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

Ron Dufficy is keen to take some value in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Check out Duff and Ray Thomas’ race-by-race preview for the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival.

Ray Thomas
Punters - Hold All Tickets Ep 32 - Final G1s of the season
9 min read
10:30AMApril 18, 2025

The Daily Telegraph’s racing editor Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form expert Ron Dufficy debate the chances on all 10 races on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

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DUFF’S SUGGESTED BETS

BEST VALUE

R4 No.2: ZEITUNG

R8 No.4: JIMMYSSTAR

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RACE 1: MIDWAY HCP (1400m)

Ron Dufficy: This is a very, very hard day. I’m going wide with FUGITIVA. She comes out of the Provincial Midway Championships Qualifier at Kembla Grange where the form holds up well. Her last-start effort at Hawkesbury she ran into more dead ends than you will ever see. I’m leaning her way from APOLLO MISSION who comes out of the same Kembla race and is ready now after two runs from a spell. GLOUNTHAUNE is probably looking for this style of race. He has had excuses at his last two starts but he keeps hitting the line and 1400m is more suitable. ENGINE ROOM is a young horse on the improve.

Ray Thomas: I like the way NORTHERN EYES has been steadily building this preparation and is ready to peak now. He’s winner over the course and distance, gets in well enough at the weights after the claim and is drawn to get the right run so he had a few things in his favour in what is a very tough opener. ENGINE ROOM would have been top pick but for his horror draw. He was impressive first-up and if he gets some luck in running, he can still win. STARBOARD is lightly-raced but showing promise and TENDERIZE has never been in better form.

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RACE 2: TAB HIGHWAY (1400m)

Dufficy: Another tough race. I’m guessing a little with ROUGE MOULIN. I know he didn’t do much in the Country Championships Final but he struck me as a really nice horse and his previous form was genuine. RAJNISH has been back to the trials since an encouraging first-up run and finds himself in a suitable race. URAFIKI was a nice trial winner at Goulburn, resumes off a Highway win and looks a nice progressive mare. A POUND OF SALT has talent and there is some nice depth to his form.

Thomas:WIN THE DAY faces her big test but she has struck a rich vein of form, recording good sectionals to win at Canberra then bolting home at the Sapphire Coast on a heavy track. She will get some “give” in this surface today, she has tactical speed to take up a forward position and will be in this race for a long way. URAFIKI is coming off a let-up but she was in terrific touch over summer including her last start Rosehill Highway win. FOX REIGN continues to improve with racing and SYRIAN STAR is working her way back into form.

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RACE 3: FRANK PACKER PLATE (2000m)

Dufficy: I like PLYMOUTH on a map basis with the rail out 5m. He can get across and follow the leader here, back to 2000m with his blinkers back on I feel he can improve. SWIFTFALCON is a heart-in-your-mouth style of horse with his racing style but he obviously has plenty of talent but needs a few breaks to go his way and can win. FIRM AGREEMENT has been terrific at his last two starts and gets Nash Rawiller to stand over him. MAISON LOUIS is promising and although this might have come up a bit soon for him he’s a nice-looking horse.

Thomas:SWIFTFALCON was placed in both the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas then was beaten by the race tempo when second to Evaporate in the Carbine Club Stakes. I take your point, Ron, this horse’s racing style where he settles back in the field means he needs a few things to go his way but I like him back to 2000m. I’m relying on his class and superior acceleration to get the job done. SHANGRI LA SPRING is on trial at the trip but if he gets any sort of control up front he might take some catching. FIRM AGREEMENT tried hard behind a rampant Aeliana in the ATC Australian Derby and has to be considered. I also feel MAISON LOUIS is an improving three-year-old.

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RACE 4: JAMES HB CARR STAKES (1400m)

Dufficy: I’m keen on ZEITUNG. She sets up well at her third run back at this distance where she is proven. This is the race she has been prepared for all carnival and will be around the mark. SNOW IN MAY did enough on the heavy track last stat and is better suited on a drier surface. Her different form might be suited here. LILAC is a genuine mare, should control the race on top of the speed and the map looks kind again. CLEAN ENERGY was a beaten favourite last start but had excuses wide and no cover. There is a little question mark on her at 1400m.

Thomas:CLEAN ENERGY defied the bias to scored a very good win in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes at The Valley then was never on the track when a very close fourth in the PJ Bell Stakes. Clean Energy endured a very tough run last start but loomed up to win and was beaten less than a half length on the line. Talented filly who steps up to 1400m but drawn to get the right run this time. SNOW IN MAY is back against her own age here and will be very hard to beat. MODELLA is very promising and although this is a big jump in grade, I would not be surprised if she fought out the finish. No knock on your top selection, ZEITUNG.

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RACE 5: CATANACH’S JEWELLERS HCP (1200m)

Dufficy: Another impossible race with so many resuming. This race looks slow so I went looking for inside draws and COUNTYOURBLESSINGS is the one I’ve landed on. She is a better mare than what we saw last preparation, her fresh form is good, and hopefully she can hold a forward position from this draw. Her stablemate GETAFIX might be the best horse in this race. He brilliantly won his first trial then was held together last time. He’s a big yard and market watch. IRON MAN maps beautifully, you won’t see a more genuine horse and he deserves another win on the board. NEED SOME LUCK kept improving last campaign and he’s had a couple of trials to prepare for this race.

Thomas: We’ve read this race the same way, Ron. I’ve also gone with COUNTYOURBLESSINGS. She has the right draw, should get all the favours and usually sprints well fresh. NEED SOME LUCK has drawn awkwardly but he’s a tough, improving sprinter. Winx’s half-sister CITY OF LIGHTS is a mare I’ve always liked and she has good fresh form. She will be running on strongly. GETAFIX has ability and is one to watch.

