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Ray Thomas’s Blackbook: Horses to follow from Royal Randwick on Saturday

Ray Thomas analyses the 10-race card at Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his horses to follow from the 10-race card.

Ray Thomas
6 min read
6:30AMJanuary 06, 2025.
Updated 7:50AMJanuary 06, 2025
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The impressive Rivellino, ridden by Benjamin Osmond, wins the opener at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Ray Thomas rates him as a key horse to follow in the coming weeks. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images)
The impressive Rivellino, ridden by Benjamin Osmond, wins the opener at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Ray Thomas rates him as a key horse to follow in the coming weeks. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images)

Ray Thomas analyses the 10-race card at Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his horses to follow.

Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy also provides his key takeouts from the Randwick meeting.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW FROM RANDWICK ON SATURDAY

RIVELLINO (1.9-length 1st of 9, Race 1) was very impressive on debut, scoring over 1000m by a comfortable margin. The Kris Lees-trained two-year-old colt is well-bred – he’s by Too Darn Hot, the sire of triple Group 1 winner Broadsiding – and should be even better suited when he gets to 1200m.

ACCREDITED (3.9-length 1st of 6, Race 4) and DISNECK (1.8-length 1st of 6, Race 7) might have both won three races in succession but they are worth following given they seem to be getting better every start. Accredited romped home over 1400m and Disneck has made the Randwick 1200m his own in recent weeks.

WITH YOUR BLESSING (0.5-length 1st of 9, Race 9) resumed under 60.5kg but produced an excellent effort to beat Cosmonova. The underrated With Your Blessing, trained by John Thompson, can only improve but it will be worth following the runner-up, too.

AKKADIAN EMPEROR (1-length 3rd of 11, Race 8) was heavily backed into favouritism before his close third to Unlimited. Akkadian Emperor was only having his second run from a spell and was coming out of a class 1 win at Newcastle to Sydney Saturday grade and will be better for the experience.

SILENT IMPACT (0.8-length 3rd of 8, Race 10) had his chance in the closer when beaten less than a length by the improving Vega Magnifico. Silent Impact was having only his second run from a spell and there is improvement to come. He can be placed to advantage next start.

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CRUNCH TIME

Perfumist (Race 5) led at an even tempo then reeled off a fast 33.91s for her final 600m including a 10.91s split between the 400m and 200m to win comfortably. She was the only runner all day to break 34s for her closing 600m sectional.

Rivellino (Race 1) did a few things wrong on debut but was still strong through the line to score a convincing win. He ran his final 600m in an impressive 34.11s.

Dances With Hooves (Race 6) was given the leader and eventual winner Autumnation a start in a slowly run race and her effort to close to a half length on the line was very good. Autumnation turned the race into a sprint home but Dances With Hooves ran her final 600m in 34.04s compared to the winner’s 34.84s.

Boston Rocks (Race 9) is working up to a win and ran another good race for third, sprinting the final 600m in 34.05s, the second fastest of the day.

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TURF TALK

“There was a little bit of aggressive riding out there but you expect that. Small fields can make life quite tricky at times but Josh (Parr, jockey) handled it well and the horse adapted to a different situation again which is good for him going forward. And its Sydney racing, you are not going to get races handed to you.’ — JOE PRIDE, trainer of Accredited.

“He adapted well to me pushing him off the rail to get outside the leader but then he waited for the command to go. I was impressed by that and then his turn of foot when I asked him was great.” JOSH PARR, rider of Accredited.

“Edward (Throsby) owned my very first winner – Cherokee Lass at Newcastle in 1996. He’s had horses with me ever since. He’s a great mate and it’s always a thrill to win for him.” — KRIS LEES, trainer of Rivellino.

“He was really ‘good’ today before the race because he can be a bit cheeky at home but he was quite professional in everything he did. It was his first start and he’s still ironing out a few things but it seems like he has a bit of ability.” — Apprentice BENJAMIN OSMOND, rider of Rivellino.

“The horse is just flying this summer. His confidence is up, he obviously loves Randwick, and we know the best way to ride him now. We have to let him find his feet early, don’t push him, and then use his acceleration in the straight.” — BJORN BAKER, trainer of Disneck.

