Randwick races: Shayne O’Cass’ tips and extended preview

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass examines every race for Royal Randwick on Saturday to point you in the right direction to finding a winner.

Silent Agenda can atone for a luckless last start defeat when he heads to Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Grant Guy

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for the Randwick meeting on Saturday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

RANDWICK

Track: Good 4. Rail: Out 11m 1000m-W/Post, Out 7m remainder

RACE 1

I Am Famous came in as the fourth-top priced yearling at Easter in 2022 at $2 million. For the record, she is by I Am Invincible and is a half-sister to Classique Legend. As for her own ability, she had trialled well before her third at Warwick Farm where she held her own on the worst part of the track. The trip and track suits better this time. Colours Of Autumn didn’t have a whole lot of room in the straight to improve her finishing position (at Kembla) behind Mad Deel who was rather impressive it must be said.

Bet: I Am Famous to win, exacta 13 to beat 12

RACE 2

Tympanist is a dual acceptor; this and the 1800m race. Could win either. Just thinking, is 1800m the better trip for him at this stage? Oakfield Waratah’s consistency speaks for itself but we can’t just gloss over the fact that he is a Midway winner as recently as two starts ago. Good draw helps big time. Speaking of consistency, Decadent Tale has finished on the podium 13 out of 22 starts; five of them wins. Was the eye-catcher in her midweeker last start. Ripped will be strong late as usual.

Bet: Tympanist to win or if scratched, Oakfield Waratah to win and quinella 4, 6

Tympanist is a dial acceptor and looks a leading chance in either race. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 3

Melody Again is a massive talent. No risk in the world that she should be three out of four but none of that really matters except to say the day she lost, she was a certainty beaten and only enhanced her reputation in defeat. Trialled like a bomb in a deep heat the other day. Take The Kitty is unbeaten in his two runs since he left ‘town’ to go up to Matthew Dunn’s horse heaven at Murwillumbah. In easier races yes, but he’s looking good. Iron Will is a major player and so is Rouge Lune.

Bet: Melody Again to win

RACE 4

Tympanist - the dual acceptor - has been racing without much luck all campaign. He could have been closer in a better 1800m Benchmark 78 than this one when he raced at Rosehill two weeks ago. Louisville, the grandson of Jezabeel, is ‘212’ in his three Australian runs. The 1800m is bang on the money now. Estadio Mestalla may not have run the 2000m out last start, a trial, back to 1800m and we start again. Awesome Wonder will be swooping if they are ‘allowed’ to on the day.

Bet: Tympanist to win or if scratched, Louisville to win

RACE 5

Capitol Queen was capital ‘O’ outstanding when she won on debut at Canterbury on Jan 6. Four weeks later she led and faded in the Eskimo Prince and was spelled. Great trial the other day and has box one with the rail out a lot. Dakota Vroom, the $1.2 million Easter yearling and first foal of Blue Diamond winner Catchy, was very good in defeat on debut, spelled, and resumed with a win just totally inked by class and quality. This is much harder but she is bound for better again in time.

Bet: Capitol Queen to win, exacta 11 to beat 12, quinella 11, 12

RACE 6

Cosmic Minerva was every bit as good as the winner, probably better, when he ran second at Rosehill last time out over 1300m. Third-up and 1400m now are the two big pluses. Granted, he is up in class - big time - but he gets in with 52kg. Major Artie has his first start for Richard and Will Freedman and he just couldn’t have trialled any better, twice, lately. Battleton got the luck and the ride that he needed to win last Saturday.

Bet: Cosmic Minerva to win

RACE 7

Ottilie has raced 12 times for four wins and four seconds. Is a known leader/on-pacer, you would have to assume that the rail placement is favourable to horses with her pattern? Barrier 3 certainly boosted her chances. This looks doable from every angle. Overriding is also a four-time winner but he has only needed half the number of starts as Ottilie to get there. Untapped and seemingly still on an upward trajectory. If they can make ground, Red Tracer’s daughter, Fearnought, might be the one.

Bet: Ottilie to win

Ottilie looks a good chance from a nice barrier on Saturday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 8

You could make a case that Silent Agenda should have won at Rosehill last Saturday. Joe Pride is the master of keeping these veterans going at a high level for a long time (Eduardo being exhibit A). Silent Agenda is rising eight, has 63 starts under his belt and is peaking. Very interested in Tazaral here. The Irish-bred son of Fastnet Rock has trialled as well, if not better, than any horse you could find on Saturday.

Bet: Silent Agenda to win, quinella 6, 9

RACE 9

First In Line was $21 for no good reason first-up here on June 24 bearing in mind he was only beaten three and three-quarter lengths in the Canberra Cup behind Arapaho and Explosive Jack at the last run of the prior campaign and what’s more, he trialled well in the lead-in. Long story short, he ran a close third, trialled again since, and is ready and able. Lots to like about Logan Street Lion and naturally the horse that beat him last start, Attractable.

Bet: First In Line to win

RACE 10

Troach, the daughter of Anise and great granddaughter of Twiglet, is a classy filly but there are a few things against her on Saturday namely the wide draw with the rail out and in a high pressure race. Added to that, she is zero from four at Randwick. That said, she looks to be in great shape through the trials. Tristate is also zero from four at Randwick but he has been in some pretty solid races don’t forget. Very wary of Keshana who is trialling like a bomb.

Bet: Troach to win, Keshana to place, box trifecta 3, 4, 5, 10

Originally published as Randwick races: Shayne O’Cass’ tips and extended preview