Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy’s race-by-race tips for Randwick on Saturday

Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy analyse every race at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form guru Ron Dufficy debate the chances at the nine-race Royal Randwick meeting on Saturday.

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R6 No.8: Imposant

RACE 1: THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HCP (1000m)

Ron Dufficy: This looks a solid two-year-old race on paper with plenty of depth. Beiwacht has had the best grounding with four career trials, winning both this preparation and looking pretty sharp. The main concern with him is the awkward draw. United States is very interesting. He is going to the races off one barrier trial but he looked the part going to the line under a hold so a big watch on him. Yolo has the race experience and barrier one which is a huge advantage. Aligned trialled better in blinkers last time and should be strong late.

Ray Thomas:Miss Fleetwood was a late scratching last week after dumping her rider on the way to the barriers. She had been well backed to make a race of it with boom colt Wodeton after some impressive trials. If Miss Fleetwood has taken no hard from last week’s incident – and there is no reason to suggest she has – then she will run well here. I’ve got her on top from Odaka who has won both her trials at Newcastle impressively. Beiwacht closed off his trial very nicely to win at Hawkesbury on Monday and is going to be hard to beat. Open Secret finished strongly to run down Bel Merci in a Randwick trial last week and is drawn to get the right run.

RACE 2: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1600m)

Dufficy: Tough race. The lightly-weighted Trafalgar Square will be better for having a run at the mile last time and I’m happy to lean her way. It’s A Wonder is still early in her preparation, she is going well and gets her chance. Magnatear maps well from the draw and got his confidence up winning well last start at Wyong. Dr Evil is not badly weighted after the claim and he does like this track and distance.

Thomas: I liked the way Aix En Provence found the line at Wyong as he charged after Magnater only to lose narrowly. Aix En Provence is working his way back into form and will appreciate the bugger track. At the odds, I’m leaning his way over Trafalgar Square. She’s an emerging filly who gets her chance with the lightweight. It’s A Wonder had to go wide on the turn and So Newchee Thinks burst through inside her to win at Warwick Farm. The form has been franked with So Newchee Thinks winning again at Kensington midweek. It’s A Wonder looks placed to advantage here. Magnatear broke through for a deserved win last start and will take catching again.

RACE 3: TAB HIGHWAY (1200m)

Dufficy: This is a very good Highway and as they always are this time of year with the Country Championships just around the corner. I think Highway Strip is a very nice horse. He did plenty wrong and cost himself victory first-up, he’s had a lovely tick-over trial since and with any luck from his outside draw he should be in the finish. Clear Thinking is a lovely, well-bred mare who was great winning all three starts in her debut preparation. She appears the hardest to beat. Ritzsun is still raw but loaded with talent. Fingers Hunter is a big yard and market watch resuming without a trial.

Thomas: I agree, Ron, this is a terrific Highway. Clear Thinking was outstanding in each of her three wins when last in work, showing her will to win and tremendous acceleration to win her Randwick Highway last winter before her spell. She is racing on a good track for the first time but is a quality mare. Joiselle didn’t have things go her way at Wyong first-up but gets in well after the claim, will appreciate getting to 1200m and is over the odds. Highway Strip is another talented sprinter who should have won first-up. The wide barrier is the concern. Super Norwest followed a hat-trick of Rosehill minor placings with a deserved Highway win at that tack last August. She’s resuming here and usually needs a run or two to strike form but is worth a saver at odds.

Unbeaten mare Clear Thinking resumes at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

RACE 4: COMPLETE FREIGHT SERVICES HCP (2000m)

Dufficy: Anything goes here, Ray. Zaphod was plain at Wyong last start but I’m prepared to give him another chance back to the bigger Randwick track. Unlimited has returned in fine form and looks well placed again. Agita landed big bets in winning last start and although up in grade he does drop 6kg. He is sure to be popular again. Claim The Crown is racing more consistently these days.

Thomas:Unlimited won over the Randwick 2000m course then wasn’t suited by the tight, turning Wyong track and just missed reeling in Bullets High. Unlimited is racing in very good form and this track suits him. The one to beat. Agita is an emerging young stayer and was good enough to win on a heavy track first-up at Warwick Farm. He’s better on top of the ground and, as you pointed out, drops to just 52kg here. Claim The Crown split Saltcoats and Bullets High over this course and distance last start and that form reads well for this race. Our Anchorage won comfortably first-up at 1800m and can only be improved.

