THE LAST SAY: Tips, big bets, inside mail for today’s racing at Randwick, Eagle Farm, Flemington and more
Ray Thomas gives you all the information you need to back a winner right around Australia today with three Group 1s at Eagle Farm and massive cards at Randwick, Flemington and more.
Joliestar, the outstanding sprinter, can secure the third Group 1 win of her career in the $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm today.
The Chris Waller-trained and James McDonald-ridden Joliestar will appreciate the drying track conditions with Eagle Farm bordering on a good 4.
If Joliestar ($2.30 favourite) is successful, she will provide Waller with his 19th Group 1 winner of the season – a new Australian record for a trainer.
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McDonald has an outstanding book of seven rides at Eagle Farm including Belle Detelle in the Group 1 $1 million Queensland Derby (2400m) and Movin Out in the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m), both for the Waller stable.
The champion jockey also links with Godolphin trainer James Cummings on exciting sprinter Pisanello ($4.60 favourite) in the Listed $160,000 Lightning Handicap (1000m).
In Flight, who ran second to Pisanello at Canterbury before winning a stakes race last start, is chasing another feature race success in the Listed $200,000 Bob Charley Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick.
Joe Pride has three favourites in the quaddie legs at Randwick on Saturday.https://t.co/eGBqy0OoRP
— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 6, 2025
The Joe Pride-trained In Flight is renowned as a superior wet-tracker and the heavy 8 Randwick track rating is ideal for the $3.40 favourite.
There has also been a significant betting move for promising two-year-old Hidden Motive in the Randwick opener, the Precise Air Handicap (1100m).
Hidden Motive has been heavily backed with Ladbrokes, firming from $2.60 to $2.45 with some big bets of $2,000 at $2.60, $2000 at $2.50 and $1379 at $2.45.
Race 1 at Randwick dissected with the help of the Sectionals tool â
— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 6, 2025
Sign up to Racenet IQ to start using the Sectionals feature ð https://t.co/86tyvNJsM7
Imagine what you could be buying instead. pic.twitter.com/fb2GnHOhkJ
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ROYAL RANDWICK
Weather: Cool, mostly sunny day and a forecast top temperature of 19c.
Track: Heavy (8).
Rail: True.
EAGLE FARM
Weather: Warm, sunny day with light winds and a forecast top temperature of 25c.
Track: Soft (5).
Rail: 2m out.
FLEMINGTON
Weather: Cold, cloudy day with a high chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 15c.
Track: Soft (5).
Rail: 8m out.
MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Cold, cloudy and windy day with the high chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 16c.
Track: Soft (6).
Rail: 8m out from 1000m to the winning post.
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BE WARY: Royal Randwick is rated a heavy 8 with some chance of an upgrade today. The rail is back in the true position after being out 10m two weeks ago when Randwick was extremely heavy. Eagle Farm’s final five races were washed out last week when heavy rain swept the course but, remarkably, the track has improved this week and is officially a soft 5.There is a likelihood the track will be upgraded to a good 4 during Super Saturday which boasts three Group 1 races. Flemington is also a soft 5 but showers are forecast today and the rail is out 8m.
• LAURIE’S LONGSHOTS: Laurie Sainsbury’s best value bets for Saturday, including $34 import
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ROYAL RANDWICK TIPS
BEST BET: Race 1 No.1 HIDDEN MOTIVE came off minor placings in strong two-year-old form races – including a close second to Aerodrome – with a dominant win at Hawkesbury last start. Hidden Motive settled on speed but was kept under a tight hold before he cruised to the front at the 300m and raced away to win by nearly four lengths. His winning margin could have been doubled if his rider put the colt under more pressure. Promising two-year-old who handled soft 7 conditions well last start, he is drawn to get all the favours and should be too good for his rivals.