“I had to ride him to relax and then wait for the gaps. Fortunately for me, I had a horse that was brave enough and with the turn of foot to go through there and win.” — JOSH PARR, rider of Unlimited.

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STEWARDS SAY

Amazing Eagle (Race 7) was a late scratching at 3.17pm on veterinary advice when found to be lame (2/5) in the off-foreleg. Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou were advised that a veterinary clearance would be required before Amazing Eagle was permitted to race or barrier trial again.

Stewards questioned apprentice Molly Bourke after her ride on Ang Pow (Race 4). She said although aware the pace was genuine, she was required to make some use of Ang Pow to cross into the lead near the 800m to avoid racing wide and without cover. She said that, as a consequence, Ang Pow came under heavy pressure soon after straightening and did not close off over the final 200m with its big weight.

Associate (Race 3) obtained a good position where the gelding travelled comfortably throughout the early and middle stages. Apprentice Zac Wadick told stewards that when Associate was placed under pressure in the straight he did not close off as expected and was one paced. A post-race veterinary examination revealed Associate to be lame (1/5) in the off-foreleg. Trainer Danielle Seib was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required before Associate was permitted to race or barrier trial again.

Fiorsum Fred (Race 3) was held up from the 400m until after passing the 200m before finishing second to Moritz Girl.

Bundeena (Race 2) was caught extremely wide at the 900m where apprentice Benjamin Osmond told stewards he steadied his mount in an endeavour to obtain cover behind the leading division. He added that approaching the 800m. But Bundeena was left four wide and working hard around the home turn. Osmond said that due to the wide run Bundeena was left without a finishing effort.

Dark Glitter (Race 5) was bumped by third placegetter Lulumon near the finish. Prior to the declaration of correct weight, stewards scrutinised the incident to establish whether there were grounds to lodge a protest on behalf of connections of fourth placegetter, Dark Glitter. When stewards were satisfied that Lulumon would have finished in advance of Dark Glitter regardless of this contact, they declined to lodge a protest and declared correct weight.

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YOU CAN BET ON IT

TAB punters got right behind Accredited and Disneck – and the form duo gave their backers few concerns with dominant wins.

The Joe Pride-trained Accredited (race 4) was a big return for punters with a hold of close to 65% of TAB outlays. His odds trimmed from $1.65 to $1.55 just before the jump.

Some of the big bets on Accredited included $10,000 at $1.609, $5,000 at $1.70, and multiple bets of $3,000, $2,500 and $2,000 investments at $1.65 and $1.60.

Even before Amazing Eagle’s late scratching, Disneck (race 7) held the bulk of TAB outlays with close to 55% of all investments although he did ease from $1.90 to $2.15 late in betting.

The biggest bets on Disneck were $6,000 at $1.95, $5,000 at $2.80, $5,000 at $2.15, $3,000 at $2.15, $2,500, at $1.90 and $2,200 at $2.10.

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RANDWICK SNAPSHOT with WITH RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY
Disneck continues to produce breathtaking performances charging from last three starts in a row. Trainer Bjorn Baker has really found the key to him tactically.

FORGET THEY RAN
Hard to make too many excuses for anything on the day although Fiorsum Fred was held up a vital stage in the straight and should have got closer to the winner.

HORSES TO FOLLOW
There’s not much to get too excited about moving forward from this meeting. Probably Cinque Torri and Cosmonova can train on well while Sly Boots might go better over further now.

RIDE OF THE DAY
Josh Parr stood alone with the big players out of town riding a winning treble showing his class while Alysha Collett is a wasted talent not being a regular Saturday rider in town.

NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday: Moruya, Tamworth
Tuesday: Taree
Wednesday: Warwick Farm
Thursday: Ballina, Wagga Wagga
Friday: Newcastle, Orange
Saturday: Wyong, Kembla Grange
Sunday: Coffs Harbour, Nowra

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/horse-racing/ray-thomass-blackbook-horses-to-follow-from-royal-randwick-on-saturday/news-story/e835224f66895203ff9cff77ba3e5647