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.

Shayne O'Cass rates Italian Informant hard to beat at 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 3m.

RACE 1

Overview: Besson is one of only six two-year-olds by the mercurial and enigmatic Aylmerton foaled in 2020. This one is trained by Jean Dubois who had the father in his all too brief heyday. Must say, the trials have been very good. Hachiman, a son of Brave Smash and a Carinda maiden winning mother. Ran a lot better than it looked on paper behind (the absent) Sovereign Fund at Wyong. Golden Gift runner-up Infatuation and The Little Pumper come through strong races.

Betting Advice: Besson each-way

RACE 2

Overview: Could Cameron Crockett pull off another Highway trifecta on the weekend with the same horses namely Super Extreme, Titration and Indicative? Of the three, you have to think Super Extreme is the most likely to win (again) given his record in Highways. Our Baez is trained by former jockey Pat Murphy who has this well-known barnstormer in mint condition for this weekend’s Highway as a last start winner. Just needs luck from the inside draw however.

Betting Advice: Our Baez each-way

RACE 3

Overview: Strait Acer is a great looking colt who has shown noticeable improvement in every thing he has done from trial to trial and race to race. He showed a lot of ticker and natural ability when he won on the Kensington track on December 2 and has trialled very well again since. Garza Blanca was beaten at $1.75 at Rosehill on December 3 but statistically, and to the eye, he was absolutely outstanding. Glint Of Silver has been an above-average horse from day one and has a winning draw.

Betting Advice: Strait Acer each-way

Jason Collett rides Strait Acer for trainer Edward Cummings on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Overview: No surprise to see Po Kare Kare so well found in the market; her trials have been excellent and she has a compelling strike-rate of two wins and two thirds from the six starts. She is a wee bit tempo and ‘good ride’ reliant but Nash Rawiller is the man. Pretty Wild has raced four times for two wins and two seconds that were by any measure, as good as the wins. Drawn barrier 5 and you would like to think that she can track in there somewhere behind the speed and do her thing once they top the rise. Waverider Buoy is a ‘market watch.’

Betting Advice: Po Kare Kare to win, quinella 2,8

RACE 5

Overview: Edward Cummings has his team flying at the moment and fronts up here with the last start winner Italian Informant who is at his best in high pressure races where he can ambush them late. The big field surely generates the prerequisite tempo for him and you would think he is purpose built for Royal Randwick. Vindication was going great guns until last start. Trialled since and was dead set ‘hidden’ and that’s putting mildly. Oakfield Duke won five in a row at his first prep.

Betting Advice: Italian Informant to win, Vindication each-way, quinella 8,10

RACE 6

Overview: Steely deserves a win more than most horses and with barrier one, Dylan Gibbons, small field, his chances are sound. He doesn’t run bad races in good races too. Jojo Was A Man has a grand record here at home and at the trip. I was all over Shameless Miss first-up (she was $20 but there was some money for her). In the end, it was too short for her but she was really warming to the task late after getting a long way back and caught in traffic. Second-up record is solid to say the least and best of all, she is a Randwick mile winner.

Betting Advice: Shameless Miss to win

RACE 7

Overview: Expecting to see at least some money for Oz Legend on the weekend. He was $18 in first markets on Wednesday but that’s not being fair to a horse who was a lot better than it looked first-up and steps up to a trip that will be a lot more to his liking. If not this start, then certainly the ones after on his way to 2200m and 2400m. Oceanic Flash is working up to a win. The ‘race shape’ was against him here last start. Matron Bullwinkle has a winning draw and is more or less pitchforked into the race after the 2kg off for Dylan Gibbons.

Betting Advice: Oz Legend each-way

Vowmaster (outside) was gallant in defeat first-up and can go one better on Saturday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 8

Overview: Vowmaster was beaten first-up but was the run of the race by panels and probably should have won when it was all said and done. He did as much as any horse can do to show that he is back to his best and his best is very good. The big issue is the draw; 12 of 12 can’t be a positive surely but you never know. Dehorned Unicorn is at the peak of his powers right now; no disgrace in running second to I Am Me. Lancaster Bomber flies second-up and has placed seven of 13 at Randwick.

Betting Advice: Vowmaster to win

RACE 9

Overview: Kettle Hill has raced nine times for three wins and three placings; here and abroad. His only run in Australia was an absolute cracker on the Sandown Hillside track over 1400m. Clearly the step up to the mile is a huge plus given it’s probably the horse’s best trip. Canadian Dancer has a sterling C.V of three wins and three placings from her nine starts. The daughter of Vancouver is a stakes winner in Brisbane and was fifth in the Group 1 Tattersalls Tiara and was beaten a length in the Gateway after that.

Betting Advice: Canadian Dancer each-way

RACE 10

Overview: With Your Blessing has been masterfully managed by John Thompson who has brought him along at his own pace and placed him races that he can gain experience and confidence. Granted, this is another step up the ladder but he is a racehorse in every sense of the word. Soami and Julian Rock both make genuine appeal here at $12 apiece. Contributingfactor could get Dylan Gibbons over the line in the Jockeys Challenge.

Betting Advice: With Your Blessing to win, Soami each-way, box trifecta 5,11,12,13,17

Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s extended preview and tips for Royal Randwick