Saturday racing: The Last Say with the Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas

SATURDAY racing comes to you today from Royal Randwick and Doomben. Here’s all the last minute tips and info from Ray Thomas.

Ray Thomas

4 min read

May 28, 2016 - 8:44AM

Ghisoni (Race three) is Ray’s best bet from Doomben. Picture: Simon Bullard

SATURDAY racing comes to you today from Royal Randwick and Doomben. Here’s all the last minute tips and info from Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas.

ROYAL RANDWICK

Weather: Cool, partly cloudy day with the chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 17c.

Track: Good (4)

Rail: 3m out

DOOMBEN

Weather: Mild, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 24c.

Track: Good (4)

Rail: 4m out

BE WARY: Randwick is still in the good range but expect a downgrade, perhaps even before the first race, as showers are forecast in Sydney today. Randwick doesn’t need a lot of rain these days to impact the racing surface with the inside section usually a no-go zone when the track is rain-affected. Doomben has handled an excessive race workload very well and although sections of the course are pretty worn, particularly near the inside, the track continues to race quite fairly. The rail is out 4m at Doomben which should provide an even surface.

ROYAL RANDWICK

THE BEST BET: Flow (race 1) has been unlucky to bump into two very smart juveniles at his only starts to date. At the Hawkesbury stand-alone Flow finished a close second to the very promising Swear in the Claret Stakes then at a Randwick midweeker over 1400m he was held up at a vital stage as Cadogan unleashed a brilliant burst of acceleration to race clear. Flow stays at 1400m today but this looks a very winnable race.

THE NEXT BEST: Trois Choix (race six) trialled particularly well behind stablemate Kuro prior to her quite dominant win at Randwick on Anzac Day. Trainer Joe Pride has employed a similar strategy going into today’s race having sent the Chosir mare around in an 810m heat at home at Warwick Farm 11-days ago. She wasn’t asked to do much at all but what she did, she did well. In great nick and has the blinkers on first time today.

VALUE BET: Himalaya Dream (race eight) is almost impossible to catch and his recent efforts have been typically inconsistent. He’s at $14 for this race and that appeals as good value because he will likely get a soft lead today and given those circumstances, he could be hard to run down. Apprentice Koby Jennings’s 2kg claim is an added bonus.

THE WHISPER: Bullrush (race nine) is out to a very backable price now at $6. This unbeaten sprinter looks a real talent and has been astutely placed by Team Hawkes, winning each of his four starts. Led and was far too good for his rivals scoring a soft win first-up at Canterbury. The Randwick 1400m start is very fair and Bullrush has the tactical speed to negate his wide barrier. Bullrush is very promising and can win again.

DOOMBEN

THE BEST BET: Ghisoni (race three) was the best of good things beaten in the Arrowifeld Stud Stakes at Randwick during The Championships, going to the line held up behind runners and under a tight hold when fifth to Japonisme. She would have won that race easily and today finds herself back in a fillies and mares race that is not overly strong. Brilliant filly and although she has had six weeks between runs she had a soft trial hitout at Warwick Farm two weeks ago. Should just win.

NEXT BEST: Souchez (race fivet) is a stablemate of Ghisoni and like the filly he goes to Doomben today after a luckless third to Winning Rupert in the Champagne Classic. Souchez motored through between runners when he finally found some clear galloping room last start. This colt will be better suited on a bigger track but he is drawn nicely, should get the perfect run and he will appreciate getting out to 1350m.

VALUE BET: Two Blue (race seven) is racing in career-best form, having won the Sapphire Stakes at Randwick during the autumn carnival, running a brave second to Nancy in the Hawkesbury Crown then leading until well into the straight before her close fourth in the BTC Cup behind Malaguerra. Two Blue will get her own way in front today, is likely to get a soft lead and will prove hard to run down in the Doomben 10,000. At $23, Two Blue is good each way value.

THE WHISPER: Barood (race two) was backed as if unbeatable when resuming two weeks ago but the colt never got out at any stage when sixth to All Summer Long. He was never extended at Scone and goes to Doomben fitter for that run and ready to explode today. Barood does take on a smart field including Mogador but he is a promising colt ready for stakes racing.

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROYAL RANDWICK

In race 1, TAB Fixed Odds reports Barabass $15-$21- $17 with bets of $500 e/w at $15/$3.80, $1,000 at $21, Acatour $7-$4.60 with bets of $300 at $7, $600 at $6, $500 at $5 twice, $400 at $5,$500 at $4.60, Skylight Glow $6-$4.40 including a $1,000 wager at $4.80.

Race 2, Wonderbolt $4.60-$3.80-$3 after a $2,150 bet at $4.20, Star Shaft $6-$4.60-$3.50 with bets of $830 at $6, $250 at $5, $520 at $4.80.

Race 3, Pioneering $2.80-$2.30, Themis $13-$8.

Race 4, Divine Sanction $7.50-$6-$5.50 with a $660 wager at $7.50.

Race 5, I Am Zelady $6-$4.40 after bets of $300 at $6, $400 at $5, Oxford Poet $15-$8.

Race 6, no bets or market movements of note.

Race 7, Raw Impulse $1.80-$1.50 with a $1,500 at $1.50.

Race 8, no bets or market movements of note.

Race 9, Roguish $9-$3.40-$3.60 with bets of $250 at $9, $250 at $5.50, $1,000 at $4.80, $3,000 at $4.60, $6,300 at $4.

DOOMBEN

In race 1, TAB Fixed Odds reports Fine Mist $3.80-$2.60 after bets of $400 at $3.80, $300 at $3.40, $500 at $2.80, $400 at $2.80, $3,000 at $2.60.

Race 2, Mogador $3.80-$3.60-$3.70 with bets of $800 at $3.80, $300 at $3.80, $1,050 at $3.80, Barood $5-$4.20-$4.40 after bets of $500 at $5, $400 at $5.

Race 3, Ghisoni $1.80 unchanged after bets of $3,600 at $1.80, $2,000 at $1.80, $610 at $1.80.

Race 4, No bets or market movements of note.

Race 5, Souchez $3.40-$3 after bets of $300 at $3.40, $500 at $3.20.

Race 6, No bets or market movements of note.

Race 7, Azkadellia $2.80 unchanged after bets of $3,575 at $2.80, $1,000 at $2.80, $1,200 at $2.80, $990 at $2.80, Fell Swoop $6 unchanged with bets of $1,100 at $6, $800 at $6, $990 at $6, $500 at $6, Music Magnate $6-$7, Delectation $6-$5-$4.60 with a $1,500 at $5, Two Blue $31-$23.

Race 8, Mackintosh $2.40-$2.30-$2.20

SANDOWN

In race 1, TAB Fixed Odds reports Arch Fire $3.70-$3.40-$3.50 with a $2,000 wager at $3.70.

Race 2, Ridgway $6-$4.80 with bets of $200 at $6, $1,000 at $5.

Race 3, No bets or market movements of note.

Race 4, Wells $15-$4.80-$5 with wagers of $250 at $15, $500 e/w at $8/$2.53, $500 at $5.

Race 5, Coram $7-$6.50 with bets of $200 at $7, $250 at $6.50.

Race 6, Mr Individual $6-$5.50 after a $500 wager at $5.50.

Race 7, Whirlpool $7-$4.40 including a $1,000 bet at $7, Miles Of Krishan $8.50-$5 with a $1,000 bet at $7.

Race 8, Longeron $6-$5 with a $1,900 wager at $6.

Race 9, Niminypiminy $13-$9 with bets of $200 at $13, $200 at $10, $1,000 at $3 place.

INTERSTATE