Ray Thomas's tips for Saturday, April 26, 2025
The carnival caravan swings by Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane while Sydney is without a Saturday stakes race for the first time in three months.
But today's Royal Randwick meeting is still intriguing, most noticeably for the Australian debut of Wootton Verni in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m).
A Group 3 winner in France, Wootton Verni is now with the Chris Waller stable and it could prove a significant pointer for punters that champion jockey James McDonald has decided to stay in Sydney to ride the new stable recruit.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
At Morphettville, Waller has the chance to bring up a record 19th Group 1 win for the season with Movin Out in the $1 million Australasian Oaks (2000m).
Movin Out is currently on the third line of TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Oaks at $5.50 behind $4 favourite Benagil and $5 chances Too Darn Lizzie and Polymnia.
The Group 1 $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) is similarly wide open with Climbing Star the $6.50 favourite to become the first to twice win the feature fillies and mares sprint.
Overpass is used to winning feature sprints multiple times, particularly at Perth's Ascot racetrack.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass is the $1.95 favourite to win a third successive $5 million The Quokka (1200m).
There are four stakes races on Brisbane's Eagle Farm program including the Listed $300,000 Brisbane Mile (1600m) where Port Lockroy is the $4.40 favourite.
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TRACK CONDITIONS
ROYAL RANDWICK
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with high chance of showers in the afternoon and a forecast top temperature of 25c.
Track: Soft (6).
Rail: 9m out 1000m to winning post, 7m remainder.
MOONEE VALLEY
Weather: Cool, cloudy day with a high chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 19c.
Track: Soft (7).
Rail: 4m out.
EAGLE FARM
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a medium chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 26c.
Track: Heavy (8).
Rail: 5m out.
MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a slight chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 23c.
Track: Good (4).
Rail: True.
ASCOT
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day and a forecast top temperature of 22c.
Track: Good (4).
Rail: 3m out.
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BE WARY
Royal Randwick's rail has been shifted out to 9m from the 1000m to the winning post and 7m the remainder of the track after being 6m out last week. This is the fourth successive Saturday meeting at Randwick and with the track rated a soft 7, it is expected to be advantageous being away from the inside in the straight. Moonee Valley's rail is out 4m but with the track rated a soft 7, watch early races close to determine if there is any track bias to those racing on speed and near the inside.
• MARKET MOVERS: Punters come for two runners in SA Group 1
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ROYAL RANDWICK TIPS
BEST BET
ZEALOUSLY (Race 4 No.1) stormed through his grades late last year with three successive wins, leading throughout and winning by comfortable margins each time. He was then given his chance in The Sunlight and ran very well for fourth behind subsequent Group 1 winner Private Harry back in January. Zealously resumed at Warwick Farm earlier this month and trailed leader Wondereach into the straight, ranged up to win but could not get past his race-fit rival, losing narrowly. Zealously will be fitter for that run and is not badly treated at the weights after the claim. The only concern is the track conditions as his three wins have been on good tracks but his effort in The Sunlight when he ran so competitively against a top class field was on a soft 6 surface. He looks placed to advantage.
THE NEXT BEST
LONHRO'S QUEEN (Race 7 No.2) is a talented mare with a very good winning strike-rate. She is chasing a hat-trick of wins this campaign after impressive efforts at Scone and Hawkesbury. Although she tends to settle back in her races, she does have a powerful finishing surge. Lonhro's Queen handles all tracks so the soft conditions won't bother her. She's at her right distance range and gets the benefit of apprentice Braith Nock's 2kg claim. Lonhro's Queen ticks a lot of boxes.
VALUE BET
INVADER ZIM (Race 6 No.10) is resuming but he invariably sprints well fresh as he showed at his last two comeback runs resulting in second placings, both at Randwick. Last winter he endured a wide run and was unlucky not to have won over 1300m on a heavy track then last December he was first-up at 1200m and beat all but Disneck who was in rampant form. Invader Zim last raced in early February and has had some residual fitness going into this campaign. He was given an easy trial to prepare for his return. Invader Zim handles wet tracks and is over the odds around $12.
THE WHISPER
WOOTTON VERNI (Race 8 No.10) won five of his nine starts in France including a Group 3 over 2100m at Saint-Cloud. He's had two barrier trials for new trainer Chris Waller and was particularly impressive at Warwick Farm last week when he came from near last, hugged the rail and finished strongly for second behind the speedy Oh Diamond Lil. Champion jockey James McDonald rode Wootton Verni in his latest trial and sticks with the horse for his Australian debut. There's some real stable confidence about this horse he continues to firm in betting.
