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 Rosehill 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: Soft 5. Rail: Out 4m.
RACE 1
Overview: Mojave Desert was the sale-topper at the Melbourne Premier Yearling auction in 2022 selling for $950,000. The colt is by I Am Invincible (who else) out of Fine Bubbles who also happens to be the dam of Breeders’ Plate runner-up, Covert Ops. Three trials for this one, all of them very good. Coincide has the Barber form, Rockabilly Rebel has the trial form but a troublesome barrier. Ditto for Don Corleone. Rare Godolphin purchase Fleetwood and $400,000 yearling High King both trialled really well.
Bet: Mojave Desert each-way
RACE 2
Overview: Crafty Eagle had all the favours (thanks to Keagan Latham) at Gosford but due credit to the horse himself, he hit it out of the park. Seems a suitably progressive sort drawn well again. Dr Evil’s chances went up when James McDonald took the ride. Nicochet has won just five times in 70 starts but he has placed on 24 occasions; how many of them would have been wins but for his pattern, bad luck, bad rides etc? Racing himself into peak form and fitness and only has 52kg on the weekend.
Bet: Nicochet each-way on Saturday or Friday night if he heads to Canterbury
RACE 3
Overview: Mogo Magic had no trouble with the ‘maiden to Class 1’ challenge; he won the maiden by almost seven lengths then won the Class 1 by three and a half-lengths. Can sum him up in two words, one is ‘fast’, the other is ‘untapped’. Gallant Star has something verging on a ‘winning draw’ on Saturday. Sparring gets James McDonald to help with that draw. Syrian Star would win most Highways but this isn’t most Highways.
Bet: Mogo Magic to win
RACE 4
Overview: Oceanic Flash has been on an upward trajectory all campaign, albeit only three runs down and with plenty still left to offer. He goes up from a Benchmark 78 to an 88 but he drops 4kg as a result and there’s nothing too scary here. Logan Street Lion has a very good record of 12 starts for five wins, three seconds a third. Better yet, he is a last start winner with 60.5kg. Any one of the horses on the second or third line of betting could win. Tony Be for one but he needs it gift wrapped. Almania caught the eye at her Australian debut.
Bet: Oceanic Flash each-way
RACE 5
Overview: Passeggiata beat walkers at Gosford on debut but not the next time; and she did it with much the same M.O. - sustained speed. If she does it again on Saturday, more power to her but speed might not be enough alone to win this. Backrower is a half-brother to Le Romain and hasn’t put a foot wrong in his four starts to date. He won two of those, both at Newcastle, The two times he didn’t win, only Osipenko, Madame Pommery and Manzoice finished ahead of him.
Bet: Backrower to win, quinella 2,8
RACE 6
Overview: Cuban Royal won his 57th and 58th starts and was perhaps unlucky not to have his 59th given the way the race was run. That is to say, he got back while the winner led and controlled the race throughout. If he gets it run to suit, he can get home strongly. Vreneli was gifted that win last start. Surely there is some pressure applied this time from the likes of Titanium Power for one. Nicolini Vito, a great grandson of Startling Lass, has won seven from 22 and placed six times. Impressive stuff.
Bet: Cuban Royal each-way
RACE 7
Overview: Banana Queen at the mile? The pros are her pattern and that she is by So You Think. Could also throw in that she is super fit and in-form. Me? I’m not saying ‘no’ but this is a Randwick mile. Cap Estel had trialled rather well prior to her return to racing at Canterbury on New Year’s Day in an unsuitably short 1200m Benchmark 72. She drew barrier 8, was last at the turn but closed off very well to be beaten a diminishing three and a half-lengths by Ringmaster no less. Mile (tick), Randwick (tick).
Bet: Cap Estel to win, quinella 4,8
RACE 8
Overview: Kanazawa is not the top tier of the Godolphin string but he is a very honest and reputable gelding; so much so that James Cummings would probably like a stable full of horses like him. Kanazawa has a hugely compelling record at the Randwick 1400m and he trialled like a bomb the other day. Frumos was unlucky to get beaten two starts ago but lucky to win last time in my opinion. Put it down to Nash Rawiller and the rails run.
Bet: Kanazawa to win
RACE 9
Overview: You can still get $1.02 about James McDonald winning the Jockeys Premiership. If you are looking for a more immediate collect, maybe the Jockeys Challenge is more your go. If he hasn’t got it sewn up by now, Bullfinch probably seals the deal. Bazooka more or less set the scene for the Rosehill Jan 7 win at his first-up run here on New Year’s Eve. He has never been a first-up performer but improves with at least one run under his belt. You would imagine he would hold his form for a while longer into this preparation.
Bet: Bazooka each-way
RACE 10
Overview: Denise’s Joy descendant Narito was very good in defeat first-up finishing second to Passeggiata who may or may not have franked the form by now. As for Narito, he has a few more dimensions to him than her and others in that he can settle handy or worse and always let down. Nice horse for now and the future. Po Kare Kare was outstanding first-up (Nash helped) when she won at Randwick on New Year’s Day. Pretty short now but wholly reliable and is unbeaten in her two second-up runs.
Bet: Narito to win, American President to place
Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s extended preview and tips for Royal Randwick
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