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THE LAST SAY: Tips, late mail for today’s racing, featuring The Championships Day 2 at Royal Randwick

Tips, inside mail, market movers and the latest track conditions … Ray Thomas gives you all the information you need to back a winner not just on Day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick, but right around Australia today.

Ray Thomas
Punters - Hold All Tickets Ep 31 - Pro punter previews Randwick
6 min read
7:38AMApril 12, 2025

Champion mare Via Sistina’s bid to crown her stellar season with a win in the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday is the headline act on Day Two of The Championships.

Via Sistina is the $1.90 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to win a record-equalling seventh Group 1 race this season but she has plenty of opposition in the Queen Elizabeth, Sydney’s showpiece autumn carnival weight-for-age race, and also from other races on a stacked Randwick raceday.

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English raider Dubai Honour spoiled the party for Anamoe fans in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes two years ago and he’s threatening to upset Via Sistina’s “coronation.”

Ceolwulf is chasing the “royal double” after his win in the King Charles III Stakes last spring and he is something of a forgotten horse going into his showdown with Via Sistina and others.

This race has a habit of producing an upset result and a horse like Buckaroo could emerge as a knockout chance.

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Randwick on Saturday

There are four Group 1 races on the program with Fangirl at $1.95 to win the $1 million Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m).

Alalcance makes for a compelling watch with her frontrunning, stamina-laden efforts and she is a $2.60 favourite to win the $2 million Sydney Cup.

Melbourne’s wonder filly Treasurethe Moment is $1.70 to make it eight wins in succession in the $1 million ATC Australian Oaks (2400m).

Autumn Glow, who was the $1.45 favourite to maintain her unbeaten record in the Group 2 $1 million Arrowfield Sprint (1200m), was withdrawn on race morning after being found to have a slight temperature.

This is the second time this season the boom filly was withdrawn on the eve of a big race after she was scratched from the Flight Stakes last spring.

• RAY & DUFF: Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy’s Randwick preview, featuring $11 value bet

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ROYAL RANDWICK
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with the chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 26c.
Track: Good (4).
Rail: 3m out.

BENDIGO
Weather: Sunny, light winds and a forecast top temperature of 30c.
Track: Good (4).
Rail: True.

DOOMBEN
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy day with the chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 27c.
Track: Soft (6).
Rail: 3m out.

MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Hot, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 33c.
Track: Good (4).
Rail: 9m out 1200m to winning post, 6m out remainder.

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BE WARY: Royal Randwick’s rail has shifted out 3m after being in the true position last week where it was advantageous to be away from the inside rail. There are some showers forecast mid to late morning which could impact the track’s Good 4 rating today. At Bendigo, the weather is warm and dry, with the track in the Good 4 range, so expect a fair track surface.

• Randwick Turf Talk: The horse that can send everyone home a winner on Saturday

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ROYAL RANDWICK TIPS

BEST BET: FANGIRL (Race 9 No.1) is a multiple Group 1 winner of more than $9 million so she is very well placed at weight-for-age against fillies and mares in the Queen of the Turf Stakes. She excels over the Randwick 1600m course and is racing in outstanding form this autumn with her first-up win in the Apollo Stakes, then narrow losses in the Verry Elleegant Stakes and George Ryder Stakes. James McDonald has a great understanding of Fangirl, she’s drawn to get the run of the race, and she does have elite finishing speed.

THE NEXT BEST: TEMPTED (Race 4 No.2) drew the rails barrier in the Golden Slipper and that has ultimately cost the Godolphin filly her chance to win. She was held up for a run from the top of the straight but when clear she finished fast for a close third to Marhoona. At her previous start, Tempted ran down Marhoona to win the Reisling Stakes in a very fast 1m 8.49s for the Randwick 1200m. Although Tempted has drawn barrier 12, I prefer her out there with galloping room. She’s the one to beat.

VALUE BET: SOUNDS OF HEAVEN (Race 9 No.10) was third-up when she improved sharply and ran a good second to the emerging Mare Of Mt Buller in the Epona Stakes over 1900m last start. The Joe Pride-trained Sounds Of Heaven has to come back to 1600m for the Queen of the Turf Stakes but she is at peak fitness now and has ability on her day. Sounds Of Heaven is up against some very good mares but at massive $101, she’s worth having something each way.

THE WHISPER: COMMEMORATIVE (Race 10 No.5) scored a powerful win in the Wenona Girl Quality over the Randwick 1200m then she had no luck in The Galaxy, going to the line without being tested when seventh to Private Harry. Commemorative, the giant Godolphin mare, is better suited back at Randwick and I don’t mind her drawn out wide as she needs galloping room. If James McDonald can find cover on Commemorative early, she will be hard to hold out.

