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Ray and Duff’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday: $8 value pick

Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy analyse Saturday’s 10-race program at Royal Randwick, where Duff is keen to back a Chris Waller galloper in the final race of the day.

Ray Thomas
8 min read
January 3, 2025 - 11:48AM
For Victory, pictured winning at Hawkesbury in May last year, is Ron Dufficy’s best bet of the day at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
For Victory, pictured winning at Hawkesbury in May last year, is Ron Dufficy’s best bet of the day at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy analyse Saturday’s 10-race program at Royal Randwick.

Ray Thomas (left) and Ron Dufficy.
Ray Thomas (left) and Ron Dufficy.

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DUFF’S TIPS

BEST BET
Race 7 No.9 AMAZING EAGLE

VALUE
Race 10 No.8 FOR VICTORY

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R1: Drinkwise Plate (1000m)

Ron Dufficy: This is a very tough meeting I must say. I thought POINT SCORE (4) looked a natural, racing away winning his second trial and he should give a really good sight here from a perfect draw. The well-bred DEVIL NIGHT (3) is in good hands but only off one trial and has a sticky draw so I feel the market may tell the tale with him late. Similarly with CRYSOEISMS (2) who has trialled and jumped-out in Victoria and I am really respecting his chances if he gets a positive push. COMMANDING BELLE (9) has been good in two solid trials and is not out of it.

Ray Thomas: This is another very interesting Sydney two-year-old race. I’m going with DEVIL NIGHT (3), the $1.4 million yearling purchase, who was impressive winning his only barrier trial going into this race. Devil Night has drawn the outside barrier but there is only one turn to negotiate from the 1000m start. RIVELLINO (5) settled off speed in his Rosehill trial but accelerated well to win easily. CRYSOEISMS (2) is a well-bred Godolphin youngster who will be hard to beat. POINT SCORE (4) was brilliant in his recent runaway trial win and he’s perfectly drawn here.

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R2: Midway Hcp (1100m)

Dufficy: I think MABEL (3) is nice and fresh here and represents value. She is better than her past few runs suggest and her latest trial win I thought was very, very good so happy to lean her way at odds to beat BUNDEENA (1), who has to be hard to beat if wound-up. He’s only had one soft trial so a little query with him, fitness-wise. SUPER BRIGHT (2) did enough first-up and is suitably placed in this grade with a claim. VEGAS RAIDER (7) has some form around the favourite last preparation and can lift second-up.

Thomas: BUNDEENA (1) struck top form last preparation winning two metropolitan races over 1100m and being placed in another two races. He’s resuming off a very easy unplaced barrier trial where he was desperate to go faster. Bundeena was beaten first-up last preparation but that was on a heavy track and he is the one to beat. HEAD OF THE HERD (13) struggled for form during winter but he has looked good winning successive trials at Rosehill in recent weeks. He seems primed to sprint well fresh. ZOUKERINO (10) ran well first-up at Wyong and will strip fitter. ANGEL FUND (11) got too far back at Kembla Grange but her two previous runs were good and she deserves another chance, particularly from her good draw.

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R3: TAB Highway (1600m)

Dufficy: ASSOCIATE (1) can hopefully hold a more forward position from a better draw. He’s had excuses at pretty well all his three runs back from a spell and certainly deserves a change of luck. ADOLPHUS (3) is a lightly-raced four-year who looks above-average and returned well winning first-up and this distance suits him better. FIORSUM FRED (7) maps to get the right run from the good draw and only has to run the mile out to give a good sight. IN SUMMER (5) is in peak form now but needs a fair bit to go right from that draw.

