Randwick inside mail: Sydney race looks ideal for Ducasse after draw dents Brisbane bid

Ducasse is well placed to continue his form surge at Randwick after trainer Michael Freedman decided against racing for better prizemoney in Brisbane.

Golden Slipper-winning trainer Michael Freedman is hopeful his decision to keep the in-form Ducasse in Sydney is rewarded with victory in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Freedman had Ducasse entered for the $300,000 Listed Brisbane Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm but when the gelding drew barrier 17 he decided to race for half the prizemoney at Randwick.

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“We kept Ducasse in Sydney because of the wide barrier he drew at Eagle Farm,’’ Freedman confirmed.

“He seems to be in good order and the rain around won’t hurt him, either.

“Randwick is his favourite track and this is about his best distance so potentially this race sets up nicely for him.’’

TAB price assessors agree with Ducasse the $4.40 favourite to continue his form surge this autumn.

Ducasse resumed with a strong win over 1400m at Rosehill then ran competitively at stakes level in successive starts when fifth to Iowna Merc in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes before a close third to Just Folk in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude.

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Freedman, who prepared Marhoona to win the Golden Slipper during the Sydney autumn carnival, also has emerging three-year-old Colophon as the $4 favourite for the NSW Bookmakers Co-Operative Handicap (1400m).

Colophon comes to Randwick after a monstrous win at Kembla Grange when he led throughout and put a margin of more than five lengths on his chasing rivals.

But Freedman does have concerns about the rain-affected track conditions and doesn’t want Randwick to get much worse than its current Soft 7 rating.

Ducasse has a lot of factors in his favour when he steps out at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“I need to keep an eye on the track conditions,’’ the trainer explained.

“Colophon once ran on a Heavy 9 and wasn’t at his best.

“He’ll run on the proviso the track stays in the soft range. If he gets a track that is suitable then he is quite a progressive young horse and might earn himself a ticket to Queensland if he keeps going the right way.’’

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Freedman will be at Eagle Farm where he has the superbly-bred Seascape chasing stakes success in the Listed $160,000 Mick Dittman Plate (1000m).

Seascape, who is by super sire I Am Invincible out of the Group 2 winner Adrift, has won three of her nine starts including her recent Kensington win a month ago.

“With her pedigree we are hoping to get some black type,’’ Freedman said.

“It is just a shame she has drawn off the track but she is going well.’’

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RANDWICK BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

RACE 1: Hidden Motive $4.60-$3.90, Akaysha $11-$8, Hayek $11-$10, Grand Eagle $15-$12

RACE 2: Sunrise $2.80-$1.90, Everyone’s A Star $11-$6, Oakfield Badger $15-$6.50, Mad Darcey $15-$10

RACE 3: Speedy Henry $4.40-$3.40 with a bet of $2000 at $3.60, Pareto $8-$6, Zampano $8-$7

RACE 4: Zealously $2.30-$1.90 after a bet of $2000 at $2

RACE 5: Saganti $4.60-$3.40

RACE 6: Lisztomania $4.60-$3.90, Piastri $8-$5

RACE 7: Martini Mumma $6-$5.50, Sparkling $11-$8.50, Extremely Rowdy $15-$9.50 including a big bet of $7500 at $11

RACE 8: Ducasse $4.60-$4.40, Wootton Verni $8-$6 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $7.50/$2.60

RACE 9: Colophon $8-$3.90, Engine Room $6-$5

RACE 10: Know Thyself $3.50-$2.30

EARLY QUADDIE

RACE 3: 3, 6, 9, 15

RACE 4: 1, 6

RACE 5: 4, 5, 7, 8

RACE 6: 3, 6, 8, 10

QUADDIE

RACE 7: 1, 2, 8

RACE 8: 2, 3, 5, 13

RACE 9: 3, 9, 10, 15

RACE 10: 1, 2, 8

PRICE CHECK

SUNRISE (race 2) has been a significant shortener with TAB after the scratching of early favourite Photographics. Sunrise, who set a course record to win at Kembla last start, was $2.80 but is now into $1.90 favouritism. Zealously (race 4) has also shortened from $2.30 to $1.90 after a bet of $2000 at $2.

SECTIONAL STARS

SUNRISE (race 2) produced a stunning comeback effort at Kembla Grange over 1000m last month, leading throughout to win by more than seven lengths and stopping the clock at a track record-breaking 55.58sec. She ran her final 600m in a flying 32.23sec.

KNOW THYSELF (race 10) was able to sustain a strong final 600m sprint to win the Country Championships Final. Despite being caught three-wide albeit with cover, then forced even wider on the turn, Know Thyself ran his final 600m in 34.28sec including a closing 200m sectional of 11.61sec to score a narrow but impressive win.

Never doubt yourself!

A finish for the ages in the Country Championships Final, and Know Thyself wins it by a whisker for @Paulmessara and @LGavranich with @Aaronbullock90 aboard! 👏@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/GPLIwD8z0Q

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025

TRIAL POINTERS

PASSEGGIATA (race 4) has looked more like her old self racing away to successive barrier trial wins by big margins in recent weeks. She romped home by four lengths from classy mare Olentia in a 900m Rosehill heat then ran her rivals ragged to win by more than five lengths at Warwick Farm over 822m. She hasn’t won for nearly two years but looks to be coming up really well for this preparation, she’s drawn the rails and handles rain-affected going.

WOOTTON VERNI (race 8) won five of his nine starts in France including a Group 3 in France. He’s had two barrier trials for new trainer Chris Waller and was particularly impressive at Warwick Farm last week when he came from near last, hugged the rail and finished strongly for second behind the speedy Oh Diamond Lil. Champion jockey James McDonald rode Wootton Verni in his latest trial and sticks with the horse for his Australian debut.

BEST BET

ZEALOUSLY (race 4) raced through his grades late last year with three successive wins, leading throughout and winning by comfortable margins. He was then given his chance in The Sunlight and ran very well for fourth behind subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry back in January. Zealously resumed at Warwick Farm earlier this month and trailed leader Wondereach into the straight, ranged up to win but could not get past his race-fit rival, losing narrowly. Zealously will be fitter for that run and is not badly treated at the weights after the claim. He looks placed to advantage.

What a finish! 😮

Wondereach salutes by a nose to grant the @mcsmithracing stable a double! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/LisKJrWMx1

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 2, 2025

VALUE BET

INVADER ZIM (race 6) is resuming but he invariably sprints well fresh as he showed at his last two comeback runs with both second placings at Randwick. Last winter he endured a wide run and was unlucky not to have won over 1300m on a heavy track then last December he was first-up at 1200m and beat all but Disneck who was in rampant form. Invader Zim handles wet tracks and is over the odds around $12.

Originally published as Randwick inside mail: Sydney race looks ideal for Ducasse after draw dents Brisbane bid