• EXPERT TIPS: James Molony's race-by-race tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday
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MOONEE VALLEY TIPS
BEST BET
ELOUYOU (Race 2 No.4) had excuses first-up then returned to top form when he led throughout and was never troubled scoring over the Valley's 1200m course last start. He hasn't raced for over a month but had a tick-over trial at Caulfield. Elouyou was scratched from a suitable Sydney race to stay in Melbourne for the Moonee Valley sprint. Clearly the one to beat.
NEXT BEST
NEW YORK LUSTRE (Race 4 No.3) won her maiden last winter then resumed over summer and reeled off three wins in succession at Seymour, Flemington and Sandown. She hasn't raced for nearly three months but has looked sharp in two recent barrier trials. New York Lustre is an improving mare who is chasing her fifth win on the bounce. She races on speed and makes her own luck. Hard to catch.
VALUE BET
WAIMARIE (Race 9 No.8) was unlucky not to win at Bendigo first-up when edged out on the line. This under-rated daughter of super sire Snitzel raced consistently without winning last spring including her close third in the Inglis Bracelet at Flemington during the Cup Carnival. Waimare won second-up when last in work, she's won over today's course and distance, but seems a forgotten runner at very generous double figure odds.
THE WHISPER
HAPPY LINK (Race 3 No.8) missed a place for the first time in her career when she led for home but faded late and finished fourth when resuming at Sandown. When last in work, Happy Link's form improved the deeper she got into her preparation, culminating with successive wins at Geelong and Sandown. She is versatile and can race anywhere in the field. Drops 4kg on her Sandown loss and is set to bounce back to form.
• EXPERT TIPS: Brad Waters' best bets, quaddie picks, race-by-race tips and analysis for The Valley on Saturday
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TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
ROYAL RANDWICK
Race 1: Hidden Motive $4.60-$3.90, Akaysha $11-$8, Hayek $11-$10, Grand Eagle $15-$12
Race 2: Sunrise $2.80-$1.90, Everyone's A Star $11-$6, Oakfield Badger $15-$6.50, Mad Darcey $15-$10
Race 3: Speedy Henry $4.40-$3.40 with a bet of $2000 at $3.60, Pareto $8-$6, Zampano $8-$7
Race 4: Zealously $2.30-$1.90 after a bet of $2000 at $2
Race 5: Saganti $4.60-$3.40
Race 6: Lisztomania $4.60-$3.90, Piastri $8-$5
Race 7: Martini Mumma $6-$5.50, Sparkling $11-$8.50, Extremely Rowdy $15-$9.50 including a big bet of $7500 at $11
Race 8: Ducasse $4.60-$4.40, Wootton Verni $8-$6 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $7.50/$2.60
Race 9: Colophon $8-$3.90, Engine Room $6-$5
Race 10: Know Thyself $3.50-$2.30
• BIG BETS: Last-start flop backed to win $75,000
MOONEE VALLEY
Race 1: All Pink $5.50-$2.80
Race 2: Elouyou $2.30-$1.90 with bets of $4450 at $2, $4000 at $1.95, $2000 at $1.95 multiple times and $2000 at $1.85 multiple times
Race 3: Happy Link $4.20-$3.80, Excess $5-$4
Race 4: New York Lustre $4.40-$2.90, Deepfloat Diva $7.50-$5.50, Port Albert $17-$7.50
Race 5: Chorlton Lane $3.60-$3.50, Suparazi $5.50-$3.60, El Rocko $10-$8, Chartes $26-$12
Race 6: Dirty Grin $7.50-$6, Ravalii $8-$6.50
Race 7: Stage 'N' Screen $6-$4.80, El Tercero $6-$5, Dreams $13-$8
Race 8: Garnacho $7-$5, Khor $8-$6.50, Denmark $8-$7
Race 9: Ambassadorial $6-$4
• Tips from the big bookies for Saturday, April 26
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INTERSTATE MAIL
Eagle Farm Race 4 No.3 NAVYONTHEHIGHWAY
Eagle Farm Race 9 No.14 WARBY
Morphettville Race 5 No.1 IMPERIAL FORCE
Morphettville Race 6 No.9 ZLOTIES
Ascot Race 3 No.4 BE BARDOT
Ascot Race 8 No.6 HEADWALL
• MORPHETTVILLE EXPERT TIPS: Heath Pope keen on $10 pop
• ASCOT EXPERT TIPS: Aaron Mills' $12 value play for The Quokka day
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PROVINCIAL MAIL
Newcastle Race 2 No.4 BEADMAN
Newcastle Race 4 No.9 DUNDEEL FLYER
• NEWCASTLE EXPERT TIPS: Adam Sherry's best bets and inside mail for Newcastle, plus Grafton best bet
#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners
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19 minutes ago
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Let fans have their flares, says Socceroos veteran
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Life happens!" she shrugged. "But at the end, I think it's important to stay always positive, when you are losing a couple of matches and then you feel that you are so bad. "It's very easy to get in the hole and very difficult to get out of it, so it's important to always stay on this right path and work hard." The standard of the women's game has rocketed, she believes. "Tennis is so physical. You know, everyone is athletic. There's no holes in the games of the girls, so it's tough. "And also, I mean, look at me. I'm not like an unbelievable physical girl, so I have to go out there and work every single day, try to be mentally there because for me, if I'm mentally dropping my level like five percent, I'm already not as competitive as I should be. "So it's tough, but this is part of the game, and my strength is to be consistent - and this is what I'm trying to do. 