Racewatch: Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses the 10-race card for 2025 Inglis Millennium Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his tips and race-by-race analysis.

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses the 10-race card for 2025 Inglis Millennium Dayat Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his tips and race-by-race analysis.

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RACE 1: Midway Benchmark 72 (1600m)

PIRAEUS (4), the 2024 Four Pillars runner-up, has been ‘good’ and ‘very good’ at his two 2025 runs, one of the unfriendly Kensington track over 1400m which he followed up with (another) rapidly closing second at the Randwick Mile. BLUFF ‘N’ BLUSTER (11) has only won 6 times in 64 but he has placed 15 times and you wonder how many of those could have been wins but for a bit of luck. Put that down to his pattern. Note to self; 2 of his 6 wins are at Randwick.

BET: PIRAEUS (4) to win, BLUFF ‘N’ BLUSTER (11) to place.

Piraeus lunges and gets there first, in a three-way go with Moonlight Grace and Island Legend. @[e-mail]/YpWOtC9OTy

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 22, 2022

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RACE 2: HIGHWAY HANDICAP CLASS 3 (1200m)

FINGERS HUNTER (11) has only raced 6 times but has put together a very impressive resume. She won the Wellington Boot at her second start, was fifth in the Woodlands to Lazzura at her third, and fifth to Private Life at her fourth. First-up in 2025, Fingers Hunter was a closing fifth of 14 behind Clear Thinking and Highway Strip in a classic Highway here on Jan 25. Matthew Dunn has won, is it 38 Highway now? IMPENDOR (8) has got Highway horse’ written all over him.

BET: FINGERS HUNTER (11) to win, quinella 8,11.

Fingers Hunter does enough to salute in the Wellington Boot! pic.twitter.com/wt2j4ggePU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 14, 2024

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RACE 3: LISTED LONHRO PLATE (1000m)

EXTRACTOR (1) trialled well prior to his outstanding half-length third in the Golden Gift behind two genuine Slipper/Sires and Champagne colts in North England and West Of Swindon. My suspicion is that Extractor is the best horse in the race but with one of the worst barriers. ALABAMA MAGIC (10) was $51 for no good reason on debut in that 1000m race here on Jan 25 and ran better than most of the field did. CHERGUI (2) seemed to have every chance when runner-up here on debut but it took Pallaton to beat him.

BET: EXTRACTOR (1) to win.

It's the Golden Gift winner North England with an impressive run making it back-to-back trial wins! 👏@GaiWaterhouse1pic.twitter.com/6zM907aa6W

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 2, 2025

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RACE 4: 3&4YO BENCHMARK 78 (1600m)

DEPTH OF CHARACTER (8) won at Canterbury on debut as a 2YO, two runs later, he was a super impressive winner in a Listed race on Tatts Tiara in Brisbane. Fast forward to Jan 17 this year and the son of Deep Field was close enough to the run of the race in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. COSMIC LAD (15) was probably the best thing beaten so far in 2025 at his first run for Joe Pride on Australia Day. Love him down on 52kgs. POINT AND SHOOT (9) was scratched from the Eskimo Prince for this ‘easier’ race.

BET: DEPTH OF CHARACTER (8) to win.

Depth Of Character justifies the punters' confidence and comes clear for a powerful win in the Listed Tattersall's Stakes at Eagle Farm 💥@ANeashamRacing@tomo_sherrypic.twitter.com/L1YBXA4cBy

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 29, 2024

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RACE 5: MARES BENCHMARK 78 (1300m)

FUGITIVA (8) has raced 11 times for 3 wins, 4 seconds and a third, all bar one were on the provincial circuit. That city run was in fact in the $500,000 Four Pillars on Nov 2 where she ran very creditably indeed, drawing 15 of 20, was 15th on the turn but 6th at the finish. Brilliant trial winner on Jan 30. HASTY HONEY (13) was doing her best work late first-up in a 1200m Benchmark 78 here two weeks back. Extra 100m suits. If not this time then next time.

