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Shayne O’Cass’ tips, analysis for San Domenico Stakes Day at Rosehill on Saturday: Cummings masterpiece to start day on a high

Form student Shayne O’Cass analyses Saturday’s San Domenico Stakes Day meeting at Rosehill Gardens, presenting his race-by-race tips.

Shayne O’Cass
4 min read
August 29, 2024 - 2:23PM
Hold All Tickets - Punters (Episode 45) 31-08-24

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph’s Shayne O’Cass analyses Saturday’s San Domenico Stakes Day meeting at Rosehill Gardens, presenting his race-by-race tips.

RACE 1: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1800m)

ARTS (3) won the Adrian Knox at just her third start which she followed a week later with a very honourable fifth in the ATC Oaks. The Edward Cummings-trained mare is third-up on Saturday in a Midway over 1800m off a 1300m return then a luckless Randwick Mile run. James McDonald on. Just hope she’s not only ‘a wet tracker’. My one time VRC/ATC and Queensland Derby horse, AGITA (5), will appreciate the step to 1800m and more after that. Was good first-up over 1400m. DR EVIL (2) is Mr Midway.

Bet: Arts to win

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RACE 2: MERRYLANDS RSL CLUB HANDICAP (1500m)

Just for context, I was keen on ANAHITA (4) at her first run for Chris Waller but was all alone given she drifted from $21 to $26. For the record, she ran 10th of 11 that day but she was quite good to and through the line. Fancy 1500m suits her better. Speaking of runs that were better than they looked, SWEET MERCY’s (5) ‘7’ and ‘6’ are more than pass marks and her Rosehill 1500/1550m stats are compelling. SEQUESTERED (3) is too consistent to leave out.

Bet: Anahita each-way, quinella 4, 5

RACE 3: TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1400m)

DUE CALZINI (13) can deliver Danielle Seib her eighth or is it ninth Highway on Saturday? It’s lots anyway, This son of D’Argento has a win, a second and a third from five starts. The unplaced runs were in the Paul Perry at Newcastle and the Phoenix at Eagle Farm. Trialled like a bomb at Nowra 11-days ago. UP THE COUNTRY (11) is up and running. Four starts, all seconds this prep, the last one was a huge run behind Winx’s three-quarter sister, Wings Of Desire. SUPER NORWEST (2) has the form and the draw.

Bet: Due Calzini to win, exacta 13 to beat 11

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RACE 4: CAMPBELLTOWN CATHOLIC CLUB HANDICAP (2000m)

The market will provide a lead here when it comes to WALTHAM (8). This GB-import won his first two starts at Leopardstown over 2615m each time prior to his fifth in the Vinnie Roe. This is start one of prep two in Australia and he kicks off in the right race of two lovely trials. ENOTIS (3) is probably the form horse in the race; certainly as fit as any other and more than most. FIRST LIGHT (4) is a player. OUTLANDOS is crazy odds at $61 and $13 the place.

Bet: Waltham each-way, Outlandos to place

RACE 5: CABRA-VALE DIGGERS HANDICAP (1500m)

UP AND UNDER (5) is fresh enough (I hope) for 1500m. He was a barber-shop tip first-up here over 1400m on August 3. To say he was unlucky would be the understatement of the year. He was a certainty beaten in my opinion. Drawn 5, James McDonald. His biggest threat could come from within given the presence of UNUSUAL LEGACY (3) who has won four from six and that should be six from six. ZONDEE (6) paid the price for barrier 11 of 11 here first-up. Hopefully 1 this time is a blessing not a curse.

Bet: Up And Under to win

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RACE 6: SMITHFIELD RSL SAN DOMENICO STAKES (1100m)

Everyone has an opinion, it’s not good sitting on the fence in this sport so here’s mine. GATSBY’S (2) first-up win in the Rosebud was fantastic. STORM BOY’s (1) trials have been underwhelming. If that is the correct assessment, then Gatbsy’s wins, Storm Boy doesn’t. That said, Storm Boy’s chances went up when he drew 1 on a fast track. Me? I am happy to take him on and wear the ignominy if he wins. I think TROPICUS (7) beats him (Storm Boy) home too.

Bet: Gatsby’s to win, Tropicus to place

RACE 7: CMNL UP AND COMING STAKES (1300m)

Paul Perry is a great trainer and he can pull off a blowout now and then. Enter TOTOKA (10) who is $81 and $13 in the Up And Coming, the race Perry won with Fastnet Rock 20 years ago as it happens. Totoka is a filly by Brutal who looks to have come back well judging in her trials, albeit in lesser heats, but I can just see her charging late. We all saw AUTUMN GLOW (5) on debut. She might be top shelf but I can’t take even money. ENRICHED (4), the Winx relation, won with a lot more authority at the midweeks than it reads.

Bet: Totoka each-way

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RACE 8: BANKSTOWN SPORTS HANDICAP (1500m)

The suggestion here from some mapmakers is that there isn’t much pace here which will put the spotlight firmly on James McDonald who has his first ride on CEOLWULF (5) on Saturday. Whatever the pace - or lack of - and wherever he is, I am banking on Ceolwulf’s undoubted class to get him over the line. If indeed there was no speed in the race, it would make it much harder for CHARTERHOUSE (6) but he is clearly holding his (good) form. COMMUNIST (7) has a great draw and was actually quite good in the Tom Kitten race first-up.

Bet: Celowulf to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (5), 2nd Leg (7)

RACE 9: MOUNTIES GROUP HANDICAP (1200m)

BATTLETON (11) took up a chunk of the post-race steward’s report after an eventful first-up run when he was $17 into $13. To cut a long story short, barrier one on that day on that track wasn’t a help. He’s always had a pretty big rap on him and while his win record is three from 27, he has run well in some very good races. That last bit stands true for CAVALIER CHARLES (8). What a great horse he has been and continues to be. Five of his seven wins are circa 1200m. CHRYSAOR (1) is $71? Wow. Maybe not Saturday but he’s got a nice race in him.

Bet: Battleton each-way. Chrysaor to place

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RACE 10: CLUBSNSW HANDICAP (1100m)

Goes without saying that it takes a good horse to win on debut, much less come out and a 64 and 72 after that. That’s the BRIASA (7) story and what we have to underline is that the form has really stood up from each of those wins. Want to see a good trial? Heat 7, August 20. I have been paying a lot of attention to Paul Perry’s Frankel gelding ANGARA (9) throughout. Trialling like he could shock a few of these. BLANC DE BLANC’s (3) own trial was brilliant.

Bet: Briasa to win, Angara each-way, box trifecta 2, 3, 7, 9

Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’ tips, analysis for San Domenico Stakes Day at Rosehill on Saturday: Cummings masterpiece to start day on a high

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