Shayne O’Cass’s extended preview and tips for Royal Randwick
Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass examines every race at Royal Randwick on Saturday to point you in the right direction to finding a winner.
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 8m 1600m to Winning Post. out 5m remainder.
RACE 1
Overview: Madeira Sunrise is an I Am Invincible direct descendant of broodmare gem Summoned who was so good that they named a Group race after her. This $200,000 Magic Millions purchase has in fact trialled like a million dollars and gets barrier 3 and the world’s best jockey to assist with the debut. Sicilian was in the market when fading somewhat in the Gimcrack. Spelled and won both trials since like a horse who is ‘ready’ if not in fact ‘primed’. Speaking of trials, Mexico trials like a good horse.
The Bet: Madeira Sunrise to win
RACE 2
Overview: Have to admit it, but I wasn’t totally sold on Banana Queen at the mile for the first time here 14-days ago. Turned out she ran it no problems, but barrier 1 and the race shape helped out a bit too. Still, she knows how to win and she just keeps on doing it. Cosmic Minerva hasn’t been around all that long but has already earned a reputation as being honest and no doubt handy too. On the back-up, top alley, top jockey, top chance. Lekvarte (her fourth dam is Toy Show by the way) has claims so too Ella Te Ama.
The Bet: Banana Queen to win
RACE 3
Overview: Saturday will be Healthy Beauty’s first metropolitan run but it was a matter of when and not if she would race in town. Sarge has seasoned her up for what lies ahead and she seems to be a mare getting better all the time. Up to this. James McDonald is sticking with Dr Evil and understandably so given the $4,000 Scone Yearling and now $200,000 stable earner ran his usual honest and competitive race here on Jan 21. If this was only 1800m. Go Troppo peaks here and now.
The Bet: Healthy Beauty to win, Go Troppo to place
RACE 4
Overview: Preemptory was beaten under five lengths by In The Congo when both debuted on the Kensington track in May 2021. One has gone on, the other hasn’t but ‘the other’ is ready to peak here fourth-up off a very nice trial at Goulburn. Sensing an ambush here. What price is J-Mac in the Jockeys Challenge? He’s back on Super Extreme on Saturday having won a Highway on the Scone gelding here at Randwick on Dec 17. Amulet Street is ‘21122313’ since Clint Lundholm bought him - wow.
The Bet: Preemptory each-way
RACE 5
Overview: The best system in racing (in my opinion) is first-up out of an Oaks/Derby final run. Works for Sydney and Melbourne Cups too. Enter the Team Hawkes recruit Aravene who was last seen finishing down the order in the Queensland Oaks. She’s bred on the Fastnet Rock/Zabeel cross and just by the way, that was a fantastic seventh of eight in the Jan 27 Rosehill trial. James McDonald reunites with Pretty Wild on Saturday since that easy maiden win at Warwick Farm on the first day of Winter. I think they will ride her with cover this time and let rip late.
The Bet: Aravene to win
RACE 6
Overview: Soulcombe has the distinction of being the ruling Melbourne Cup favourite. Just for the record, Soulcombe won the Queen’s Cup at his only and only Australian start. Past winners include Tim Whiffler, Phar Lap, Rising Fast, Even Stevens, Galileo, Rain Lover, Hyperno, Might And Power and Makybe Diva. Regarding Saturday, if he is ‘ready’ he is better than the rest. Banju has race fitness on his side and a weight pull but the two Waller horses – Soulcombe and No Compromise - are 100+ raters. They might just be too classy.
The Bet: Soulcombe to win
RACE 7
Overview: Quick Tempo is among the ‘others quoted’ with the TAB to win the Oakleigh Plate. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if finds himself inserted into the Fixed Odds market after Saturday. The two words that sum up this horse are ‘underrated’ and ‘unlucky’. If he gets a quick tempo and clear air, he might be an Oakleigh Plate runner at his next start. Remarque trials like an Everest horse but he’s just not the most reliable betting proposition in town. Andermatt has won four of six first-up. Kote could prove hard to catch with the lightweight.
The Bet: Quick Tempo to win
RACE 8
Overview: Opinion time. Chris Waller’s big movers in 2023 are Soulcombe, Waterford and Osipenko. Soulcombe runs in the previous, Waterford’s at home while my own personal Guineas moral, Osipenko, opens his campaign in the Eskimo Prince. If he doesn’t win, London to a brick on, he is the run of the race. Aft Cabin is an interesting horse going forward, a lot of them are in the Eskimo Prince of course, but we should get to learn a bit more about this son of Astern and whether he is in fact going got be top-tier like Paulele.
The Bet: Osipenko to win
RACE 9
Overview: Star Sparks has raced 10 times for five wins and two seconds. We can attribute that strike-rate to two things; Tulloch Lodge bone and muscle and his pattern. Tipping Josh Parr has him out on front and making the other work for the win (again). Kettle Hill needs to win back a few friends. Wishing that Night Of Power was here instead of the other race because I reckon he’d nearly be a good thing or at least give us something to back. If not him then Lekvarte. If neither show up then all roads lead to King Ratel who loves Randwick; it just plays to his strengths.
The Bet: Night Of Power to win or Lekvarte to win or King Ratel to win
RACE 10
Overview: Lindermann is close enough to a replica, lookswise anyway, of his father, Lonhro. This lightly-raced three-year-old has done some very good things in his seven starts. His best run was his last run when a close second in the 1800m Listed race on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington. Trialled twice and was the best in both of them. In for a mighty good preparation. Okay, it’s not going to happen but if James McDonald happens to have won the last nine races, he’d be a big chance for ‘the card’ with Sacrimony in such good form.
The Bet: Lindermann to win (best bet)
Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s extended preview and tips for Royal Randwick
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