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Inside Mail: Ray Thomas’ best bets for Royal Randwick on Saturday

Trainer Michael Freedman hopes blinkers can provide Bunker Hut with a winning edge on Saturday. Get Ray Thomas’s tips and inside mail for Royal Randwick.

Ray Thomas
5 min read
December 27, 2024 - 2:41PM
Bunker Hut, pictured winning at Rosehill in September last year, is Ray Thomas’ best bet of the day at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
Bunker Hut, pictured winning at Rosehill in September last year, is Ray Thomas’ best bet of the day at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Trainer Michael Freedman is banking on blinkers providing Bunker Hut with a winning edge for the Captivant At Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Bunker Hut has lost narrowly in successive starts since resuming with Freedman believing the gear change might be the difference.

“Tommy Berry (jockey) jumped off him at Randwick last start and said maybe it was time to go back to a full set of blinkers for the horse,’’ Freedman said.

“We worked Bunker Hut in blinkers on Tuesday morning and he went very well so he will wear them on Saturday.’’

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Bunker Hut hasn’t won a race over further than 1300m for more than two years but Freedman was confident the Randwick 1400m course was ideal for the five-year-old gelding.

“I feel he has come back in very good order,’’ Freedman said.

“He was unlucky to finish second at Kembla first-up then just got beaten by a bob of the heads last start.

“I’m very happy with the horse, he has trained on well and he should be hard to beat.’’

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday

Bunker Hut is at $5.50 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting behind the Team Hawkes-trained Liberty State ($3.70).

Freedman was also optimistic about the chances of Queen Of The Mile in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1200m) and juvenile first-starter Apocalyptic in the Petaluma Handicap (1100m).

Queen Of The Mile, who is owned by Darby Racing which also races Bunker Hut, has returned in very good form this summer, winning at Canterbury first-up then finishing a game third to Bauhinia in the Wyong Magic Millions.

“I thought Queen Of The Mile ran a terrific race at Wyong,’’ Freedman said.

“She is a very genuine mare and I think she is suited coming back to a fillies and mares benchmark 78 race. She will put herself into the mix somewhere.’’

• RAY & DUFF: Ray Thomas, Ron Dufficy’s tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday

Freedman is also optimistic Apocalyptic can run competitively on debut in a strong two-year-old race.

A $400,000 Magic Millions Yearling Sale graduate, Apocalyptic has impressed at both her recent barrier trials including an easy win at Hawkesbury last week.

“Apocalyptic is a very nice filly,’’ Freedman said. “We gave her a soft trial at Canterbury then I thought she was very good at Hawkesbury.

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“This is a strong two-year-old race, probably stronger than I expected with a few of them coming out of the Wyong Magic Millions.

“They have race experience and a bit of fitness on their side but I think she can acquit herself well.’’

Freedman admitted he was in two minds whether to start the consistent Yiska in the James Squire Handicap (1200m).

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RANDWICK BIG BETS, MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Gallo Nero has firmed from $6 to $4.40 after a $3000 bet at $4.40
Race 2: Sir Remlap $8-$7, Shropshire Lad $15-$7
Race 3: Silvanito $6-$5, It’s A Wonder $8-$6
Race 4: Point And Shoot $15-$4, Unconquerable $11-$7.50
Race 5: Jewellery $3.60-$2.80, Queen Of The Mile $8-$5, Anavinci $11-$7.50, Left Field $11-$8
Race 6: Amazing Eagle $4.60-$3.70, Disneck $8-$5.50
Race 7: Midnight Opal $4.60-$4, August Bloom $8-$7, High Blue Sea $15-$7.50
Race 8: Saltcoats $3.60-$3.20, Bullets High $6-$5.50, Soldier Of Rome $15-$10
Race 9: Darling Downs $6-$4.20, Justela $11-$10

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EARLY QUADDIE
Race 2: 4,8,9,14
Race 3: 1,2,3,8
Race 4: 6,8,10
Race 5: 1,3,4

QUADDIE
Race 6: 2,3,4,9
Race 7: 2,3,8,10
Race 8: 5,8,16
Race 9: 6,7,8,13

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PRICE CHECK

GALLO NERO (Race 1) is the best-backed runner on the Randwick program. He has firmed from $6 into $4.40 for the two-year-old opener including a bet of $3000 at $4.40. There’s also been some significant shorteners on the program including SHROPSHIRE LAD (Race 2) who was $15 but is now into $7 and firming. POINT AND SHOOT (Race 4) opened at generous odds of $15 but has firmed dramatically into $4.

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TRIAL POINTERS

APOCALYPTIC (Race 1) is a well-bred filly by Newgate’s champion sire Extreme Choice out of the unraced Shadow, herself a direct descendant of the great Emancipation, and was purchased for $400,000 at the Magic Millions Sale. Trained by Michael Freedman, Apocalyptic has shaped promisingly in two barrier trials this month, most particularly at Hawkesbury two weeks ago when she came from off speed and finished strongly to win her heat by just over a length. She’s making her debut in a strong two-year-old race but she looks to have her share of ability.

UNCONQUERABLE (Race 4) has developed into a strong, powerful mare and her two recent trials suggests she is set for a very good summer preparation. She cruised through her Randwick 740m heat to win comfortably then was very impressive winning a Rosehill 900m trial earlier this month. Unconquerable led throughout in that trial and was obviously keen to go much faster but was kept under a very tight hold. This daughter of super sire I Am Invincible is primed to run well fresh.

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SECTIONAL STARS

EMMADELLA (Race 3) ran a blinder first-up when a fast finishing fourth behind the talented Zoubaby at Randwick two weeks ago. Emmadella was in an awkward position between runners near the rear of the field on the turn and was held up getting out wider. She lost valuable momentum at that point before emerging from the pack and running on to just miss a place. Emmadella ran her final 600m in a race-best 33.41s including a closing 200m in 11.59s despite having an interrupted run.

DISNECK (Race 6) returned to his best with a fast finishing win over the Randwick 1200m course two weeks ago. The Bjorn Baker-trained Disneck came from near last on the turn and unleashed a brilliant closing 600m sectional of 32.94s to run down EYE OF THE FIRE near the line. Disneck’s 600m sectional was the best of the meeting as was his final 200m of a fast 11.27s.

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BEST BET

BUNKER HUT (Race 7) is bursting to win a race. He was unlucky to lose to The Novelist at Kembla Grange in a tight finish then looked home at Randwick two weeks ago only to be collared right on the line by Perfect Thought. Bunker Hut is winless in eight attempts at 1400m but he has been in the minor placings in six of those races. He gets the blinkers on and is ready to win.

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VALUE

SUTTON VELLA (Race 2) was very unlucky in a Randwick 1000m Highway two weeks ago when she came from well back on the turn to finish fast for third to Ticklebelly. Sutton Vella had to weave her way through the field and should have finished even closer. She ran her final 600m in 33.21s despite racing in restricted room. Sutton Vella hasn’t won beyond 1000m but is very fit and racing like she will appreciate 1200m. In a very open Highway, Sutton Vella is great value at $12.

Originally published as Inside Mail: Ray Thomas’ best bets for Royal Randwick on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/tips/inside-mail-ray-thomas-best-bets-for-royal-randwick-on-saturday/news-story/f29f43dc452f791f6831fbeb03e9239f