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Racewatch: Ray Thomas’ race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday

Form expert Ray Thomas dissects the 10-race card for Apollo Stakes Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his tips and race-by-race analysis.

Ray Thomas
6 min read
February 13, 2025 - 2:30PM
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Form expert Ray Thomas analyses the 10-race card for Apollo Stakes Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his tips and race-by-race analysis.

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RACE 1: MIDWAY (BM72) 1000m

Rush Hour raced on speed and tried hard when third to Shohisha at Rosehill a month ago. He looked the winner halfway down the straight and held on well for the minor placing. Freshened with a month between runs so the drop back to 1000m won’t be an issue. I’m giving Winning Proposal another chance. She resumed at Warwick Farm, got well back early but was working to the line late when eighth behind Catch The Glory. She will be fitter and was competitive at stakes level last spring. Catch The Glory finished off strongly to win first-up and run a fast 56.5s for the 1000m. She will be hard to beat again.

Bet: Rush Hour each-way

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RACE 2: TAB HIGHWAY HCP (C3) 1800m

Tapa Kick was held up for a few strides early in the straight and lost valuable momentum before he ran on for third in a Rosehill 1500m Highway. He was second-up that day and will be improved, particularly now he is out to 1800m. Tapa Kick has not missed a top three placing in 12 starts, winning twice, and will be fighting out the finish. Vermicella won three of her first four starts then didn’t have the best of luck before running on to finish fifth in the Bega Cup. She has a horror draw here but will get back in the field and is certain to be finishing strongly. Adolphus tried hard when second in a Rosehill Highway (Tapa Kick was third), he’s very fit and going to 1800m won’t be an issue. Dale has learned how to win.

Bet: Tapa Kick to win

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RACE 3: PIERRO PLATE 1100m

Pallaton, trained by Michael Freedman, vaulted into the Golden Slipper conversation with a brilliant debut win at Randwick back in December. He was given a let-up after that win but again caught the eye with his fast finishing third in a Rosehill barrier trial behind top two-year-olds North England and Bel Merci. Comedy is a striking son of super sire Snitzel who powered home to win the Kirkham Plate at his only start during the spring. Promising Godolphin colt who comes out of the North England trial, finishing fourth. United States, a $1.75 million Easter Yearling Sale purchase, created a big impression when he powered home to just miss on debut behind Open Secret. He’s a big improver.

Bet: Pallaton to win

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RACE 4: WELLINGTON RACING CLUB TROPHY (BM88) 1600m

It’s hard to tip against Yorkshire. The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding has won five races (and two placings) from seven attempts and is chasing a hat-trick this preparation after successive wins at Wyong and Rosehill. He finished the race off strongly to run down a game Sandpaper over 1500m and the Randwick mile suits him. Yorkshire, who will be ridden by 3kg claimer Anna Roper, actually meets Sandpaper slightly better at the weights this time. Sandpaper was very game at Rosehill and will make a race of it again. Headley Grange narrowly missed winning his third race in succession when second to Highlights over the Randwick mile last Saturday. The Joe Pride stable has considerable success with horses on a seven-day back-up. Miss You Ella is a genuine lightweight chance.

Bet: Yorkshire to win, saver on Miss You Ella each-way

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RACE 5: EXPRESSWAY STAKES 1200m

The Expressway Stakes has only six starts but it is a fascinating sprint. Joliestar is lethal fresh and excels over the Randwick 1200m. She’s resuming off two stylish barrier trial efforts including her close third to Royal Patronage at Rosehill where she was very keen to go faster. She has the ability to run very fast time and so she would prefer a dry racing surface. Magic Time is a class mare and looked sharp in a recent Cranbourne barrier trial. Airman won the Premiere Stakes last spring, beating subsequent The Everest winner Bella Nipotina into third placing, and he also has a very good first-up record. Olentia is not out of this race by any means. She has won four of her five first-up attempts and was desperately unlucky in the other. Iowna Merc does have a race fitness edge and former Irish sprinter Givemethebeatboys is showing natural speed in his trials.

Bet: Joliestar to win

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RACE 6: ROBRICK LODGE TRISCAY STAKES 1200m

How good is Clear Thinking? The unbeaten mare comes from a Highway straight to a Group 3 but has been so impressive, she is early favourite with TAB Fixed Odds at $3.90. She is short enough in betting but has an incredible will-to-win and drops 7kg on her excellent first-up win when she ran fast time. Commemorative is a top class mare who hasn’t missed a top two finish in four starts, winning twice. She has the ability to reel off fast closing sectionals but does prefer tracks with a little bit of “give” in them. Kundalini is talented and was spelled after chasing home boom mare Isthmus in the Begonia Belle Stakes at Flemington last spring. She’s has had a jump-out and barrier trial in Melbourne and is always competitive fresh. Bonita Queen is very fast, drops 8.5kg here, and if she gets any sort of control up front she will be tough to run down.

Bet: Clear Thinking to win, box trifecta 2, 4, 7, 10

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RACE 7: TAB LIGHT FINGERS STAKES 1200m

Lady Of Camelot has raced well all season without winning but this is her chance. She takes residual fitness into the Light Finger Stakes, she’s trialled well, drawn to suit, the blinkers go on and is well suited at set weights. Similarly, Lady Shenandoah is suited by the conditions of this race and she is trialling up a storm. Manaal is another top class filly and she will be finishing fast. Shohisha has a race fitness edge and is over the odds.

Bet: Lady Of Camelot to win, watch betting moves for Lady Shenandoah

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RACE 8: APOLLO STAKES 1400m

When Fangirl and Via Sistina met first-up in the Winx Stakes last spring, Fangirl started a short-priced favourite and was unlucky when a close third to Via Sistina who was at double figure odds. Via Sistina then won another three Group 1 races during spring, is arguably the nation’s best racehorse, and she is a dominant favourite at $2 for the Apollo Stakes. Fangirl is at $4.20 on Saturday and I feel she is a better bet given she is so good fresh and has a very good Randwick 1400m record. Ceolwulf is trialling brilliantly and he defeated both mares in a recent Warwick Farm trial. Lindermann is also trialling well and should run competitively.

Bet: Fangirl to win

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RACE 9: MACQUARIE ST SOCIAL (BM88) 1300m

Disneck was the form sprinter of the Sydney summer reeling off three Randwick 1200m wins in succession before going to stakes level at Rosehill and running on strongly to finish a close fourth. He’s back to his favourite track and right grade on Saturday. Yiska charged home to win impressively at Randwick last start and rates highly again. Eye Of The Fire never runs a bad race and is sure to be very competitive again. Sunshineinmypocket has won four of his five starts and looks very promising. He’s also entered for Flemington and will be hard to beat in either race.

Bet: Box trifecta 1, 9, 11, 14

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RACE 10: CAPTIVANT @ KIA ORA (BM78) 1400m

Perfumist has reeled off four successive wins, all by a margin, and she seems to be getting better with racing. She blitzed her rivals at Rosehill and drops back slightly in trip to the Randwick 1400m where she won so easily two starts back. She’s not badly weighted after the claim, either. Starman is never far away but finds it hard to win. Panic did enough first-up to suggest he’s in for a good preparation and he did win the South Pacific Classic over the Randwick 1400m course earlier in his career. More Territories is a filly with ability and is a good each way contender.

Bet: Perfumist to win

Originally published as Racewatch: Ray Thomas’ race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday

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