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She charmed the Aussie press at the French Open, called everyone "mate", proved open, fascinating and refreshingly honest when expounding on all things tennis and delivered her best performance of the season on her favourite clay courts as she made the last-16 and enjoyed being the last Australian standing. And if her eventual exit to teen comet Mirra Andreeva proved a step too far, reminding this brilliant 11-year professional that, at 28, it's hard to keep the young tyros at bay, her new allegiance to Australia has put a new spring in her step. Asked whether she felt she was now in the key years if she's to deliver one of the big prizes, Kasatkina insisted: "Well, you never know. We see a lot of examples where players they're peaking at the later stages of their careers. It's not a rare thing any more. "Careers are becoming much longer than before, the players more athletic. There is much more focus on recovery, building your body, recovering well, all this sort of stuff that prolongs your career. "I cannot expect from myself more than what I'm already doing, because I'm trying to squeeze everything I've got in my potential. If it's meant to be, very good. And if I'm giving 100 per cent every single day, I just cannot ask for more. I have to be fair with myself. I have to give a credit for myself." Could she get back in the top-10, closing in on her best position of sixth? "I've been in top-10 a few times, so I know this feeling. I know more or less what you need to be there. In my case, it's to be super consistent mentally and physically every single week, which is not easy, honestly, because I mean, we have a lot of tournaments in different countries. "The jet lag, just everything. Sometimes you just wake up and you don't feel the ball. Sometimes you wake up sick. Life happens!" she shrugged. "But at the end, I think it's important to stay always positive, when you are losing a couple of matches and then you feel that you are so bad. "It's very easy to get in the hole and very difficult to get out of it, so it's important to always stay on this right path and work hard." The standard of the women's game has rocketed, she believes. "Tennis is so physical. You know, everyone is athletic. There's no holes in the games of the girls, so it's tough. "And also, I mean, look at me. I'm not like an unbelievable physical girl, so I have to go out there and work every single day, try to be mentally there because for me, if I'm mentally dropping my level like five percent, I'm already not as competitive as I should be. "So it's tough, but this is part of the game, and my strength is to be consistent - and this is what I'm trying to do. Her next stop will be the grass-court season where she's had notable successes, winning in Eastbourne last year and having reached a Wimbledon quarter-final in 2018. And like her evident enjoyment at thriving again in Paris, she looks forward to Wimbledon with special affection as the years continue to roll by. "This is what I'm trying to enjoy. Because with the years, you're realising that it's not forever. When you're younger, you think it's always probably there, but with the years, it's unfortunately not." But with Aussies at her back, she smiles: "Yes, mate. I'm honestly enjoying it, I'm already getting used to it..." Daria Kasatkina has made a big impression in her first grand slam as an adopted Aussie, both on and off the court at Roland Garros. She charmed the Aussie press at the French Open, called everyone "mate", proved open, fascinating and refreshingly honest when expounding on all things tennis and delivered her best performance of the season on her favourite clay courts as she made the last-16 and enjoyed being the last Australian standing. And if her eventual exit to teen comet Mirra Andreeva proved a step too far, reminding this brilliant 11-year professional that, at 28, it's hard to keep the young tyros at bay, her new allegiance to Australia has put a new spring in her step. Asked whether she felt she was now in the key years if she's to deliver one of the big prizes, Kasatkina insisted: "Well, you never know. We see a lot of examples where players they're peaking at the later stages of their careers. It's not a rare thing any more. "Careers are becoming much longer than before, the players more athletic. There is much more focus on recovery, building your body, recovering well, all this sort of stuff that prolongs your career. "I cannot expect from myself more than what I'm already doing, because I'm trying to squeeze everything I've got in my potential. If it's meant to be, very good. And if I'm giving 100 per cent every single day, I just cannot ask for more. I have to be fair with myself. I have to give a credit for myself." Could she get back in the top-10, closing in on her best position of sixth? "I've been in top-10 a few times, so I know this feeling. I know more or less what you need to be there. In my case, it's to be super consistent mentally and physically every single