Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses Saturday’s 10-race card at Royal Randwick, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis.

  

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses Saturday’s 10-race card at Royal Randwick, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis.

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RACE 1: Recognition Day Handicap (2yo, 1100m)

TYRONE’S POWER (8) finished an honourable third in his first trial to Chicama and Beadman then won his next one 18-days later, easily handling The Little Master. Point being, there are some pretty strong Heats and it is clear from what he has done that he is ready for his debut. Great draw (2). The issue/negative is that there are some 2YOs here with very, very good form/race experience. Take BESKAR (1), for example – he walked in on debut then was a half-length third to North England and King of Pop in the Kindergarten.

BET: TYRONE’S POWER (8) each-way.

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RACE 2: Midway Benchmark 72 (1100m)

PHOTOGRAPHICS (3) has a tidy set of numbers; not least that two of her three career wins have been here at home, both with Molly Bourke in the saddle for her boss, Sarge. The daughter of Per Incanto has had a month between runs but kept ticking over (like a Rolex I might add) winning a 1050m trial here on April 14.

BET: PHOTOGRAPHICS (3) to win.

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RACE 3: Highway Handicap (Class 3, 1000m)

ZAMPANO (11) won the prestigious Romantic Dream at home at Tamworth on debut then went to Gunnedah and won again a month later. Spelled, failed first-up and was spelled, but resumed this time (on March 28) with a massive ‘from the back’ third. Now there’s another dimension to the horse. SPEEDY HENRY (15) is unbeaten in two starts; not sure about the opposition but he’s running time and is from a noted ‘Highway stable’. MASSIRA (1) has bankable Highway form.

BET: ZAMPANO (11) to won, exacta 11 to beat 15.

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RACE 4: Benchmark 78 (1000m)

ZEALOUSLY (1) went from Maiden winning to Benchmark 72 winner in three starts in the summer of 2024 which led him to the Sunshine Coast on Jan 4, 2025, for the $3 million Sunlight when and where he clocked in an admirable fourth to Private Harry no less. His ‘best’ is better than the rest’s ‘bests’ IMHO. JW Kelly owned and bred EXTRAVAGENT LAD (3) has won six times with 11 placings in 25 starts. If you think that’s impressive, he has posted four wins and five placings from 11 runs over the 1000m. IRON HAT (9) is pitched in here!

BET: ZEALOUSLY (1) to win.

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RACE 5: Benchmark 94 (1800m)

STATE OF AMERICA (4) has finished with a medal 18 times in 33 starts; with seven wins. That’s pretty impressive stuff. So too is the fact that he has a 50 per cent strike-rate at the track and trip. To cap it all off, he is a last start winner who has a proven ability to hold his form. Lightly-raced French Group horse, SAGANTI (3), has presumed natural improvement in store off that very narrow loss to State Of America when he made his Down Under debut over 1600m. This trip is better again for him.

BET: STATE OF AMERICA (4) to win, quinella 3,4.

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RACE 6: Colts, Horses & Geldings Benchmark 78 (1200m)

STEP ASIDE (6)’s first-up record is two wins and a second from five fresh runs. Of course we have to scrub one of those given he lost the rider (Tommy Berry) first-up last preparation. He hasn’t been away from racing for all that long so one trial probably suffices … well, if Waller thinks so, then so do I. Stablemate INVADER ZIM (10) is good here at Randwick and good early in his preparations too. The bottom line with both of them is what price they are about 10 minutes before they jump.

BET: STEP ASIDE (6) to win (best bet).

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RACE 7: Fillies & Mares Benchmark 78 (1200m)

TRAFALGAR SQUARE (13) has only managed one win in 15 starts but she has contested a Golden Gift, Kindergarten Stakes, Clarendon Stakes, Silver Shadow and Furious Stakes – and has run rather well in some of them. There was so much to like about her first-up run behind Candlewick in that WF 1200m on April 16. Reckon she is the ‘weight horse’ of the day with 52kgs. MARTINI MUMMA (9) is first-up out of the Kosciuszko. She was fourth in the Denise’s Joy around this time last year. PAJANTI (7) could be in for a really good prep.

BET: TRAFALGAR SQUARE (13) each-way, PAJANTI (7) to place.

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RACE 8: Benchmark 100 (1500m)

PUNCH LANE (4) won the Glasshouse in 2024 and was runner-up in the Shannon Stakes that same spring. He was solid, at least, in the Star Kingdom first-up. He was the run of the race, IMHO, in that Benchmark 100 last Saturday at HQ. Regarding the seven day back-up, he raced eight-days prior to winning the Glasshouse. GREBENI (5) was rather unlucky behind LAVISH EMPIRE (17) (runs here too) in the Muswellbrook. Both are major players as is Ducasse. Big, big watch on WOOTTON VERNI (10)!

BET: PUNCH LANE (4) to win, box trifecta 3,4,5,10, DD 1st Leg 4, 2nd Leg 12.

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RACE 9: 3&4yo Benchmark 72 (1400m)

AUTOMNE TREE (19) is one of those Waller horses that will/might head to Queensland this winter. I think he could win a good race or two at anything from a mile up to the Derby. He’s bred to stay being by The Autumn Sun and from the same family as Gold Trip. Going to need luck to make the cut, that’s all. LINKS (11) has accepted for Kensington today. Runs well wherever she goes. LADY BOSS (12) has a wide draw but is talented and consistent. Ditto for DUVANA (14).

BET: AUTOMNE TREE (19) to win (best each-way).

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RACE 10: Benchmark 78 (1600m)

James McDonald’s last three rides on the card tomorrow have drawn barriers 12, 17 and 19 (minus scratchings, etc). Now even though 19 is the biggest number, it probably matters least on the day given this is the Doncaster start. Long story short, he’ll be on KIND WORDS (12) in the last for Kris Lees. She was a handy 3YO (she ran 4th in the Queensland Oaks) and has been very good in her two starts back over 1400m, including a three-lengths 6th of 15 in the Provincial Championship Final. Peaks now. POPPIN’ CHAMPAGNE (9) was good enough to place fourth in Lekvarte’s G2 ATC Angst at her only run at the t/d.

BET: KIND WORDS (12), POPPIN’ CHAMPAGNE (9) each-way, quinella 9,12.

Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday