Saturday Best with Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy

BEST BETS: The Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy agree a Peter Moody raider is one of the safest bets at Rosehill.

Race 5 2GB HANDICAP (3YO&UP F&M BM85) - 1350m. Winner 'Berrimilla' ridden by Glyn Schofield.

TRAINER Peter Moody has found the perfect race for Melbourne three-year-old It’s About You at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Moody makes a habit of switching runners successfully interstate and is poised to repeat the feat with promising It’s About You in the Significant Stakes (1900m0.

The Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form expert Ron Dufficy agree the Moody raider is one of the safest bets on a Rosehill program, where most races are extremely competitive.

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RACE 3: SIGNIFICANT STAKES (1900m)

Thomas: It’s About You picks himself. His form in Melbourne has been very good and he has been hitting the line strongly at the end of his races, most notably over 1600m at Moonee Valley last start. He should cope with the 1900m. Skyline Blush, Our Catch and Cauthen’s Power ran the placings at Rosehill last start and they are the other chances, but it is hard to tip against It’s About You.

Dufficy: Yeah, It’s About You is the bet of the day. His form is superior to his rivals. I think he will get the 1900m without too much of a problem and under the set weight conditions of this race, he is so well in. This is a perfect piece of placement by Peter Moody. It’s About You’s main rivals come out of a Benchmark 68 race that you mentioned, Ray. Cauthen’s Power was probably the best run of the three that day and he should be suited by the trip. Skyline Blush is a lightly raced filly, she has won two of her last three and is a progressive type.

RACE 4: WINTER CUP (2400m)

Thomas: I wanted to tip Bonfire but I’m just wary that he is second-up at 2400m, he has to carry topweight of 59kg on a track that is in the heavy range. We have seen Gai Waterhouse do this before with her stayers and Bonfire does have some excellent form in good races last spring, but it is the fitness factor and the odds that have swayed me to Dream Folk. I thought he ran a blinder last start when third to Reigning and back out to 2400m will suit him. He is rock-hard fit and handles these track conditions. Danchai and Our Voodoo Prince are racing well and are right in the race, too.

Danchai, left, returns to Sydney after winning the Ipswich Cup. Picture: Tara Croser

Dufficy: I don’t want to bet in this race. It is not strong and with horses that have a lot of convictions. Danchai is definitely going better this preparation, there has been consistency about his three runs and he was strong winning the Ipswich Cup last start. I think that would have boosted his confidence as he attacked the line well. I’ll lean his way as far as the tip is concerned, but as far as the punt is concerned it will probably be a no-bet race for me. It is a big ask for Bonfire second-up at 2400m with 59kg but he does get on-pace favours here. He should lead this field on his ear and then quicken from the turn. I agree Dream Folk was very good last start and if he can reproduce that run on Saturday, he nearly wins this as he was a month between runs last start. I’m interested in Kapour and why he is here as Ciaron Maher is a great trainer of stayers.

RACE 5: QUILTON HANDICAP (1200m)

NEWS: SARGENT SAVES HIS QUEEN

Thomas: This is a good three-year-old race for this time of the year and you can make a case for most of the runners. I’m using this theme again of race fitness on rain-affected tracks and I’ve gone for Well Hardley Ever. He was probably a bit unlucky last start because he was held up at a vital stage of the straight and when Lockroy ranged alongside that horse was full of momentum. Well Hardley Ever did well to finish as close as he did on the line. He is a little awkwardly drawn but I can see him tucking in behind Aerobar and Echo Gal as they cross from wide barriers. Echo Gal is the danger. Her recent trial win was brilliant and she has won in the soft but she is first-up here. Queen Of Kariba was scratched from Canterbury on Wednesday for this race and she is flying. Lockroy was good last start but he has never put two wins together, something he hasn’t done in his career.

Dufficy: I agree, Ray, it is an open race. I like Echo Gal. She has had three trials, winning her last two and the most recent was pretty sharp. She looks ready to go first-up here. She has tactical speed to overcome that wide barrier and will be hard to beat. I’m wary of Kipling. He is fitter for two runs back and is ready to improve sharply. Queen Of Kariba is in a winning frame of mind and will be finishing hard. Well Hardley Ever is also a good chance but I’d prefer him on a soft track rather than a heavy track — a soft 6 would be beautiful for him. Tough race, but Echo Gal looks like she has done a bit of work for this race.