week, which is not easy, honestly, because I mean, we have a lot of tournaments in different countries. "The jet lag, just everything. Sometimes you just wake up and you don't feel the ball. Sometimes you wake up sick. Life happens!" she shrugged. "But at the end, I think it's important to stay always positive, when you are losing a couple of matches and then you feel that you are so bad. "It's very easy to get in the hole and very difficult to get out of it, so it's important to always stay on this right path and work hard." The standard of the women's game has rocketed, she believes. "Tennis is so physical. You know, everyone is athletic. There's no holes in the games of the girls, so it's tough. "And also, I mean, look at me. I'm not like an unbelievable physical girl, so I have to go out there and work every single day, try to be mentally there because for me, if I'm mentally dropping my level like five percent, I'm already not as competitive as I should be. "So it's tough, but this is part of the game, and my strength is to be consistent - and this is what I'm trying to do. Her next stop will be the grass-court season where she's had notable successes, winning in Eastbourne last year and having reached a Wimbledon quarter-final in 2018. And like her evident enjoyment at thriving again in Paris, she looks forward to Wimbledon with special affection as the years continue to roll by. "This is what I'm trying to enjoy. Because with the years, you're realising that it's not forever. When you're younger, you think it's always probably there, but with the years, it's unfortunately not." But with Aussies at her back, she smiles: "Yes, mate. I'm honestly enjoying it, I'm already getting used to it..." Daria Kasatkina has made a big impression in her first grand slam as an adopted Aussie, both on and off the court at Roland Garros. She charmed the Aussie press at the French Open, called everyone "mate", proved open, fascinating and refreshingly honest when expounding on all things tennis and delivered her best performance of the season on her favourite clay courts as she made the last-16 and enjoyed being the last Australian standing. And if her eventual exit to teen comet Mirra Andreeva proved a step too far, reminding this brilliant 11-year professional that, at 28, it's hard to keep the young tyros at bay, her new allegiance to Australia has put a new spring in her step. Asked whether she felt she was now in the key years if she's to deliver one of the big prizes, Kasatkina insisted: "Well, you never know. We see a lot of examples where players they're peaking at the later stages of their careers. It's not a rare thing any more. "Careers are becoming much longer than before, the players more athletic. There is much more focus on recovery, building your body, recovering well, all this sort of stuff that prolongs your career. "I cannot expect from myself more than what I'm already doing, because I'm trying to squeeze everything I've got in my potential. If it's meant to be, very good. And if I'm giving 100 per cent every single day, I just cannot ask for more. I have to be fair with myself. I have to give a credit for myself." Could she get back in the top-10, closing in on her best position of sixth? "I've been in top-10 a few times, so I know this feeling. I know more or less what you need to be there. In my case, it's to be super consistent mentally and physically every single week, which is not easy, honestly, because I mean, we have a lot of tournaments in different countries. "The jet lag, just everything. Sometimes you just wake up and you don't feel the ball. Sometimes you wake up sick. Life happens!" she shrugged. "But at the end, I think it's important to stay always positive, when you are losing a couple of matches and then you feel that you are so bad. "It's very easy to get in the hole and very difficult to get out of it, so it's important to always stay on this right path and work hard." The standard of the women's game has rocketed, she believes. "Tennis is so physical. You know, everyone is athletic. There's no holes in the games of the girls, so it's tough. "And also, I mean, look at me. I'm not like an unbelievable physical girl, so I have to go out there and work every single day, try to be mentally there because for me, if I'm mentally dropping my level like five percent, I'm already not as competitive as I should be. "So it's tough, but this is part of the game, and my strength is to be consistent - and this is what I'm trying to do. Her next stop will be the grass-court season where she's had notable successes, winning in Eastbourne last year and having reached a Wimbledon quarter-final in 2018. And like her evident enjoyment at thriving again in Paris, she looks forward to Wimbledon with special affection as the years continue to roll by. "This is what I'm trying to enjoy. Because with the years, you're realising that it's not forever. When you're younger, you think it's always probably there, but with the years, it's unfortunately not." But with Aussies at her back, she smiles: "Yes, mate. I'm honestly enjoying it, I'm already getting used to it..."