Aerodrome gets the last few strides and wins well for @MFreedmanRacing! ð pic.twitter.com/Uybp4KU1GS
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 16, 2025
THE NEXT BEST: Race 7 No.9 COOL JAKEY is very effective on wet tracks and has raced very consistently over an extended campaign including his wins at Warwick Farm and the Hawkesbury stand-alone before he stepped out to 1600m for the first time when a game second to Hollywood Hero on this track two weeks ago. The track conditions were extremely heavy that day and Cool Jakey fought hard to the line. He drops to 5.5kg to 52kg after the claim, looks likely to get complete control in front and will be very hard to run down.
A great battle between Cool Jakey and Gallant Star in the last at @hawkesburyrc, with Cool Jakey the winner - giving @PrideRacing a treble and Adam Hyeronimus a double! pic.twitter.com/so93GWzuFM
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025
VALUE BET: Race 2 No.10 CONVERGENT is a rising five-year-old who only made his debut on Anzac Day where he settled a clear last in a small field, went wide on the turn, and reeled in his rivals to score an impressive win. He has had a barrier trial between runs but has been kept fresh for this 1500m race. Emerging stayer and although he is eligible for easier races, he’s good each way value at $12.
Convergent wins on debut for Jim & Greg Lee with @Reganbayliss in the saddle ðª@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/cjExQDsMw5
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 25, 2025
THE WHISPER: Race 8 No.4 IN FLIGHT broke through for a deserved stakes win in Brisbane last start but trainer Joe Pride has brought the mare back to Sydney specifically for the Bob Charley Stakes. She’s effective on all types of going but particularly heavy tracks where she has won four of her six attempts. Class mare and nicely weighted just 2kg over the limit. She can win again.
In Flight finds clear air to win the Magic Millions Bright Shadow for @PrideRacing! âï¸ pic.twitter.com/PM0ulDDrq7
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025
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EAGLE FARM TIPS
BEST BET: Race 2 No.2 PISANELLO is a brilliant sprinter with impressive acceleration which he demonstrated when sprinting clear of In Flight and Barber at Canterbury two starts back. The form from that race has been franked with In Flight and Barber both winning stakes races at their next starts. Trained by Godolphin’s James Cummings, Pisanello went to Scone last start where he got strung up at the rear of the field in the Ortensia Stakes until well into the straight but was charging through the pack to finish a close fifth. Pisanello has to drop back to 1000m but the speed will be frenetic and the long Eagle Farm straight gives him the chance to unleash his tremendous closing speed. This will be exciting to watch.
It's Pisanello who flies down the outside to win race 7 at Canterbury with J-Mac in the saddle! ð@mcacajamez@JamesCummings88@godolphinpic.twitter.com/yYqSn97Ov8
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2025
NEXT BEST: Race 10 No.6 KIN is a talented Godolphin mare improved by two runs from a spell including her closing second to In Flight in the Bright Shadow at Doomben two weeks ago. She’s peaking now and did win a stakes race at Caulfield third-up last spring. The improving soft 5 conditions are ideal, James McDonald stays with the mare, she’s well drawn and looks to have found her right race.
VALUE BET: Race 9 No.15 EXISTENTIAL BOB is at $34 for the Queensland Derby but he’s a good each way gamble. I really liked Existential Bob on the heavy track last week but the meeting was called off before the Derby. I’m going to stay with Existential Bog because he is just starting to learn what racing is all about and has struck form at the right time leading throughout to win at Wyong and Ipswich. Existential Bob makes his own luck racing on speed and he can stay.
He gave the others a crisis! Existential Bob is too good for them at @IpswichTurfClub ð¥³@RMaloney_Jockey | @cwallerracingpic.twitter.com/PoAjqonAIt
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 21, 2025
THE WHISPER: Race 7 No.10 JOLIESTAR is a dual Group 1 winner and one of the best sprinters in training. She won the Newmarket Handicap earlier this year and hasn’t raced since her second in the All Aged Stakes in April but she has had a barrier trial leading into the Kingsford Smith Cup. With the scratchings, Joliestar comes into barrier 9, the improving track conditions are ideal, and she is the one to beat.