• Tips from the big bookies for Day 2 of The Championships

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BENDIGO TIPS

BEST BET: KILLIANA (Race 2 No.3) is a promising Team Hayes-trained filly by Brazen Beau who was very impressive on debut winning by more than four lengths at Bendigo over 1000m. She then went to Caulfield for the Showdown and ran a competitive race to finish fourth behind McGaw. Her task has been made easier with the scratching of Meisho. Killiana is a talented filly suited back at 1100m.

NEXT BEST: TATSUMAKI (Race 6 No.3) is a former English sprinter who had not raced for more than three years when he resumed at Caulfield and led all the way to score a fighting. Tatsumaki’s remarkable comeback win kept his unbeaten record intact. Another from the Team Hayes stable and although short enough in betting, he looks a safe bet.

VALUE BET: SMOKIN’ PRINCESS (Race 9 No.10), trained by Patrick and Michelle Payne, was in outstanding form over summer with four wins and a second in five starts before her fourth in the Matron Stakes behind Jennilala just over a month ago. Smokin’ Princess got back in the field that day before charging home to be beaten less than a lengths. She’s drawn barrier two and might be able to take up a position in the front half of the field. Smokin’ Princess has a strong finishing surge, she’s very genuine and good value around $5.

THE WHISPER: PIVOT CITY (Race 10 No.12) created a huge impression when resuming at Flemington when he settled last then worked his way from the back to collar Empressive Enuff near the line over the 1200m straight course. Pivot City then went to The Valley and defied the pattern with another fast finishing effort, this time for a close second to the same Elouyou. The bigger Bendigo track will suit Pivot City’s racing stayer and he will be hard to hold out.

• EXPERT TIPS: Gilbert Gardiner’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Bendigo on Saturday

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TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROYAL RANDWICK
Race 1: Lady Pankhurst $8-$5.50, Spicy Lu $26-$7.50 with a bet of $2000 at $12
Race 2: Meridiana $6-$5, Mawjood $6-$5.50, Canara $15-$13
Race 3: Lord Of Biscay $4.60-$3.90, French Ruler $11-$8.50, Money Team $15-$14, Mogul Monarch $26-$17
Race 4: Within The Law $6-$4.80, Sequista $15-$12
Race 5: Big Swinger $34-$9.50
Race 6: Leica Lucy $4.80-$4, Sun ‘N’ Sand $81-$41
Race 7: Birdman $12-$8.50, Duke De Sessa $11-$10
Race 8: Tom Kitten $23-$17, Fawkner Park $41-$26, Middle Earth $41-$34
Race 9: Fangirl $2.25-$$1.95 with a bet of $2000 at $2.25
Race 10: Commemorative $2.90-$2.50, Estriella $8-$6.50, Austmarr $11-$10, Coco Jamboo $15-$13, Skirt The Law $26-$21

BENDIGO
Race 1: Steel Run $4.20-$2.80, Dschingis Prestige $3.70-$3.40, St Vincent’s Garden $7-$6
Race 2: Killiana $2.25-$1.95, Eternal Darkness $5.50-$4, Algadon Storm $11-$8.50, Scusies $13-$8.50
Race 3: Sunset Dreaming $6-$4.80, Persian Spirit $6.50-$4.40, Roadcone $13-$11, Groundrush $17-$14
Race 4: Freight Train $4.40-$4.20, Liberami $8-$5.50, Carnival Row $11-$8.50
Race 5: Sweethearted $3.90-$2.90, Scampi $8-$7.50, The Showvinist $13-$8
Race 6: Tatsumaki $2-$1.80, Port Albert $19-$11
Race 7: Zloties $4-$3, Poifect $13-$8.50, Wings Of Song $15-$9.50, Electric Impulse $15-$11
Race 8: Wonder Boy $3.60-$3, Ndola $9-$4.40, Rue De Royale $11-$6, Kalkallo $11-$7, Somewhere $9-$7
Race 9: Enxuto $7-$4.60, Windstorm $13-$7.50, Aramco $11-$9
Race 10: Pivot City $4.40-$3.40, Proved $5.50-$4.80, Asgarda $17-$7.50

• LAURIE’S LONGSHOTS: $26 tip set to improve sharply on Saturday

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INTERSTATE MAIL
Doomben Race 8 No.5 THANKYOU HENRY
Doomben Race 9 No.11 DEVASTATE
Morphettville Race 4 No.10 SPIRIT OF CAMELOT
Morphettville Race 9 No.2 CONCHIERO

• EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey’s best bets, quaddie picks and race-by-race analysis for Doomben on Saturday

PROVINCIAL MAIL
Newcastle Race 5 No.4 OAKFIELD SATURN
Newcastle Race 6 No.3 ALCABEEL

• EXPERT TIPS: Heath Pope’s best at Morphettville; Aaron Mills’ Ascot tips

#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners

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