Thomas: IN SUMMER (5) took a while to balance up at Randwick last start but then she finished powerfully to win over the 1600m trip. Promising mare building a very good record. She has drawn a horror barrier and will need luck in running but is still the one to beat. ADOLPHUS (3) scored a tough win first-up over 1400m at Canberra, racing in a forward position then seizing control of the race near the line. He will appreciate getting out to 1600m. MORITZ GIRL (6) gave a great sight in a Randwick Highway over 1600m last start only to be collared near the line by In Summer. Moritz Girl meets that horse 1.5kg better at the weights this time. ASSOCIATE (1) has been placed in the Nowra Cup and Ted Ryder Cup at Wagga his past two starts and is working up to a win.

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R4: Toyota Forklifts Hcp (1400m)

Dufficy: ACCREDITED (6) is short enough but he is a nice horse going through his grades with a really good will to win. ANG POW (2) has turned the corner this prep with the blinkers on and pulled out plenty winning at this track and distance last start. The stablemate of the favourite EXCELLADUS (3) did more than enough in a harder race first-up and could well be dangerous. CINQUE TORRI (4) can race closer from a better draw and is set to lift second-up.

Thomas: ACCREDITED (6) is airborne this summer. He should have won first-up at Canterbury, made amends when he bolted home at Warwick Farm then was very game holding off a promising horse (Yorkshire) to win again at Randwick. Accredited has to run a strong 1400m but he won’t get a better opportunity than this race. ANG POW (2) won over this course and distance in stronger grade last start and is not badly in at the weights after the claim. CINQUE TORRI (4) is fitter now and can improve while FOX FIGHTER (7) is capable of an upset.

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R5: Captivant At Kia Ora Hcp (1400m)

Dufficy: ALLAPERCANTO (4) is back in distance but gets blinkers on and finds a very suitable race. I think she is hard to beat at acceptable odds here. PERFUMIST (13) is another one of these improving lightly-raced Bjorn Baker horses who is well up to the class rise with 52kg on her back. CAPTAIN AMELIA (2) is in winning form and barrier one helps in a race appearing to lack speed while LULUMON (2) never runs a bad race.

Thomas: ALLAPERCANTO (4) had every chance last start and only just missed when the closest of thirds over 1600m here last start. She’s had three weeks between runs and has to drop back to 1400m but is drawn to get the right run. The blinkers will help, too. PERFUMIST (13) came off a class 1 win at Mudgee and was dominant at Canterbury. She’s also dropping back slightly in trip but is an improving filly with no weight. CODETTA (11), the half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Riff Rocket, didn’t get a lot of galloping room last start and should have finished closer. CAPTAIN AMELIA (2) has scored two impressive, fast finishing wins and is a very real chance of completing her hat-trick.

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R6: TAB Handicap (1600m)

Dufficy: I like the way SLY BOOTS (5) has returned after a year off. He landed nice bets winning second-up and I can only see further improvement. FIDDLERS GREEN (4) is still early in his prep and should be strong again late. CAPTAIN MAVERICK (3) is fitter for two runs back. He’s got his foot right back on the till here. His stablemate BRIGHT RED (6) continues to run nice races without winning.

Thomas: FIDDLERS GREEN (4) ran on well to beat all but promising filly Churchill’s Choice at Randwick. He’s rock-hard fit and this race is falling away with scratchings. BRIGHT RED (6) was right alongside FIDDLERS GREEN (4) last start and continues to race consistently. SLY BOOTS (5) was strong through the line at Warwick Farm and looks hard to beat again.

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R7: Precise Air Hcp (1200m)

Dufficy: I like AMAZING EAGLE (9), Ray. He should, with a clean start, take control from barrier one and like two starts back, prove very hard to run down with no weight at the same track and distance. DISNECK (7) has been incredible winning his past two with terrific finishing speed but a harder race now. IN FLIGHT (6) is ready to win but the draw doesn’t help and she is unproven at 1200m. GRAVINA (4) could be the forgotten horse. He has nice track and distance form and will improve second-up.

