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Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy’s race-by-race tips for Randwick on Saturday

One horse really stands out for Ron Dufficy at Randwick on Saturday. Check out Duff and Ray Thomas’ race-by-race preview.

Ray Thomas
9 min read
April 25, 2025 - 11:30AM
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The Daily Telegraph’s racing editor Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form expert Ron Dufficy debate the chances in the 10 races at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

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DUFF’S SUGGESTED BETS

BEST BET

R8 No.3: DUCASSE

NEXT BEST

R7 No.2: LONHRO’S QUEEN

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RACE 1: ATC BOOKMAKERS RECOGNITION DAY HANDICAP (1100m)

Ron Dufficy: I like BESKAR, he’s a nice colt. He did more than enough in the Kindergarten Stakes first-up, I expect him to improve off that and prove hard to beat from the good draw. HIDDEN MOTIVE is the danger. He was competitive in the Breeders’ Plate last preparation then was nudged out by a progressive type at 1200m first-up so he is a threat. VIVA MAURICIO hasn’t been extended in two trials and looks to have something. GRAND EAGLE is an improving horse still learning his craft but he has plenty of raw talent.

Ray Thomas: It’s hard to tip against BESKAR after his excellent return when a close third to North England and King Of Pop in the Kindergarten Stakes. He stays at 1100m which is no issue and looks the one to beat. AKAYSHA broke 56sec to win on debut over the Kembla 1000m course and if she can bring that speed to the soft track at Randwick she will take some catching. HIDDEN MOTIVE will be improved by his very good first-up effort and THE LITTLE GENERAL is trialling well.

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RACE 2: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1100m)

Dufficy:SUNRISE absolutely bolted in over 1000m at Kembla Grange first-up. This is harder at 1100m but I can’t deny her claims. A big improver is ANGARA at massive odds. The step up to 1100m on a soft track suits and he is a very good longshot. There’s a $51 chance here in STARROS who is resuming without a trial but he is a better horse than what his form suggests. EVERYONE’S A STAR is never far away and back in distance with the jar out of the track is definitely suitable.

Thomas:OAKFIELD BADGER is racing consistently and handles soft tracks. He’s capable of being in the finish. SUNRISE scorched turf and ran unbelievable time to win at Kembla first-up by seven lengths. She has to be included among the main chances. I’ve also got ANGARA in my numbers for all the reasons you mentioned, Ron. MAD DARCEY ran an even race when resuming at Hawkesbury and she usually runs well at her second run back from a spell.

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RACE 3: TAB HIGHWAY (1000m)

Dufficy: I’m leaning to MISS REBEL. She has always shown really nice talent and I loved her recent Scone barrier trial win. She will be strong at the end of 1000m here. SPEEDY HENRY has won both his starts, he’s a three-year-old who looked great winning first-up in solid time. MASSIRA is flying for the new stable, gets the claim and is right in the picture. CARRIBEAN KING has been kept fresh for another Highway crack and should be charging home late.

Thomas: I’ve been impressed by SPEEDY HENRY, unbeaten after two starts. His first-up effort at Scone recently was particularly impressive as he was strong through the line to win comfortably. He’s an up-and-comer drawn to get every chance. JEWELS STATEMENT powered through the line to win by a widening margin at Grafton, further enhancing her already impressive race record. Underrated mare who will be in the finish. JOISELLE was placed behind Clear Thinking in a Highway back in January then failed at her only run since. She trialled well at Tamworth and is capable of running a competitive race. MISS REBEL makes her own luck racing on speed and has a consistent race record.

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RACE 4: JEFF PENDLEBURY HANDICAP (1000m)

Dufficy: I’ve been taken by MISS ICELANDIC here. She is wound up with four jumpouts in Victoria where she has looked the part. She likes is soft and presents in good order for the in-from Matt Laurie stable. ZEALOUSLY ran into a fit, in-form horse when resuming and was just nosed out. He gets his chance to make amends here. SMASHING TIME has always been held in high regard. He has not been let go in two trials and resuming here at 1000m he could be finishing fast. PASSEGGIATA is a flying mare who will give plenty of cheek up front and will take some running down.

Thomas: ZEALOUSLY won three on the bounce before finishing fourth to unbeaten Private Harry in The Sunlight at the Gold Coast. Zealously didn’t race for nearly three months before resuming with a close second at Warwick Farm behind Wondereach. Smart young sprinter and stands out here. PASSEGGIATA has lost her way a little but resumes off two brilliant trial wins where she’s looked more her old self. IRON HAT is always over the odds but he’s been racing well of late and gets into this ace with no weight. MISS ICELANDIC has looked sharp in her recent jumpouts.

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RACE 5: TOM BINGLE HANDICAP (1800m)

Dufficy: I want to be with SAGANTI here. I thought he ran well first-up at his second Australian preparation and he looks the biggest improver out of that race. ZAPHOD’s two trials are good and he’s a huge watch as he has good first-up and wet track form. MIRACLE SPIN has had a tick-over trial since his second-up run and is ready to put his best foot forward. FLYING BANDIT is a lightly raced horse on the improve with a good winning strike-rate but he didn’t beat much last start and I think he’s short enough in betting.

Thomas: I’m going with the potential of FLYING BANDIT. He had a big weight but stuck to his task when a narrow but impressive winner at Hawkesbury over 1800m. He is up in grade here but drops 7kg and will be hard to beat. STATE OF AMERICA also comes off a tough Hawkesbury win at 1600m and the extra distance suits. LES VAMPIRES led for home in the Muswellbrook Cup but was run down near the line, finishing a close fourth. He’s on trial at the trip but if he is left alone in front he could take some running down. MIRACLE SPIN has been improved by two runs from a spell and is not out of this race.

