.40.

Race 2, War Jet $12-$11 with a $500 wager at $12.

Race 3, Echo Effect $26-$16 with bets of $200 at $21, $350 at $18.

Race 4, Foxplay $2.90-$2.80 with bets of $1,000 at $2.90, $700 at $2.90, $620 at $2.90.

Race 5, Hartnell $1.60-$1.50-$1.40 with bets of $4,000 at $1.50, $1,000 at $1.60, $1,000 at $1.50.

Race 6. Winx $1.10 with bets of $5,000 at $1.15 twice, $1,000 at $1.15.

Race 7, English $2.60 unchanged with bets of $300 at $2.60, $200 at $2.60 multiple times, Kaepernick $13-$9.50-$9 with bets of $240 at $11, $400 at $9.50.

Race 8, Handfast $10-$8 with bets of $300 at $8.50, $200 at $8.

Race 9, No Doubt $11-$8 with bets of $500 at $9.50, $250 at $9.

CAULFIELD

In race 1, TAB Fixed Odds reports Saint Valorem $13-$7.50-$5.50 after wagers of $500/ $250 at $9/$3.

Race 2, Blue Tycoon $9.50-$7 after bets of $350 at $8.50, $1,000 at $7.50.

Race 3, Serenely Discreet $6.50-$7- $6 including bets of $200 e/w at $6.50/$2.37, $250 e/w at $7/$2.50.

Race 4, No bets or market movements of note.

Race 5, Awake In Grinzing $9-$7.50-$7 after bets of $350/$500 at $9/$3, $500 at $8.

Race 6, Miss Promiscuity $5-$4.40 with a $250 wager at $5.

Race 7, Keen Array $4.40-$4 including $250 at $4.40.

Race 8, Set Square $13-$9.50 after bets of $500 at $11, $200 at $11, Tom Melbourne $4.20-$3.80-$4-$3.90 including $600 at $4.20.

Race 9, Hes Our Rokkii $3.80-$3.20-$3.10 after some big bets including $750 at $3.80, $500 at $3.50, $1,000 at $3.20, $800 at $3.20, $500 at $3.20.

Race 10, No bets or market movements of note.

INTERSTATE

Eagle Farm race 6: One Inch Punch

Eagle Farm race 10: Brazen Moss

Morphettville race 3: Birds Of Tokyo]

Morphettville race 7: Raw Of Impulse

NSW PROVINCIAL

Newcastle Beaumont race 3: Intueri

Newcastle Beaumont race 5: Tawfiq Boy

#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