Turf Talk: Ray Thomas and Shayne O’Cass debate Randwick chances on Saturday
With the Fifth Test being played just up the road from Royal Randwick on Saturday, Ray Thomas says there’s an omen bet that punters should heed.
Opinion
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Ray Thomas and Shayne O’Cass debate the key chances in all the big races at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Ray is confident a second-up runner can win the last race of the day, while Shayno is banking on a Ciaron Maher-trained runner as his best of the day.
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Ray Thomas: The Fifth Test is on at the SCG but I will be driving straight past the cricket ground to Royal Randwick for the fourth consecutive Saturday meeting. If Australia wins the toss, they will probably bat first but we have to work out who wins the opener?
Shayne O’Cass: From cricket to soccer RT, I like Rivellino, he was in the Brazilian World Cup team in 1970 (thanks Google). He is a well-bred colt and his trials suggest that he is on a fast upward trajectory.
Thomas: I am leaning to Devil Night in the two-year-old race. How do you see the clash of Disneck, Amazing Eagle and In Flight in race 7?
It's another last to first win for Disneck after the @BBakerRacing trained gelding makes it two on the trot! 💪@ZacLloydxpic.twitter.com/aWEBhOH4BC
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024
O’Cass: In a word – absorbing! I have to be with Amazing Eagle. He ran such fast time to win the Sir Brian Crowley and nothing short of a certainty beaten in the Pierata Plate at Doomben last start.
Thomas: Accredited (race 4) is flying. He’s up to 1400m but that should not be a problem and he’s very short in betting. Any dangers, Shayno?
Accredited finds to win the last at Randwick today for @PrideRacing and @SchofieldChad ðŸ‘@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/rwgxLO1Kc7
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024
O’Cass: Danger? I thought Ang Pow would beat Accredited myself. I like races Ang Pow is coming through. He beat Konasana home on December 7 then won on December 21.
Thomas: West Of Africa’s first-up effort behind Accredited was impossible to miss. I think he can win the “Get Out Stakes”.
O’Cass: I made Piggyback (race 10) my best bet RT. She could be in a very big 2025. She won at Gosford on debut then won a Class 1 first-up the next prep before a third in a Newcastle Benchmark 72 behind Scarlet Oak no less. As for her city credentials, she was so impressive that day she beat 15 others at HQ including Be Real.
Bailey Wheeler rides his first winner at Randwick on Piggyback! ðŸ·@aus_turf_club@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/XGMFLZDm0a
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 8, 2024
Thomas: The voice of Australian summers, ABC cricket’s premier broadcaster Jim Maxwell will obviously be at the SCG calling the Aussies against India. But Jim loves his racing and has a share in the topical tip of the day, Fiddlers Green (race 6).
O’Cass: Love Jim Maxwell RT. He was the voice of the Winter too back in the days when I used to be glued to the ABC coverage of the Shute Shield! Good luck to him and I hope you watch a race or two in between the cricket tomorrow.
Originally published as Turf Talk: Ray Thomas and Shayne O’Cass debate Randwick chances on Saturday