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Racewatch: Shayne O’Cass’ race-by-race tips and analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Form expert Shayne O’Cass dissects the 10-race card for the Group 1 Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, presenting his tips and race-by-race analysis.

Shayne O’Cass
4 min read
March 20, 2025 - 2:33PM
Punters - Hold All Tickets Ep 28 - Group 1 smorgasbord

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses the 10-race card for Group 1 Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, presenting his tips and race-by-race analysis.

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RACE 1

It’s A Wonder is probably worth close to ten times her circa $125,000 earnings this far if she wins a stakes race being by Dundeel out of Toorak winner Allez Wonder. She could win or place in the right stakes race with the right tempo and right ride. It would be fitting, and very possible, if four-time Golden Slipper winning jockey Ron Quinton, who rode four of the best of them, trains the first winner on Slipper Day with Hinchinjive.

Bet: It’s A Wonder each-way

RACE 2

Only guessing, but I am thinking that the Epona is the race that Chris Waller pencilled in as the Grand Final for Mare Of Mt Buller this autumn. It’s such a good race for her; 1900m at home, Set Weights plus penalties, I mean, really 54kg for this mare. Peaking; big time. If it rained Be Real would be impossible to beat. Still a major player though. It’s A Knockout and Brigidine Gal are too consistent and progressive to leave out.

Bet: Mare Of Mt Buller to win

RACE 3

Chris Waller is very good at programming his horses so that they get into big races with the lowest possible weight. That’s why he’s won so many Doncasters I reckon. Look at what he has done with Birdman. The horse is obviously racing towards a peak but he gets in here with 53kg then 50kg in the Sydney Cup. Athabascan has 59kg and topweight by comparison but he’s 104 rater third-up off two good yet unlucky runs.

Bet: Birdman to win, Laspirit Deeler to place, quinella 1, 11

RACE 4

Flying For Fun is a Bryce Heys-trained daughter of the Bryce Heys-trained Speith. Yes, she might look a bit like her sire but her pattern could be more different. Dad was a barnstormer whereas the daughter is true to her name; fast. Big test but she passed her “fireball’ assignment. Pisces may have gone on top had he not drawn 14. Autumn Glow might blow them off the park but I just prefer to be around her.

Bet: Flying For Fun each-way, Pisces to place

RACE 5

Suspect a lot of punters will be like me and adopt the ‘better devil you know’ approach to the Ranvet. That devil is actually an angel in Via Sistina who won this race last year like the champion she so clearly is. I have always thought she is better at 2000m so how well must she be going to beat Fangirl like she did last start? I’ll be honest, I won’t pretend to be skilled enough to line-up the other two here but Haggas (Al Mubhir) is a genius and the American mare, Full Count Felicia, has a massive resume.

Bet: Via Sistina to win

RACE 6

Swiftfalcon has finished behind Broadsiding in the Hobartville and the Randwick Guineas but you could make a case to say that he was as good, perhaps even better, than the Godolphin colt in both races. It all comes down to how you read their Randwick Guineas runs. I thought Broadsiding was a shade disappointing, well, he was $1.60 remember. For that reason (and the step to 2000m), I think Swiftfalcon will beat him. In fact, so will Goldrush Guru who might win the Derby after this.

Bet: Swiftfalcon to win

RACE 7

Ceolwulf had that well documented little setback that forced him out of the Verry Elleegant and into the Canterbury Stakes whereupon it wasn’t the mile back to 1300m that beat him rather the lack of pace and barrier 1. What a great run by a great horse. Don’t like barrier 2 here; that’s all. Fangirl is going as well as she ever has, what a mare. Just think she is most effective at the Randwick Mile which this isn’t. Gringotts was huge with the huge weight first-up.

Bet: Ceolwulf to win

RACE 8

Rivellino has been given three fantastic rides but you have got to admire this colt’s turn of foot and determination. He just strikes me as a very tough two-year-old who will handle whatever is thrown at him. Skyhook was good in the Pierro, unlucky in the Skyline (behind Rivellino) then dominant in the Pago Pago. Like the trajectory he’s on. Quietly Arrogant was a very close third in the Skyline so goes in. If King Of Pop drew between 1 and 8, he would have been my second choice.

Bet: Rivellino each-way, box trifecta 1, 7, 9, 10, Box First 4 Nos. 1, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, Daily Double 1st Leg (1), 2nd Leg (4)

RACE 9

Private Harry won a Newcastle 900m Super Maiden on Golden Eagle Day. Here we are three (unbeaten) starts later and he is the favourite for the Galaxy, $6 to win the T J Smith and $34 in the Everest, if you are brave enough. Draw (tick), weight (tick). Can’t wait to see how he measures up. Jedibeel is one of the ‘giant killer’ types. He’s very underrated and frequently over performs. Maybe he’s an Everest horse in 2025? I Am Me has the gun draw unless the fence is off like last week.

Bet: Private Harry to win, quinella 5, 13

RACE 10

Rose Bloom came to Australia with a French race record of seven starts for two wins and three seconds. The seconds were in a Group 1, Group 3 and Listed race. On top of that, she was only beaten three lengths in the 2024 French 1000 Guineas. Forgive the Hot Danish failure, judge her on everything else and she is the one to beat. Outback Miss keeps clearing the bar when it has been raised. What do they say about ‘mares in form’. Read some positive comments on Drifting from Peter Snowden this week.

Bet: Rose Bloom to win

Originally published as Racewatch: Shayne O’Cass’ race-by-race tips and analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/horse-racing/racewatch-shayne-ocass-racebyrace-tips-and-analysis-for-rosehill-gardens-on-saturday/news-story/87ee6551cc7b055e6b48aaf0955605d9