Thomas: IN FLIGHT (6) was having her second run back over 1100m last start when she finished a close third to Iowna Merc and Time To Boogie. The winner has subsequently taken out the Listed Canterbury Sprint during the week to frank the form. In Flight is yet to be tested at 1200m but she did win third-up last time in and is peaking for this race. DISNECK (7) is in terrific form and is chasing a third successive Randwick 1200m win in four weeks. He will be giving his rivals a start on the turn but will be finishing faster than anything else in the race. AMAZING EAGLE (9) was a scratching from the Gosford Guineas earlier this week with a minor foot issue but he has no weight, is drawn to get all the favours and will go close. GRAVINA (4) was doing his best work on the line behind Iowna Merc last start and is better suited at this distance.

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R8: Asahi Super Dry Hcp (2000m)

Dufficy: AKKADIAN EMPEROR (17) is an import who is up in class but he looks a horse with plenty more to offer after an impressive first-up win. I think his stablemate MORNING SUN (1) is the danger. He drops in class with the claim and can bounce back. LENAPE VIVE (12) has found his form and is another one who just needs things to fall into place from the draw while the Queenslander JEALOUS (14) looks very genuine and should run well.

Thomas: AKKADIAN EMPEROR (17) made a mess of his rivals at Newcastle first-up over 1850m, careering away over the final 200m to win by more than four lengths. The longer the race went the better he looked last start and he has improvement to come. This is obviously a tougher race but he’s a progressive young stayer with more upside than his rivals. LENAPE VIVE (12) finished strongly to win albeit on a heavy track last start but he’s lightly raced and should appreciate getting out to 2000m. BAKERLOO (9) is improving with racing and is also at generous odds.

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R9: Inglis Classic Sale Hcp (1100m)

Dufficy: APEX (12) is a nice progressive three-year-old who was far from disgraced when beaten by a subsequent stakes-winner last start. He just has to overcome that draw and he will be in the finish. COSMONOVA (10) has had three trials for this now and should be competitive resuming off two wins. BOSTON ROCKS (4) needs luck getting across but is certainly good enough while SOUTH OF INDIA (2) is not strong but will give plenty of cheek from that inside draw right on top of the speed.

Thomas: I’m with you again, Ronnie – APEX (12) appeals as a good lightweight chance in an open race. He won his maiden easily first-up at Hawkesbury before successive seconds to Codetta and then Dance To The Boom. The form around Apex is excellent and he gets his chance here. COSMONOVA (10) is a big danger. She has won four of her seven starts and her record should be even better but she has been troubled by wet tracks on occasions. She gets a firm deck for her returns and rates very highly. BOSTON ROCKS (4) ran well first-up to finish a close second at Caulfield and will be fitter.

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R10: Ranvet Hcp (1500m)

Dufficy: FOR VICTORY (8) is a hard horse to catch but he has been known to get better deeper into a preparation. His effort last week was terrific considering he was dragged back a long way and given no hope from a wide draw. WEST OF AFRICA (2) charged to the line catching everyone’s attention first-up and doesn’t have to improve much. CADETSHIP (1) is an improver who gets the claim second-up from a better draw. PIGGYBACK (13) was a beaten favourite first-up but dropping 4kg with the extra distance will help.

Thomas: WEST OF AFRICA (2) ran a super race when resuming, coming from last on the turn and charging home for third behind talented duo Accredited and Yorkshire at Randwick two weeks ago. West Of Africa won three city races up to 1600m when last in work and he looks well placed in the closer. PIGGYBACK (13)’s run at Warwick Farm was better than it reads on paper and he is well placed here down in the weights and favourably drawn. MONARCHS BRAE (6) sprinted well fresh to win at Canterbury and can only be improved with that run. CADETSHIP (1) was three-wide with cover when unplaced first-up in the Accredited race so expect a competitive showing here with even luck in running.

Originally published as Ray and Duff’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday: $8 value pick

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/horse-racing/tips/ray-and-duffs-racebyrace-tips-analysis-for-randwick-on-saturday-8-value-pick/news-story/f93fef4c39ac3d13bea01acd6ed8cc21