She's a star alright! âï¸
â Racing.com (@Racing) March 8, 2025
JOLIESTAR takes out the 2025 Newmarket Handicap & collects her 2nd Group 1 victory ðð»@cwallerracing@LaneDamianpic.twitter.com/WsNyI3Mc8r
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TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
ROYAL RANDWICK
Race 1: Matima $6-$4.40
Race 2: Engine Room $6-$5, Callistemon $15-$8
Race 3: Changing Colours $8-$5.50, Good Banter $11-$6.50
Race 4: Shropshire Lad $8-$5, Bengal $11-$6.50 including a bet of $1050 e/w at $10/$3.20, Carribean King $15-$8.50
Race 5: Hurstville Zagreb $6-$2.80 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $5/$2.10, Rotagilla $15-$6.50, Duvana $26-$11
Race 6: Federer $3.60-$3.50, Oh Diamond Lil $4.60-$3.90
Race 7: Cool Jakey $3.50-$2.80 with a bet of $2600 at $2.90, Mighty Ulysses $15-$10
Race 8: In Flight $3.50-$3.40, The Novelist $4.60-$4.40, Barber $8-$6.50, Contemporary $15-$10, Kazou $15-$10
Race 9: Whinchat $4.60-$3.80, Accredited $11-$6, Fleetwood $15-$7
Race 10: Gitalong $8-$7, Winning Proposal $15-$8.50
The big bookies give their best and value tips as well as top selections in the Kingsford Smith Cup, Queensland Derby and Queensland Oaks ð
— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 6, 2025
What are you really gambling with?https://t.co/rcRodpSzIZ
• Market movers: $10 to $5 for Eagle Farm feature race runner
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LADBROKE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
ROYAL RANDWICK
Race 1: Hidden Motive $2.45-$2.60-$2.45 with some big bets of $2,000 at $2.60, $2000 at $2.50 and $1379 at $2.45, Change My Address $14-$9
Race 2: Jumeirah Beach $13-$10 with a bet of $500 at $11, Callistemon $10-$8.50 with a bet of $222 at $10
Race 3: Miss Kim Kar $3.50-$3.60-$3.30
Race 4: Caribbean King $12-$7.50
Race 5: Hurstville Zagreb $5-$2.60 with bets of $500 at $5, $626 at $4.20, $771 at $3.60, Rotagilla $10-$6.50 with a bet of $285 at $8, Duvan $16-$18-$9.50 including a bet of $155 at $14
Race 6: Blazing Harry $18-$11 with a bet of $120 at $18, Imatruestar $35-$23
Race 7: Cool Jakey $3.50-$2.90 with bets of $870 at $3.30, $911 and $560 at $3.20, $700 at $2.90, $750 at $2.45, Phearson $20-$15, Loch Eagle $31-$20
Race 8: Barber $9.50-$11-$6.50 with a bet of $200 at $11, Kazou $13-$9, Contemporary $17-$10 and a wager of $125 at $17), South Of India $21-$13
Race 9: Headley Grange firm at $650 after bets of $750 and $700 at those odds, Shadizi $11-$12-$8.50 with a bet of $812 at $9.75), Fleetwood $17-$7.50 and a bet of $135 at $16
Race 10: Gitalong $500 at $8.75, $265 at $8.50, Winning Proposal $14-$7.50 with a bet of $165 at $13, Mabel $41-$20, Welcome Gypsy $23-$15, Not That Easy $81-$26
EAGLE FARM
Race 1: Sunrays is firm at $2.95 after bets of $1,000 and $500 at those odds, Providence $5-$4.50 after bets of $500 at $5 twice, $572 at $4.50), Jenni Gone Bonkers $16-$19-$10
Race 2: Pisanello $4.80-$4.65 after bets of $527 at $4.80, $857 at $4.65, Steady Ready $5.50-$4.80 with bets of $500 at $5.50, $527 at $4.80
Race 3: Lekvarte $8.25-$7 with bets of $700 at $8.25, $500 at $7 twice, Vivy Air $500 at $8.25, Exotique Miss $14-$8.50, Thalassophile $16-$10
Race 4: Front Page $3.70-$3.30 including a bet of $800 at $3.50, Hidden Wealth $8-$6 with a bet of $2000 at $8.25
