Turk talk with Ray and Christian: Silent Achiever or It’s a Dundeel at The Championships

RAY Thomas and Christian Nicolussi go head to head in the big horse racing issues of the day.

Emily Murphy rides It's aDundeel at Altona Beach.

RAY Thomas and Christian Nicolussi go head to head in the big horse racing issues of the day.

NICOLUSSI: I WAS deadset stuck on Silent Achiever and It’s A Dundeel. I ended up going the former, simply because she’d had her fellow Kiwi’s measure the past two starts. Everywhere I’ve turned today on track at Randwick, somebody wants to tip me It’s A Dundeel. I hope I’ve pulled the right rein.

THOMAS: This is some race. Silent Achiever is flying but, like you, I’ve heard this strong top for It’s A Dundeel. I’m leaning to It’s A Dundeel — by a millimetre.

NICOLUSSI: Silent Achiever is a mare in form. Remember how well Appearance raced earlier this prep. She was seriously motoring on the turn in The BMW. She’ll make her move 300m out, I just hope she can outsprint It’s A Dundeel. I really do think it’s a two-horse race.

THOMAS: So, you don’t rate Carlton House, any of Chris Wallers’ five runners, or any of the others? This is a seriously good race, Nico? I suppose you can never be accused of sitting on the fence.

NICOLUSSI: If Team Waller is to get the cash, it will be Royal Descent … for third. I’ll happily take Waller’s Catkins and Red Tracer to quinella the Queen Of The Turf.

THOMAS: The Queen of the Turf does look a two-horse race. They are two terrific mares and remember their only previous clash in the Myer Classic at Flemington last spring? It was a beauty with Red Tracer just winning, but I think this might be Catkins’ turn. In the Sydney Cup, I’d love to see Tommy Berry win on The Offer — but have you heard the tip for Voleuse De Couers?

NICOLUSSI: They spruiked her before The BMW, and she was supposed to fly through the wet. That didn’t prove the case, and she does have to carry her share of weight. The Offer looked gone at the turn last Saturday, but would have won by a bigger margin had the Chairman’s Handicap gone any further.

THOMAS: I don’t think there are many chances in the Oaks — Lucia Valentina, Zanbagh and Rising Romance stand out to me. But this race does have a history of upset results.

NICOLUSSI: I like Rising Romance, just ahead of Zanbagh. Zanbagh had those bloody bar plates on last start, and she went sliding around the corner in the Vinery Stud Stakes. Rising Romance’s work on Tuesday was impressive, and the Kiwi did find more trouble than Jake The Muss after one too many brews.

T HOMAS:Um, or you after one too many Tooheys Old. We have both been in enough trouble this carnival, Ray Murrihy might have to open a stewards inquiry next. Speaking of the chief steward, he has made the call to move the rail out 6m for Saturday. The inside section of the track near the home turn is badly chopped up.

NICOLUSSI: It’s getting late in the day, Raymondo. That was a poor hit-up then. I backed Chautauqua in the Gosford Guineas, and he was super impressive. I’m keen to send Gosford boss James Heddo a dry-cleaning bill after my jeans were ruined in the muddy car park. I like Chautauqua to win the Royal Sovereign Stakes.

THOMAS: You are a hard marker. Getting into the straight now for The Championships. I’m already looking forward to Hawkesbury and Scone.

NICOLUSSI: Yeah, I can’t wait for those meetings.

THOMAS: To all, good luck on the punt this Saturday and have a happy and safe Easter.