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Ray Thomas’ Blackbook: Five to follow from Rosehill on Saturday

Ray Thomas thinks an impressive winner could be a force in the fillies’ classics in the spring, while Ron Dufficy thinks Saturday’s racing unearthed a nice mare to follow in future races.

Ray Thomas
5 min read
June 15, 2025 - 2:37PM
The Gary Portelli-trained Queen Of Clubs (centre, white silks) gets home for jockey Andrew Calder at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
The Gary Portelli-trained Queen Of Clubs (centre, white silks) gets home for jockey Andrew Calder at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Ray Thomas reveals his horses to follow from Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, while Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy names his highlights in his Rosehill snapshot.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

CODETTA (race 5) was coming off a luckless first-up second and was confidently backed into $2.70 favouritism but nothing went right for her when third to the smart filly Winning Proposal. Codetta was trapped three-wide without cover for most of the race but still had the temerity to loom up halfway down the straight as a winning threat. She’s racing well and her turn is coming.

SACRED ROCKS (race 10) made a real statement at her Sydney debut. She had won two of her four starts in Victoria, finishing second in the other two, before trainer Ciaron Maher switched states. Sacred Rocks settled back in the field from a wide barrier, didn’t have the smoothest of passages but her finishing acceleration was very impressive. She’s talented and can keep winning.

QUEEN OF CLUBS (race 1) is a promising filly and she defeated a smart field of two-year-olds in the opener. She’s a well-bred daughter of Maurice and will certainly get out over further. She’s likely to have a short break now but watch out for her in the fillies classics in spring.

TASORAAY (race 4) set a solid tempo in front and this might have left him vulnerable late. He still fought back hard when challenged and his close second to Don’t Forget Jack was full of merit. Tasoraay was only second-up from a spell and can win again this winter.

ASSAILANT (race 9) has shaped promisingly in his two Australian starts including his third to Freight Train. The former English galloper got to 2000m quickly, led for a long way and stuck to his task under pressure. Assailant can only continue to improve and is ready to win.

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CRUNCH TIME

WINNING PROPOSAL (race 5) ran the fastest final 600m sectional of the day when she recorded a 33.35s split to dive through under Overfull and score a deserved win. Winning Proposal also produced a brilliant 200m closing split of 11.12s.

SACRED ROCKS (race 10) finished fast to win the closer, running her final 600m in 33.66s with a 11.08s closing sectional.

MOTOSCAFO (race 3) might have only won a Midway but his effort should not be underestimated. He charged home his final 600m in 33.57s and ran the fastest 200m closing split of the day in 10.97s.

QUEEN OF CLUBS (race 1) powered home her final 600m in 34.43s and a closing 200m split of 11.61s to score her first win in four starts.

DON’T FORGET JACK (race 4) attacked the line strongly with a 34.08s final 600m to score well. He was able to run his 200m closing split of 11.53s.

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WHAT THEY SAID

“Can you book me for the horse in this race next year!” — Jockey Adam Hyeronimus after combining with Sir Lucan to win a second successive Winter Cup.

“We’re very excited to win the Winter Cup again and the owners are flying over to London tonight. Monique and Adam (Annetts), they’re jumping on a plane to go and see Storm Boy run next Saturday. If they were flying economy they will be flying first class now.” — Stable representative Neil Paine.

“It’s all good – the pressure, that’s what you live for.’’ — Star apprentice Braith Nock after winning on favourite Mickey’s Medal.

“She does things at home that are (special). She worked with Kilbrannan, who is a handy two-year-old (half-brother to Portelli’s Golden Slipper winner Fireburn) and she went so well I said, ‘she can’t get beaten’.” — Trainer Gary Portelli after Queen Of Clubs’ impressive win.

“She is very progressive and has a great, big stride on her. At the 200m, I thought she was just going to get there but then at the 100m she really lengthened nicely.” — Andrew Calder, rider of Queen Of Clubs.

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STEWARDS SAY

Sydney’s form jockeys Dylan Gibbons and Adam Hyeronimus both incurred week-long careless riding suspensions due to start next Sunday.

Gibbons was suspended from June 22 to June 29 after he was found guilty by stewards of causing interference on runner-up HALF YOURS (race 9). Hyeronimus was suspended for the same period after his winning ride on SIR LUCAN (race 8).

HELL OF A FOX (race 2) drew the outside barrier and was shifted behind runners in the early stages. Near the 900m she was hampered and carried wider by RED RAGS TO BULLS, which shifted out when being steadied off heels. Jockey Brodie Loy said that after enduring a wide run, the filly was one paced to the finish line and raced as though it had come to the end of its preparation.

CODETTA (race 5) was hampered and taken wider by KING’S SECRET approaching the 600m. On straightening, she was again inconvenienced by King’s Secret, which shifted out. Apprentice Jace McMurray told stewards that Codetta was slow to begin and settled further back than intended. He said when then unable to obtain cover Codetta was obliged to race wide throughout the event.

KING’S SECRET (race 5) jumped out of the barriers and was bumped by Slinky, which shifted in. King’s Secret finished fifth and a post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding had the thumps.

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RON DUFFICY’S RANDWICK SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY
SACRED ROCKS did a great job having her first Sydney run. She met a pretty slick field and you have to like the way she charged over the top of them late looking a nice mare for the future.

FORGET THEY RAN
CODETTA and HALF YOURS were both beaten favourites on the day but I wouldn’t mark them down on their performances. They both had awkward draws not having much go their way and can make amends moving forward.

HORSE TO FOLLOW
Outside of those mentioned above I thought the debut performance of SCOOP THE POOL had merit. He’s a two-year-old who has a pedigree to just keep improving especially over further than what he contested here.

RIDE OF THE DAY
Boom apprentice Braith Nock put on a show with a winning treble. His ride on SUPER NORWEST in the Highway was just picture perfect from a tricky draw.

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NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday: Albury, Tamworth
Tuesday: Hawkesbury, Nowra
Wednesday: Canterbury Park
Thursday: Gosford, Bathurst
Friday: Coffs Harbour
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Kembla Grange
Sunday: Murwillumbah, Wagga Wagga

Originally published as Ray Thomas’ Blackbook: Five to follow from Rosehill on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/nsw-racing/ray-thomas-blackbook-five-to-follow-from-rosehill-on-saturday/news-story/53799918aae7b4cfcf825e6598f50063