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RACE 6: TERRY MARSKELL HANDICAP (1200m)

Dufficy: I like PIASTRI. He was beaten first-up in Queensland and has six weeks between runs as trainer Ciaron Maher has been waiting for a soft track. KING OF ROSEAU returned well and 1200m suits better. STEP ASIDE is always a chance in a race like this. He is off a short break with one trial but this looks a suitable race for him. INVADER ZIM did sprint well first-up last preparation and should get conditions to suit.

Thomas: I’m actually going with INVADER ZIM at each-way odds. He was unluckily beaten first-up on a heavy track last winter then resumed in December and ran second to the in-form Disneck. This form reads well for this race where he will have track conditions to suit. At the odds, he’s worth the gamble. PIASTRI’s three career wins have been on soft tracks and STEP ASIDE usually sprints well fresh. KING OF ROUSEAU ran an eye-catching race at Warwick Farm when resuming and can only improve.

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RACE 7: NEVILLE WATERS (1200m)

Dufficy: I’m pretty keen on LONHRO’S QUEEN, Ray. You have to admire the way she is going about her work, winning two straight since returning from a spell. The wet track is OK so she should be in the finish again, she ticks a lot of boxes. I can’t believe the price of MONTE KATE. She ran well first-up and she did break a track record last preparation before her spell. ACAPPELLA SUN comes out of the same race as Lonhro’s Queen and meets her a little bit better at the weights so she has to be considered. SPARKLING is another from the Matt Laurie stable, has had three jumpouts since March 19 and looks to be moving well. He just needs things to fall his way from the barrier.

Thomas: LONHRO’S QUEEN does look very hard to beat. She’s attacked the line strongly to win at Scone and Hawkesbury since resuming, handles all track conditions, and is drawn to get the right run. MEMORIA makes her own luck racing on speed and she does enjoy soft tracks. She will give Lonhro’s Queen something to chase. POWERFUL PEG and MARTINI MUMMA are both good mares when right and either could win without surprising.

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RACE 8: PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1500m)

Dufficy:DUCASSE keeps jumping out at me. He’s going really well this preparation, gets the claim, has a lovely draw and has to be hard to beat. There are plenty of dangers including Green Fly who got a great ride to win first-up. As a rule GREEN FLY is even better second-up and the rain around is a big plus for him. There are massive queries with the import WOOTTON VERNI. He’s had a long spell but hit the line well in his latest trial and is a yard and market watch. AL MUBHIR wasn’t bad in the Doncaster when he was on the wrong part of the track. I feel he is well placed with the claim and he finally gets a soft track.

Thomas: GREEN FLY’s win at Rosehill when resuming was exceptional. He settled back in the field, ran into a dead end on the inside at the top of the straight and looked to be giving the leaders too much start at the 200m but finishing powerfully to reel in Cool Jakey near the line. Green Fly needs soft-heavy tracks to show his best and gets suitable conditions again. No knock on DUCASSE who is in top form and definitely the one to beat. GREBENI endured a wide run in the Muswellbrook Cup but still worked to the line well for second and should be at his peak now. MAJOR BEEL is very effective on rain-affected tracks and he’s capable first-up from a spell.

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RACE 9: NSW BOOKMAKERS CO-OP HANDICAP (1400m)

Dufficy: A guessing game here for me. I’m looking at the soft track factor with LADY BOSS. She has had no trial leading into this but her form reads well for this race. If she has any luck from the wide draw she can go close. The danger is DUVANA. I don’t know if he is wound up but the stable thought enough of him to run in the Gloaming Stakes last preparation off a big maiden win. He’s a really nice horse and there is a lot of upside with him. SPIONE is lightly-bred but in good hands and has trialled well. MICKEY’S MEDAL should find a good spot from the draw and rain around enhances his chances.

Thomas:COLOPHON is coming off a dominant all-the-way win at Kembla Grange when he opened up from the top of the straight and put nearly six lengths on his chasing rivals. He is up in grade and has to bring that form to a rain-affected track but he’s very fit and will take running down. ISTOLEA MERC has won three of his last four starts and only has to run a strong 1400m to be in the finish. YANKEE ONE is an improving mare who won with authority at the midweeks last start. SPIONE has won two of his three starts and seems to have plenty of upside.

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RACE 10: TAB HANDICAP (1600m)

Dufficy: I’m staying with the Country Championships form but I don’t think they should be so far apart in the market so for that reason I’m going with FUKUBANA. I think he is crying out for the mile, is ready for a peak performance and could well turn the tables. I’ve got no issue with KNOW THYSELF at the mile, he’s been very good winning his last two starts. KIND WORDS has had two runs back, they have both been great and she is on an upward spiral. SUNCHYME has had excuses in recent starts and is not the worst longshot.

Thomas: I’ve gone the other way with KNOW THYSELF over FUKUBANA. Know Thyself was three-wide with cover and Fukubana was immediately behind him in the Country Championships Final when both went wide on the turn to make their runs. Know Thyself broke away from Fukubana and collared Lisztomania near the line to win narrowly in fast time. Know Thyself is very effective on rain-affecting going, too. Fukubana doesn’t need to improve much to be hard to beat. PEACE OFFICER is over the odds and PROMITTO is working his way back into form.

Originally published as Ray Thomas and Ron Dufficy’s race-by-race tips for Randwick on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/horse-racing/ray-thomas-and-ron-dufficys-racebyrace-tips-for-randwick-on-saturday/news-story/884f6c507682eac2f57561e8cfab645e