Race 5: Winnasedge firms after bets of $1,000 at $3.65, $2,473 at $3.50), Gerringong $6-$4, Coleman $8-$6
Race 6: Transatlantic $7.50-$3.60 after consistent support including bets of $308 at $7.50, $588 at $4.40, $600 at $3.50, Tavs $10-$5.50 after a bet of $222 at $10
Race 7: Joliestar $3.20-$2.30 continues to firm as favourite after bets of $1055 at $2.90, $1,000 at $2.35, Giga Kick has also been well supported with bets of $900 at $4.20, $500 at $4.20 twice, $500 at $4.15, $666 at $4, Payline has been backed at odds with bets of $500 at $17, $500 at $16
Race 8: Philia is firm at $4.40 with bets of $2000 and $1,000 at those odds, Pinito $10-$6 with a bet of $286 at $8
Race 9: King Of Thunder is firm at $7.50 after a bet of $500 at those odds, Politely Dun $27-$19
Race 10: Tashi $11-$6 after a $200 bet at $11), Zazou $17-$11
FLEMINGTON
Race 1: Goldenstatewarrior remains favourite after a bet of $1,000 at $3.30, Muktamil is pressing for favouritism after bets of $714 at $3.80, $740 at $3.70, Samuel Langhorne $8-$5.50 after a bet of $285 at $8, Golden Crusader $23-$7 with bets of $135 at $16, $222 at $10
Race 2: Miss Ole $2.45-$2.20 after bets of $1,382 and $600 at $2.45), Espana $9.50-$5 with a $365 a $6.50, Sonofkirk $9-50-$7
Race 3: Jazz Affair $12-$7 after bets of $180 at $12, $1,000 w/p at $7/$2.45, Dream All Day is firm in betting after a $590 wager at $4.40, Cindy Falls $7.50-$5.50 including a wager of $310 at $7.50, Stylish $7.50-$5 after a $310 bet at $7.50
Race 4: Soft Love $4.40-$3.10 with a bet of $590 at $4.40), One Hard Lady $8-$9-$6 including bets of $285 at $8, $250 at $9, Skipjack $12-$16-$9 after a bet of $135 at $16, Romani Ite Domum $8-$10-$7.50 with a $222 bet at $10, It’s A Yes has been backed at odds with a $500 wager at $11
Race 5: Regal Vow $11-$9
Race 6: Detroit City $9-$5 with bets of $250 at $9, $310 at $7.50, Taken $11-$13-$6 after bets of $165 a $13, $285 at $8, King Of Enterprise $8.50-$11-$9.50 including bets of $533 and $500 at $9.25, Narbold $16-$11 with a bet of $135 at $16
Race 7: Liberami firms as favourite after bets of $1,000 a $3.15 and $1,000 at $3.05, Ruakaka Raider has been well backed including a $1,000 w/p at $7.50/$2.50, Euphoric $10-$11-$6.50 with a bet of $222 at $10, Townsend $9.50-$7.50 after a $235 bet at $9.50, Shaiyhar $588 at $10.25, Flash Feeling $41-$20
Race 8: Shockletz $4-$5-$4.20 with bets of $500 at $5 twice, Champagne Jenni $16-$7.50 after bets of $135 at $16, $500 at $9.75, $1,000 w/p at $9/$3.10, Hot Majesty $18-$13 including a $120 wager at $18
Race 9: Marble Nine $8.50-$4.60
• EXPERT TIPS: Brad Waters’ best bets, race-by-race tips and analysis for Flemington on Saturday
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INTERSTATE MAIL
Flemington Race 2 No.2 MISS OLE
Flemington Race 4 No.4 SOFT LOVE
Morphettville Race 3 No.4 THERE GOES MY HERO
Morphettville Race 9 No.4 PROVEN CORRECT
• Morphettville and Pinjarra tips: $26 chance ‘totally overlooked’ by market
PROVINCIAL MAIL
Newcastle Race 2 No.1 BOHEMIAN ART
Newcastle Race 8 No.1 RUSH ATTACK
• EXPERT TIPS: Greg Polson’s race-by-race tips, rated prices for Randwick and Newcastle on Saturday
#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners
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