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RACE 6: JRA PLATE (2000m)

Dufficy: I know NEW ENDEAVOUR has a poor winning strike rate but I think he is going really well, Ray. His two runs back this preparation have been good, he jumps to 2000m and his two runs at this distance previously were solid. BOIS D’ARGENT is ready and this is a nice set-up for him at Group 3 level. He can race forward and give a big sight. ENCAP has been incredible his last two starts and has to be right in this but he has to learn to execute a bit better and not taking much interest in his races early. The 2000m for the first time is always a query. TOURISTIC is a bolter but has been much better in his two recent starts and is an each way chance.

Thomas:ENCAP’s effort to finish third in the Doncaster Mile was outstanding. He charged through the pack late to finish a close third and if he can repeat that effort over 2000m, then he looks placed to advantage here. NEW ENDEAVOUR is the main danger for all the reasons you mentioned, Ron. SOUNDS OF HEAVEN is on the quick back-up after failing in the Queen of the Turf Stakes but getting out to 2000m is more to her liking. SCARLET OAK has been disappointing at her last two starts but is capable of turning her form around.

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RACE 7: MOET & CHANDON CHAMPAGNE STAKES (1600m)

Dufficy: Very hard race again. I have been eyeing off STATE VISIT for this race since his maiden win. I liked his Sires’ run but just not sold on the draw. I’m still leaning his way. NEPOTISM gets his chance to take that next step here but is another who is not well drawn. It opens up for the likes of BUFFALO to be closer in the run and he will be strong late. NEXT JEN wasn’t bad behind Nepotism last start and could be the big improver.

Thomas:NEPOTISM, a close relation to all-time great Black Caviar, ran a blinder in the Todman Stakes on debut then backed that up with a dominant win in the Baillieu Handicap. He was strong through the line on a wet track last start and should cope with the step up to 1600m. I’m giving BELLAZAINE some chance at each way odds here. She’s likely to lead or settle on speed in a controlling position and will give a kick in the straight. She might take some running down. STATE VISIT ran on strongly late for second in the Sires and that is the right form for this race. If there is to be an upset, it could be FEDERALIST. He hasn’t had a lot go right in his first two starts but he should run the mile right out.

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RACE 8: SCHWEPPES ALL AGED STAKES (1400m)

Dufficy: I think JIMMYSSTAR and BRIASA should not be so far apart in the market. This is why I am going Jimmysstar’s way at the odds. He was brilliant first-up then terrific in two runs since with excuses. He will be hard to hold out from the better draw this time. Briasa is a potential star of the future who ticked off the weight-for-age box last start, maps so well here and he was strong winning The Hunter at 1300m so the step up to 1400m should not worry him. JOLIESTAR was on the wrong part of the track last start but gets to 1400m now and is worth another chance. ANTINO is a very dangerous horse who has great fresh form and will be steaming home.

Thomas: Great race. BRIASA was very good in the TJ Smith Stakes and is the one to beat here. He has drawn the right barrier to settle in a forward position and he does respond under pressure as he showed last start. This is his first attempt at 1400m but when he won The Hunter at 1300m last spring, he endured a wide run without cover and still won. BROADSIDING is an outstanding colt coming off his Rosehill Guineas win and dropping back to 1400m. He’s had a month between runs, a tickover trial, he’s got the good barrier and James McDonald. KIMOCHI is an underrated mare who was very brave in the TJ Smith Stakes. She is not out of this race. JIMMYSSTAR is in career-best form and will be finishing fast.

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RACE 9: TAB HALL MARK STAKES (1200m)

Dufficy: I wish JEDIBEEL had a better draw but I think he did enough in the TJ Smith Stakes last start and that might be the right form for this race. We are getting a nice price to find out. OSTRAKA is primed third-up but he would have been top pick if he had drawn in closer. MAZU is suited by the weights of this race and he is dropping to a Group 3 race so he must be given some consideration. GENERAL SALUTE is not as well placed at the weights here but is flying this preparation.

Thomas: I’ve gone wide with XIDAKI. He’s another underrated sprinter who usually sprints well fresh as he showed last spring when he was a close second to OSTRAKA in the Silver Eagle. Xidaki resumes off a nice trial effort at Warwick Farm and is at generous odds. General Salute has drawn wide but he is racing with confidence and has to be included among the main chances. JEDIBEEL is the class sprinter of the field and just needs luck from his wide barrier. MAZU is also in my numbers. He hasn’t been far away in three runs this autumn and he does race well over this track and distance.

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RACE 10: PACE SETTERS HCP (1400m)

Dufficy: I’m going with WELWAL at any old price. He was fantastic winning for the new stable last preparation and his two trials have been very sharp. The drop of rain on Thursday will suit him. GREEN FLY comes back into play after showing a great turn of speed to win first-up and as a rule he grows a leg at his second run back. I’m not sure if TAVI TIME is wound up to win but he’s a talented horse and will be charging home. I’MINTOWIN has a good looking record who presents well first-up with his lovely racing style.

Thomas:I’MINTOWIN goes well fresh and ran fast time to win over 1400m first-up last time in. Handles all track conditions and goes into this race off two solid trials. He will take some catching. TAVI TIME hasn’t raced since winning the Summer Cup over 2000m last December but he goes well first-up and has a powerful finishing surge. AMENABLE should be at his peak after two solid runs this time in and SANDPAPER continues to race consistently.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/horse-racing/ray-thomas-and-ron-dufficys-racebyrace-tips-for-randwick-on-saturday/news-story/6c387135c1dd9bb8d2f85f358ce3d152