BET: FUGITIVA (8) each-way, HASTY HONEY (13) to place.

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RACE 6: BENCHMARK 94 (1000m)

SHEZANALISTER (4) had the misfortune of running into Semana no less when both went to Muswellbrook for a 3YO 1000m Maiden on Melbourne Cup day in 2022. As it stands, Shezanalister has raced 19 times for 6 wins, 4 seconds and 2 thirds. She has won twice at Randwick and is quite deadly around the 1000m. Sure, she is a good trial-horse but gee whiz they’ve been good, the both of them. The aptly-named QUICK TEMPO (3) could play his familiar role of ‘swooper’ here.

BET: SHEZANALISTER (4) to win.

Last race Bjorn strikes again with Shezanalister!@[e-mail]/jgMxGejhsf

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 10, 2024

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RACE 7: INGLIS MILLENNIUM (1100m)

RIVELLINO (2) was given an absolute gem of a ride by Benjamin Osmond to win her on debut. They drew barrier 2, stalked the leader (s) and pounced at the 200m, racing away. Different story this time with a very wide draw but he’s not Robinson Crusoe in that department. Don’t claim to know all that much about Victorian form but that My Gladiola could win the Blue Diamond. If that is true, PRICE TAG (12) might win this. Logic would say that if you like Rivellino, you have to like THE MAGIC MAN (3) who has drawn box one.

BET: RIVELLINO (2) to win, box trifecta 1,2,3,12.

A cracking debut for Rivellino! 👏

The @Leesracing stable has an impessive colt on their hands 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ef3x2hTaai

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025

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RACE 8: ESKIMO PRINCE STAKES (1200m)

SNOW IN MAY (10) won a Class 1 at Newcastle on Aug 29; then came to Randwick three weeks later and should have won the Tea Rose. As it was she split Autumn Glow and Manaal. She was a bit disappointing in the Flight Stakes but anyway, we start with clean late tomorrow noting that both were first-up at 1200m. There is a very big race, races, in PUBLIC ATTENTION (5), most likely IMHO at 1400m or a mile. That said, 1200m is fine for him fresh off a monumentally impressive trial win.

BET: SNOW IN MAY (10) to win, quinella 5,10.

❄️ Not sure about snow in May... but winning in May for sure! ✅

Snow In May wins the opener for the 2 year-olds at @mtcwagga!@[e-mail]/1mJNk19Uob

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 2, 2024

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RACE 9: OPEN HANDICAP (1600m)

Wonder how many of these 16 end up in the Sydney Cup? Or even the Melbourne Cup? Three of them are first-up from the 2024 Melbourne Cup and one, ASTERIX (1), is first-up from the Auckland Cup. Long story short, I was all over WYMARK (11) first-up and even though he ran 9th of the 11, it was only 1300m and he was not so much warming up late but boiling! Chris Waller has a bucket-full of ‘stayers resuming’. My pick as the one most likely to medal is KINESIOLOGY (8).

BET: WYMARK (11) to win, KINESIOLOGY (8) each-way, to win Sydney Cup ($15), Melbourne Cup ($51).

Wymark makes it 4 wins in a row in the G2 Tulloch Stakes!@aus_turf_club@[e-mail]/VxObeC76mf

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 30, 2024

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RACE 10: BENCHMARK 78 (1200m)

NOT THAT EASY (14), a $4,000 Inglis Digital purchase, can take her earnings to well in excess of $200,000 if successful tomorrow. The Jason Coyle-trained daughter of Casino Prince has been awfully consistent throughout this prep. Two of the most notable runs are her second to Accredited and her last start (inch) second to Spicy Hotpot. KEITEL (3) has won 5 from 13 and was passable when midfield at Rosehill last start. ABLE WILLIE (2) is always dangerous.

BET: NOT THAT EASY (14) each-way

Originally published as Racewatch: Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday