Randwick Turf Talk: Ray Thomas highlights $8 value for first-up specialist on Saturday

Ray Thomas thinks there’s plenty of value to be had for punters with a noted fresh performer at Randwick on Saturday, while Shayne O’Cass is launching into two key Chris Waller runners.

The Kris Lees-trained Memoria is a noted fresh performer and can make her presence felt in the final race at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Ray Thomas thinks there’s plenty of value to be had for punters with a noted fresh performer at Randwick on Saturday, while Shayne O’Cass is launching into two key Chris Waller runners.

Ray Thomas (left) and Shayne O'Cass.

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Shayno: Hello RT. You know as well as anyone, we always seem to get some good two-year-old races at this time of year and by two-year-olds I mean soon to be potentially very good three-year-olds. My case in point is Bartolf.

Thomas: Bartolf was very good on debut at Scone. I liked the way he settled back in the field then reeled in the leaders easily in the run home. The step up to 1400m should be ideal and he might give the new training partnership of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton a winner with their first Sydney Saturday runner.

Bartolf (So You Think x Lesley’s Choice) wins on his debut down at scone!👌🔥

This was a special win for the stable as it was the first win under the new training partnership🙌

Congratulations to all connections! pic.twitter.com/fgQkR0cL1b

— John O'Shea Racing (@JohnOSheaRacing) July 2, 2024

• Randwick Racewatch: Tips, race-by-race analysis for Saturday

Shayno: Speaking of potential, Charming Legend seems to have plenty of it. He was a $550,000 Classic Yearling, who has to take a pretty big step up but he might be a nice horse.

Thomas: Charming Legend, trained by the maestro Les Bridge, won with authority on debut. He looks very promising but the month between runs is a concern. Dr Evil is a real mudlark and I’m leaning his way at the odds.

Shayno: Just for what it is worth, I thought Chris Waller had two of the more interesting horses from a mid to long term aspect – namely King Of Florida, who had no luck first-up, and Aramco, who was unmissable first-up when beaten just a length into fifth behind Highlights at Rosehill.

HOLD THE PHONE ☎️

Highlights holds out Testator Silens in a thrilling finish to Race 9 at Rosehill 📸@BBakerRacingpic.twitter.com/eAQ1hmyUYe

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 29, 2024

Thomas: I’m glad you mentioned Aramco. When I walked off Rosehill two weeks ago I said to myself I’ve got to be on Aramco wherever he goes next. He ran a blinder first-up and is value odds in an open race. As for King Of Florida, he’s part-owned by Rod Lyons of Nature Strip fame and there are good reports about the horse.

Shayno: Randwick played very well indeed last week didn’t it, RT? It should again on Saturday but the more it creeps into the Soft range, the less confident I would be about Magic Pharoah in the Highway and Alicia Roma in the last. Thoughts?

Thomas: Yes, both those horses you mentioned are better on drier tracks. In the Highway, the form around Field The Moment stacks up and I didn’t mind her at double figure odds. I’ve also gone for value in the last with Memoria, a first-up specialist.

The final race at @gosford_races today belongs to Memoria, and it’s a winning treble for Anna Roper! 🙌@Leesracingpic.twitter.com/2BXVUYrBng

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 10, 2024

Shayno: Tipping John O’Shea and Tom Charlton to have a good day. Bartolf for one and I am pretty keen on Captain Amelia who can charge in race six (hopefully).

Originally published as Randwick Turf Talk: Ray Thomas highlights $8 value for first-up specialist on Saturday