Shayne O’Cass’s extended preview and tips for Royal Randwick
Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass examines every race for All Aged Stakes Day 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, at Randwick 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 7m 1000m-W/Post, Out 4m remainder.
RACE 1
Overview: Osipenko was beaten a length and quarter by Anamoe in the George Ryder and was two lengths off Mr Brightside in the Doncaster which reads well given that the son of Pierro is back to his own age on Saturday. The 2000m? In-bred 4x4 to Sadler’s Wells. That helps. Pericles’ sibling, Helmet, won the Champagne Stakes despite his best efforts to get himself beat. Pericles will appreciate the 2000m more than the 2400m in the Derby. My Truth will be out in front and aim to catch these others napping.
The Bet: Osipenko to win
RACE 2
Overview: Preemptory has had his share of bad luck and at the worst possible times. Remember the Randwick Highway, both of them? Or the one at Rosehill at his last start? He doesn’t help himself but if he gets a clear run, he could ambush them all late. James McDonald has ridden Super Extreme twice and won Randwick Highways each time. The stablemate Salire is trialling up a storm. Remlaps Commander is the raw talent in the race.
The Bet: Preemptory each-way
RACE 3
Overview: Floating, a son of the underrated racehorse and stallion Puissance De Lune has a good race in him. The Matthew Smith-trained grey has a big finish and when they get the tempo and the timing right, he can change the race complexion and outcome very quickly. Speed Legend has been rather good this campaign with three rock solid runs. He ran nearly as well as Floating did at Warwick Farm yet one’s $2.60 and the other is $23. Mother Duck’s great granddaughter Mayrose isn’t going as badly as those two recent 0’s would suggest.
The Bet: Speed Legend each-way, box trifecta 5, 6, 11, 12
RACE 4
Overview: Say hello to the system horse, Renaissance Woman, the great granddaughter of Lady Jakeo. For those who don’t know, the system is first-up out of a Derby or an Oaks. And just to add some spice to the mix, you wouldn’t find one racing on the weekend that trialled any better than she did the other week. Magic Time is trained by Grahame Begg for the esteemed owner and breeder John Muir. Could be a big day for Mr Muir as he bred and part owns Townsend who is out of the Begg guided, Secret Admirer.
The Bet: Renaissance Woman to win
RACE 5
Overview: James Cummings has won this race two of the last four years with Trekking then Kementari (Nash Rawiller). His best chance in 2023 has to be Vilana (Rawiller on board) partly owing to the fact that he is unbeaten in two runs at Randwick and both 1200m runs. Loves the wet. The more the sun shines and more the track dries out, the prospects of a Juan Diva win increase. This is one Snitzel that definitely prefers it firm underfoot. Juan Diva is a ‘good trialler’ but she has been outstanding even by her standards.
The Bet: Juan Diva each-way (major caveat; on Soft 5 or better)
RACE 6
Overview: Pink Ivory, the Gerry Harvey-bred daughter of Lotteria is ready to deliver a peak performance this preparation at start three of same. Just for the record, she was runner-up in the Aspiration, fourth in the Epona on Slipper Day and off a lovely little cameo trial here 12-days ago. Sunshine Rising is getting close now. Protagonist is four from seven circa ten furlongs. Lion’s Roar is a Randwick Guineas and Ingham runner-up and is ready for 2000m now.
The Bet: Pink Ivory to win, Lion’s Roar to place
RACE 7
Overview: Militarize, a $550,000 Dundeel son was born and bred to win a Derby and he still might but what a naturally gifted colt he must be to have run third in a Todman, massive excuses in the Slipper and then wins the Sires’. He should be better again at the mile. Imagine how much Don Corleone would be worth if he won the Blue Diamond and Sires’ Produce instead of running second in both races. Has to find three and a half lengths from somewhere though to turn the tables on Militarize.
The Bet: Militarize to win
RACE 8
Overview: Giga Kick at 1400m? I would think there is enough there in one or two of his eight runs that suggests it won’t be a big issue. Still, he is racing a lot of horses who are well and truly proven at the 1400m. Jacquinot is a Golden Rose winner just to mention one rival. Barrier 11 of 12 makes a hard task harder for the horse but he is potentially very special. Can’t tip them all but look at some of these odds; Lost And Running $26, Cascadian $10, Mazu and Private Eye both $8. Zaaki? Just a great horse.
The Bet: Giga Kick to win
RACE 9
Overview: Cotehele’s first-up record is four starts for two of the most emphatic wins you would see. He was a huge fourth at Warwick Farm another time and the only other ‘fresh’ run was in the Silver Eagle where he was sixth beaten three lengths. Trialled like he wins on Saturday. Welwal ran in the French 1000 Guineas and French Derby at his sixth and seventh starts respectively and was mighty unlucky in the Golden Eagle at his eighth. He is flying.
The Bet: Cotehele to win, Welwal and Glounthaune to place, box trifecta 4, 6, 14, 16
RACE 10
Overview: Democracy Manifest, a great grandson of Satin Sands, one of Max Lees’ five Coolmore Classic winners, is deadly first-up. You could make a case to say he ought to be four from four fresh. He’s won on a Heavy 9 and 10. Super Helpful ran himself into the dust two runs ago then got way too far back and was left with too much to do 10-days later. He might be the ‘place’ bet of the day - all day. Hellfest is the one but only if it’s no worse than Soft.
The Bet: Hellfest to win, Super Helpful to place box trifecta 7, 9, 12, 13
Rain only concern for Moody filly at Flemington
Talented filly Eneeza has one box left to tick this spring when she begins her campaign in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Sargent buoyed by Sea’s Group 1 potential
With one eye on Group 1 goals later this spring, trainer John Sargent is expecting China Sea to lay down a marker in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Dulcify Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: Mitch’s moral ‘just wins’
Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate the chances in all the big races at Royal Randwick on Saturday, where Mitch has a moral on a day featuring three Group 1s and a Premiere sprint.