RACE 5: DRINKWISE MILE (1600m)

Dufficy:For Victory is up in class but he has caught the eye at his last few starts. He has a significant weight drop and is a very fit horse now. Don Diego De Vega looked very promising in his two runs last preparation. He just has to tick off that dry track box for me as all his form is on the wet. Vega Magnifico surprised winning first-up and is right in this if he can reproduce that effort. Super Helpful was OK in a harder race last start and is a proven weight carrier.

Thomas:Don Diego De Vega is a former French galloper who showed considerable potential at his debut Australian preparation with a close second at Rosehill before a Randwick 1800m win last winter. He’s resuming off two trials and is the one to beat. Miss You Ella stuck to her task over 1400m here second-up and is a likely improver at odds. I also have Super Helpful in my numbers and Vega Magnifico has returned in very good form after finishing with a powerful late surge to win first-up over 1500m here earlier this month.

RACE 6: INGLIS CLASSIC YEARLING SALE HCP (1400m)

Dufficy: The timing is right for Imposant. She is third-up, barrier one and is ready to win. She should find the right spot from her good draw and is the one to beat. Point And Shoot was solid going up in distance and covering ground last start. Puntin has impressed with two country wins to his credit and should not be discounted. Qatar’s Choice is out of midweek maiden class but appears to have a future.

Thomas: I’m with you on Imposant. She’s been impressive without winning in both runs this summer, chasing hard behind the promising Tuileries first-up at Randwick then going wide on the turn before closing fast to be beaten a half length by Headley Grange at Wyong. She’s returned in great order and this is her chance. Qatar’s Choice showed impressive acceleration to win easily at Canterbury first-up. This is harder but she is a filly with talent. The consistent Point And Shoot was in the mix when a close third in the Headley Grange race at Wyong which puts him right into this contest. Puntin is unbeaten after two starts and is not out of place this grade.

Imposant is ready to win third-up. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 7: RANVET HCP (1200m)

Dufficy: I concede Queen Of The Mile might be a little suspect running the 1200m right out but she is just so honest and gets a charmed run here. Cosmonova wasn’t suited the way the race was run last week and should improve. Llanddwyn might be charging home late at big odds. Salisano is set to give some cheek up front again from barrier one.

Thomas:Bonita Queen ripped around the Wyong 1100m course to win easily first-up in fast time. She has to prove she can run a strong 1200m and is burdened with 61.5kg topweight but she’s a very fast mare and will give her rivals something to chase. Husk is an improving filly coming off a good win at the midweeks and deserves her chance in Saturday grade. Cosmonova was disadvantaged by a wet track last week and could easily bounce back here. Salisano led all the way to win easily from Sweysive at Canterbury first-up and that horse has franked the form with successive midweek wins since.

RACE 8: CAPTIVANT AT KIA ORA HCP (1400m)

Dufficy:Headley Grange ran fast time winning second-up. He is so reliable and the extra distance suits him better. Invader Zim was terrific first-up and I’m not sure barrier one suited him last start. He deserves another chance. Starman is always running on threatening to win another race. Sandpaper was good winning first-up for his new stable.

Thomas: Invader Zim ran a blinder first-up behind summer sprint find Disneck then seemed to get lost back in the field before finishing fifth to Headley Grange at Wyong. Invader Zim didn’t appreciate the tight Wyong circuit and he can improve out of sight back at Randwick. He’s definitely worth another chance. Headley Grange is the one to beat. All you can do is win and he did so with authority at Wyong second-up. Sandpaper impressed at Wyong but has his share of weight and an awkward barrier. Noble Conqueror worked to the line nicely at Wyong and he does go well this track.

RACE 9: STUD AND STABLE STAFF AWARDS HCP (1200m)

Dufficy: Plenty of chances here. I thought Step Aside went much better when blinkers were applied in his second trial and he has been known to sprint very well fresh. Hezdarnhottoo is another of these Bjorn Baker improvers. He was beaten by a sharp type in Queensland first-up and will be very competitive. Boston Rocks has drawn a better barrier and is ready to win. If there is to be an upset then Winston Hills has a real knockout chance at odds.

Thomas:Hezdarnhottoo ranged up to win the Sunlight Consolation as the Sunshine Coast but was worried out of it by a game Cosmic Fire. Hezdarnhottoo might have been disadvantaged by the Soft 6 track first-up and will be better on a firmer deck at Randwick. Lightly raced but promising young sprinter who will be very competitive. Boston Rocks is bursting to win a race and gets his chance here. I also have Winston Hills in my numbers and Step Aside is set to sprint well fresh off an encouraging recent trial.

Originally published as Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy’s race-by-race tips for Randwick on Saturday