Shayne O’Cass previews racing at Wyong on Saturday

The Daily Telegraph’s Shayne O’Cass casts his eye over the big 10 race card at Wyong on Saturday.

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses the ten-race card for Royal Randwick on Saturday, providing his race-by-race tips and analysis.

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FIELDS AND FORM WYONG SATURDAY

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RACE 1

Barbarossa is a certainty to be on the Darley stallion roster in a few years’ time, if he wins a good race. Look at that pedigree. Too Darn Hot out of Guelph who is out of Camarilla who is in turn out of Camarena. Loved the trials, love the draw, love the horse. Stablemate Charlecote Mill is from the 18th, and second-last, crop of Lonhro. Not shown up in the trials but looked the part. Namaste is by Savabeel out of a High Chaparral mare whose wins were over 2000m but boy did he trial well.

Bet: Barbarossa to win

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RACE 2

Aaron Bullock has got a great book of rides, none better in my opinion than General Soho who can commemorate his 50th start with a 10th career win. Worth noting too that Bullock’s record on the son of the now Turkey-based stallion Epaulette is four rides for three wins. Trafalgar Square is getting close to winning and she gets the low draw and the light weight that will assist. Edmond is a local, third-up, peaking, with a claim for a local jockey.

Bet: General Soho each-way, box trifecta 2, 8, 11, 14

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RACE 3

Kreon has drawn some truly shocking barriers at times in his six starts and really paid a huge price for it all. Even in his wins, he drew 9 of 11 at Gundagai and 4 out of 5 at Goulburn. Point being, Kreon has drawn acceptably well (better than 8 after scratchings) and Wyong should suit his speed. Wilbury has grown in stature since he got out to Brett Robb’s place at Dubbo. Beat his stablemate Gallant Star when he won his Highway. Ritzun, Duke of Bronte are in contention.

Bet: Kreon to win

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RACE 4

Geriatrix was originally down to run in The Lakes but maybe the logic was he couldn’t win from barrier 14? Whatever the case, he will instead line-up in the 1350m Benchmark 100 at what will be his second run for Chris Waller following his eye-catching first one at Randwick on December 21. Strait Acer is back in his home state after two excellent runs in Queensland. He has been competitive at the highest level before; remembering he ran fourth in the 2023 Golden Eagle.

Bet: Geriatrix to win, quinella 3, 4

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Le Melody scores on the quick backup. pic.twitter.com/bOo4mFa1Gc

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 16, 2023

RACE 5

Le Melody has raced three times for Brett Cavanough starting off in a Benchmark 88 at Randwick where she split Our Kobison and Sebonack. She was last of 12 in I Am Me’s Concorde Stakes which was pretty much an Everest rehearsal for half the field. Failed at Randwick again on Sept 21 and spelled. Wyong, barrier 2, Molly Bourke’s minus two kilos all ticks in the right boxes. Bonita Queen is very fast. This is her trip and her trials are fantastic.

Bet: Le Melody to win

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RACE 6

Imperialist has had the biggest gear change possible since his last run and that is that he has been gelded. He has a rather perplexing C.V in that he won the Listed Phoenix at Eagle Farm at start two, as a two-year-old like a champion yet in three runs since, he is 10th of 13, last of seven, eighth of nine. Trial was good though. August Bloom was quite okay first-up but gee she was costly and plain second-up. This is her D-Day; big time. Headley Grange just doesn’t run bad races.

Bet: Imperialist each-way

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RACE 7

Unlimited was building up to that win last Saturday in a fairly moderate looking Benchmark 78 it must be said, and he got a great ride. Even so, it shows what he is capable of and he could go on with it. Drawn well but this a big rise in grade. Bullets High can win, he might win, but he’s just so costly as a betting commodity. Compare him to Zaphod who has won four from seven and is a last start winner with 60kg on board.

Bet: Unlimited each-way

Unlimited bursts home late to win Race 8 at Randwick for @cwallerracing! 🔥

A third win for @JoshuaParr8 who is having a day out! 👏 pic.twitter.com/vGBv09D1Ik

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025

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RACE 8

Almania has done some good things since he came down from England. In short, he is a Canberra Cup winner and placed in consecutive N E Manions Cups. This is a mile but Kris Lees has a real skill with these imported stayers first-up over a trip. Trialled rather well and worth a second-look at the big odds. Osipenko was huge in The Ingham then went down by the barest possible margin in the 2000m Summer Cup. Back in form but drawn way out. Robusto has a new lease on life.

Bet: Almania each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg (8), 2nd Leg (3)

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RACE 9

Unstopabull was the $8.50 outsider in that six horse race he contested at Randwick on December 28. He won but with a little bit (make that a huge bit) of help from Nash Rawiller who sent him up the fence. Still, it was a really good field and don’t forget his first-up run was a ripper when a closing third to Zealously. Salisano was trialling like a bomb ahead of that predictable all-the-way, win at Canterbury beating Sweysive who won at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Lots to like about her aside from her draw.

Bet: Unstopabull to win

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RACE 10

Just for the context, I was very keen on Valimi when he made his Australian debut at Randwick on December 21 but it seems I was all alone given there wasn’t a bean for the French galloper. He ran last of 14, first beaten he was, but I am just banking on it being too firm for him that day. Yorshire was 12 horses ahead of Valimi in that same race so it would be an insult to Yorkshire not to have him in medal contention.

Bet: Valimi each-way, quinella 3, 4

Originally published as Shayne O’Cass previews racing at Wyong on Saturday