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Ray Thomas has the last say ahead of a huge day of racing around Australia on Saturday

Racenet’s Ray Thomas has the last say on what is a huge day of racing around Australia. Get all the latest market movers and tips.

Hold All Tickets – Punters (Episode 45) 31-08-24

THE nation’s most exciting racehorse, Pride Of Jenni, is set to smash her first-up hoodoo in the Group 1 $750,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield today.

Horse of the Year-elect Pride Of Jenni has never won when resuming from a spell in seven previous attempts.

But the dashing front-running mare came very close last campaign when run down in the final few strides by Mr Brightside in an epic Group 1 CF Orr Stakes over the Caulfield 1400m course.

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Fields and form for Caulfield on Saturday

The Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni then won the All Star Mile and was collared late by Cascadian in the Australian Cup before scoring her third Group 1 win of the season with an unforgettable romp in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Pride Of Jenni went to a new level during autumn and seems primed for her showdown with track and distance specialist Mr Brightside in the Memsie Stakes.

The Team Hayes-trained Mr Brightside is unbeaten in five starts over the Caulfield 1400m course but it is worth noting he trails Pride Of Jenni 4-1 in head-to-head clashes.

Money comes for Antino to upset Memsie fancies

There’s been good money on TAB Fixed Odds for both horses but Pride Of Jenni holds sway as favourite at $2.60 with Mr Brightside pressing at $2.90.

Pride Of Jenni is among six favourites Maher will saddle up at Caulfield. He also has Rise To It ($3.90, race 3), Duke Of Sessa ($4, race 4), Recommendation ($2.30, race 5), Growing Empire ($2.25, race 6) and Another Will ($2.60, race 10).

At Rosehill Gardens, trainer Chris Waller also has a powerful entry including feature race favourites Gatsby’s ($1.95) in the Group 3 $250,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) and Autumn Glow ($1.80) in the Group 3 $250,000 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m), plus Up And Under ($3.30, race 5).

RACENET EXPERT TIPS FOR SATURDAY
Mark Guest’s expert tips for Caulfield on Saturday
ROSEHILL: James Molony’s expert tips and analysis
DOOMBEN: Graeme Carey’s best bets, value selections
LAURIE’S LONGSHOTS: $20 value play at Caulfield
BELMONT, MORPHETTVILLE: Aaron Mills + Heath Pope’s best plays
TIPS FROM THE BIG BOOKIES: Memsie Stakes Day

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ROSEHILL GARDENS
Weather: Warm, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 24c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: Out 2m entire circuit

CAULFIELD
Weather: Cool, cloudy and windy day with a forecast top temperature of 17c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: True

DOOMBEN
Weather: Hot, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 36c.
Track: Soft (5)
Rail: Out 5m entire circuit

MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Cool, cloudy day with a high chance of showers, mostly in the morning, with a forecast top temperature of 18c.
Track: Soft (6)
Rail: Out 7m from the 1200m chute, out 4m remainder

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BE WARY
The Rosehill rail position has shifted out 2m after being in the true at the most recent meeting on August 17. It’s worth remembering jockeys steered well clear of the inside rail in the straight that day with every winner coming down the centre of the track or even wider. Caulfield generally favours horses close to the inside when the rail is in the true, particularly on a good track. But with strong winds forecast for Melbourne, this will impact race patterns.

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ROSEHILL TIPS

THE BEST BET
AMOR VICTORIOUS (Race 8 No.10) has landed on a very suitable race after his fighting first-up second to the classy Tom Kitten over 1400m here two weeks ago. Amor Victorious will be fitter and appreciate going to 1500m where he should be able to control the race from an on-speed position. He is effective second-up from a spell, has won over the Rosehill 1500m and the set-up of this race suits him. Ready to win.

THE NEXT BEST
AUTUMN GLOW (Race 7 No.5) made a stunning debut at the Rosehill meeting two weeks ago, toying with her rivals and winning by a widening margin. The Chris Waller-trained filly, a daughter of emerging super sire The Autumn Sun out of Via Africa, dam of Golden Rose winner In The Congo, jumps straight to Group 3 grade for the Up And Coming Stakes but this isn’t a strong race. Autumn Glow is into $1.80 but back her with confidence, she is a real talent.

VALUE BET
FELIX MAJESTIC (Race 9 No.4) got back onto a firm track and ran a much improved race to finishing the closest of fourths behind Contemporary at Rosehill earlier this month. He’s a capable sprinter who has broken 1m 9s for the Rosehill 1200m earlier in his career. Felix Majestic has had three runs from a spell, strikes his perfect track conditions, has drawn well and is generous odds of $12.

THE WHISPER
UP AND UNDER (Race 5 No.5) is getting short enough now around $3.10 but he still looks a safe bet. He was bolting behind a wall of runners in the straight when resuming and went to the line untested. He’s had a month between runs so he should still have the necessary “speed” in his legs to prove hard to beat at 1500m.

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CAULFIELD TIPS

THE BEST BET
GROWING EMPIRE (Race 6 No.1) created a huge impression as an autumn two-year-old with all-the-way wins in the St Albans Stakes and Breeders Stakes by big margins. A son of Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar, Growing Empire looks a real talent. He resumes in the McNeil Stakes and he has the early tactical speed to negate his outside draw and settle on speed where he can control the race. Expect this exciting colt to get his spring campaign off to a winning start.

NEXT BEST
RISE TO IT (Race 3 No.12) has taken a few runs to work his way back into form, although he wasn’t suited by wet tracks earlier in his campaign, but there were encouraging signs last start when he stretched Star Vega when a half length second at Flemington. Rise To It is finally back onto a good track surface, drawn the rails so he should get the gun run, and Jamie Kah is staying with the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding. Rise To It gets his chance here.

VALUE BET
SNOWMAN (Race 10 No.16) is a good each way gamble in the Caulfield closer. The Chris Waller-trained Snowman showed plenty of potential last season and did beat triple Group 1-winning stablemate Riff Rocket in an 1800m race at Rosehill. He hasn’t raced since his first-up fourth to Schwarz in the Hawkesbury Guineas back in May but he is effective fresh. Snowman is well-drawn in barrier four, gets Craig Williams, has gate four and at around $10 he’s great each way value.

THE WHISPER
EXPRESSIVENESS (Race 7 No.12) was runner-up in the Group 1 The Telegraph at Trentham earlier this year before joining the Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior stable this season. She was excellent at her Melbourne debut when a close third to Arkansaw Kid in the Regal Roller Stakes. She looks well placed back against the mares and drawn well in barrier four.

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TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROSEHILL GARDENS
Race 1: Agita $5.50-$4.80
Race 2: Vivy Air $4.60-$3.50, Zarrose $6-$5.50
Race 3: Super Norwest $4.40-$3.40, Volcanic Love $4.80-$4.20
Race 4: Enotis $4-$3.40, First Light $6-$5
Race 5: Up And Under $4.60-$3.20 including bets of $2000 at $3.80 and $2000 at $3.60, Unusual Legacy $8.50-$5.50, Too Much Caviar $11-$7, No Drama $9.50-$7.50
Race 6: Storm Boy $2.50-$2.40, Mayfair $8-$6.50
Race 7: Autumn Glow $2-$1.75 after bets of $2225 at $1.90 and $2000 at $2, Wanaruah $8-$7
Race 8: Ceolwulf $4.60-$3.10, Amor Victorious $3.60-$3.20, Charterhouse $11-$8
Race 9: Willaidow $5-$3.80, Shezanalister $9-$7, Iron Man $17-$10, Felix Majestic $26-$13
Race 10: Briasa $4.60-$2.90

CAULFIELD
Race 1: Lovazou $5.50-$3.70, Sassy Boom $6.50-$4.40
Race 2: The Open $6-$4.20, Step Aside $7.50-$4.60 with a $3000 bet at $5.50
Race 3: Rise To It $4.80-$3.80 after bets of $1250 e/w at $4/$1.80, $1000 e/w at $4/$1.80, Mathew $7.50-$6.50, Letsbefrankbaby $17-$8.50, Royal Hard Hat $21-$12
Race 4: Alder $4.80-$4, Duke De Sessa $7-$4.20, Young Werther $9-$7, Vow And Declare $14-$10
Race 5: Recommendation $2.25-$2.10-$2.20, Kallos $4.20-$3.80, Chain Of Lightning $6.50-$5.50
Race 6: Stay Focused $3.30-$3, Let’sfacethemusic $14-$9
Race 7: Expressiveness $5-$4 with a bet of $3500 a $3.90, Extratwo $11-$8 after a bet of $2000 at $8, Aviatress $13-$8.50
Race 8: Rise At Dawn $4.60-$3.90, Que Tempesta $7-$5.50, Munhamek $8-$7, Saint George $34-$11
Race 9: Pride Of Jenni $2-$2.60 despite a bet of $2000 at $2, Mr Brightside $2.80-$2.60-$2.90 including a bet of $2000 at $2.80, Antino $7-$5.50
Race 10: Another Wil $3.40-$2.70 including a $3000 bet at $2.60, Jennilala $10-$7

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INTERSTATE MAIL
Doomben Race 1 No.8 CLASSIC DEEL
Doomben Race 5 No.6 JOHN RAMBO
Morphettville Race 2 No.9 DUCHESS OF SUSSEX
Morphettville Race 5 No.2 HE’S OUR BONNEVAL

PROVINCIAL MAIL
Kembla Grange Race 4 No.6 EMBASSY
Kembla Grange Race 6 No.4 KOMODO DRAGON

#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners.

Originally published as Ray Thomas has the last say ahead of a huge day of racing around Australia on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/nsw-racing/ray-thomas-has-the-last-say-ahead-of-a-huge-day-of-racing-around-australia-on-saturday/news-story/fd426cb131e839b19fbfc215035d42fb