RACE 6: PERFECTION FRESH HCP (1500m)

Thomas: As a former jockey Ron, if you were riding Mirage what would be your thought processes going into this race?

Dufficy: It would be a bit tricky, especially for someone like Glyn Schofield, who has never had a ride on him. We all know Mirage can do a lot wrong in his races so you would be in two minds what to do on him, whether to go for the whip. Even last start when he won it seemed like there was a couple of times in the straight when Mirage was having a think about things.

Mirage was on his best behaviour at Rosehill last start. Picture: Simon Bullard

Thomas: We often talk about confidence for a horse and I’m hoping Mirage’s win last start will switch him on even more. We know he is a talent, it will be heart-in-the-mouth stuff again but I’m banking on Glyn Schofield’s lovely soft hands to get the job done. There are a number of chances here including Rugged Cross, who is in going great guns, Rockalong was super impressive last start and going to 1500m will suit him even more, and You’ll Never is also racing very well.

Dufficy: Nine chances, I’ve got, in an 11-horse field. I’m on Rockalong’s back now. He has proved himself putting two together, he is a good style of a horse. I love the fact he is up to 1500m fourth-up, and there is good speed up front to suit him. Mirage is obviously talented but still does plenty wrong. You’ll Never was in the wrong part of the track near the inside last start but he still hit the line. I also have a big watch on Café Society. He is a class horse who ran third to Contributer three starts back in England — that is very strong form.

RACE 7: CELLARBRATIONS HCP (1500m)

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Thomas: Karakuchi has been up a while but she continues to race well and loves these rain-affected conditions. I thought she was stiff last start at Rosehill when second to Sensualism and drops 6kg to the limit of 54kg here. She is rock-hard fit and will be hard to beat. Berry Delicious is on the quick back-up after a deserved win at Randwick last week. Berrimilla and Sensualism are both racing well and are also strong chances.

Dufficy: I like a couple here — Berrimilla and Orion Love. I’m not sure which way to go so I might back both of them. Berrimilla is racing in really good form on these wet tracks. I think she can hold that form and Hugh Bowman is taking over. She makes a lot of appeal but I’ll also be having a saver on Orion Love. I want to see her in the yard before I commit to backing her but I liked her recent trial. Berry Delicious and Karakuchi both have chances.

RACE 8: TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP (1200m)

Thomas: Talk about a lottery, Ron, how about this last race. This is a terrific field, so many chances. I’m going to two mares, Two Blue and Private Secretary. I like Two Blue each way — she is great value at $16. She looked home at Rosehill last start only to be run down right on the line by the fast-finishing Fiftyshadesofgrey. Two Blue was having her second start back from a spell that day so I’m expecting further improvement and she does enjoy these wet tracks. Private Secretary was brilliantly ridden to the track bias by Winona Costin last start but this mare was an outstanding winning at Randwick last start. Turbulent Jet is going to have to go back from his wide gate but he also has a powerful finishing burst. Cradle Me is ready to go after two runs from a spell, but I’d like to see the track improve for her.

Dufficy: This is a great betting race. Surprising we have similar thoughts here as I like Turbulent Jet. This race sets up for him nicely, he likes his races spaced, and his two runs back have been really good. I can only see him charging home again. Private Secretary got home due to a brilliant ride last time and it will be hard for her as a backmarker in a 18-horse field but I will leave it to Winona Costin to pick her way through again. Coolring defeated a race-fit That’s A Good Idea in a barrier trial and that is not easy to do. Although Coolring is not a noted first-up performer, he looks ready and Hugh Bowman has the ride. Two Blue is silly odds, they put up $21. In an ideal world I would have liked her at 1400m, that is the only negative, but the positive is the price. I’m leaning to Turbulent Jet.

DUFF’S SUGGESTED BETS

ROSEHILL GARDENS

Best Bet

Race 3, No. 1: It’s About You

Next Best

Race 1, No. 3: Lieder

Race 7, No. 4: Berrimilla

Best Value

Race 7, No. 2: Orion Love

Originally published as Saturday Best with Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy