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

Form expert Shayne O’Cass dissects the 10-race card Day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his tips and race-by-race analysis.

Shayne O’Cass
4 min read
April 10, 2025 - 3:47PM
Punters - Hold All Tickets Ep 31 - Pro punter previews Randwick

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses the 10-race card for Day 2 of The Championships featuring the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Sydney Cup at Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his tips and race-by-race analysis.

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RACE 1: HKJC WORLD POOL FERNHILL MILE (1600m)

The Fernhill can throw up a Gunsynd, Beau Zam, Veloso, Danewin, March Hare, Broadsiding. Or it can give us horses like - okay, I won’t name them, suffice to say it is a very hot and cold stakes race. This year, 71 per cent of the field are maidens. That’s not to say there isn’t at least one two-year-old who might go on to be a very good three-year-old in the mile/staying ranks. I think MICHELANGELO paints that picture most of all. TUPAKARA has form in better races than any rival.

Bet: Michelangelo to win

RACE 2: BISLEY WORKWEAR SOUTH PACIFIC CLASSIC (1400m)

SERGEANT MAJOR has raced eight times; he won his maiden at Trentham three weeks before his fifth in the Manawatu Sires. This son of Proisir has since finished third, twice, in stakes races here in Australia. He looks to be timed to peak here, third-up off an encouraging fourth to Autumn Glow in the Darby Munro. His biggest danger is one trained by John Sargent, namely Meridiana. Wow, what a debut, what a prospect.

Bet: Sergeant Major to win, quinella 4, 11

RACE 3: POLYTRACK PROVINCIAL-MIDWAY CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL (1400m)

FRENCH RULER ended his 2024 with a fifth in the Sandown Guineas. So far in 2025, he has raced four times, highlighted by a neck second to Snow In May in the Canberra Guineas and that last start, narrow win in the Wyong Wild Card to get here. Perfect draw, Blake Shinn, home track, 1400m, so fit, so well timed. If you like French Ruler, you have to like MAGNATEAR who was an inch behind him at Wyong.

Bet: French Ruler to win

RACE 4: THE STAR PERCY SYKES STAKES (1200m)

SEQUISTA, a $100,000 Classic Yearling bred at Bowness Stud but from a great old Geoff and Beryl White family, was tipped out after running a huge race on debut in the Inglis Nursery on December 14. Trialled well before that, trialled brilliantly before this. Stablemate DREAM SIDE ran second to Marhoona on debut (wow) then was runner-up to Memo in the Magic Night at her next start. That’s progress for you.

Bet: Sequista to win, exacta 10 to beat 8, quinella 8, 10

RACE 5: ARROWFIELD 3YO SPRINT (1200m)

Trivia time; the 2016 Arrowfield Sprint was won by Derryn who was sent to stud in New Zealand and is represented in the ATC Oaks by Leica Lucy. Who would have predicted that. Now as for more pressing matters, one has to ask oneself, how on Earth can anyone in this hope to beat AUTUMN GLOW, notwithstanding the vagaries of racing. That being the case, who runs second? Maybe ENRICHED again but the two colts at the top are all class.

Bet: Autumn Glow to win all-up Commemorative

RACE 6: ASAHI SUPER DRY AUSTRALIAN OAKS (2400m)

How much would you give to see Aeliana back up in the Oaks? Imagine that, a three-cornered contest to decide who is the best three-year-old classic filly in Australasia. As it stands we have the New Zealand Oaks winner, Leica Lucy, taking on the VRC Oaks winner TREASURETHE MOMENT with Damien Lane aiming for his own ATC Derby/Oaks double. Always respect the NZ classic three-year-olds but Treasurethe Moment looks to me like she would win most ATC Oaks’.

Bet: Treasurethe Moment to win, Verona Miss to place

RACE 7: SCHWEPPES SYDNEY CUP (3200m)

Just for context, I was on ZARDOZI in the Melbourne Cup and proud of her effort in defeat. So far as the Sydney Cup is concerned, all credit to ALALCANCE for getting here undefeated this preparation but $2.30 her as opposed to $8.50 and $2.80 the place for Zardozi is a simple betting scenario for me. Zardozi each-way. STRATHTAY is trained by Waller, the way it’s peaking, you would swear it was Bart Cummings. But truly, I love Jay Ford on these lightweight Waller stayers.

Bet: Zardozi each-way, Strathtay each-way, exacta 6 to beat 18

RACE 8: QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (2000m)

CEOLWULF hasn’t had the lead-in Joe Pride would have necessarily mapped out for him at the start at the campaign but you have to admire the way this horse has adapted and performed in the face of that ‘adversity’. He didn’t win as easily in the Neville Selwood as we all thought but racing just comes down to opinion and mine is that he is in the top three 2000m horses in Australia. We’ll find out if it is one or three here. Total respect to VIA SISTINA and DUBAI HONOUR but I have BUCKAROO in this up to his ears.

Bet: Ceolwulf each-way, Buckaroo to place

RACE 9: TAB QUEEN OF THE TURF STAKES (1600m)

Nobody gets FANGIRL like James McDonald hence the record of 12 starts for six wins and four placings. Just staying with the ‘numbers’, seven of Fangirl’s 10 career wins are at Randwick. She is never as more deadly than when over the Randwick Mile and she gets a sunny day to shine again. ATISHU bows out after this. She raced in a very good era and more than held her own. She won this race two years ago. OUR GOLD HOPE will do well to beat them at WFA but did stretch Ceolwulf last start.

Bet: Fangirl to win

RACE 10: CINCOTTA CHEMIST SAPPHIRE STAKES (1200m)

COMMEMORATIVE, the granddaughter of 2006 Queen Of The Turf winner Mnemosyne, has finally drawn a barrier. Yes, I know, it is 13 of 13, but for her that’s akin to Zoom Top drawing box one at Wentworth Park. Look at when she gets beat it’s usually because she drew in close and never gets room. Give her a clear runway and she’s a deadset jet. The pilot, J-Mac, is four rides for two wins on her. LADY LAGUNA rates 111, good on her for that, she’s such an underrated mare. In this well enough with that in mind. OLENTIA was outstanding in the Coolmore.

Bet: Commemorative to win

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

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