Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday
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KOKATAHI (6) is a son of Golden Slipper winner Farnan from the same family that gave us Black Caviar. This gelding was bought by Winx's trainer (and Guy Mulcaster) for $425,000 at Karaka. Ran well against the stablemates Central Coast (a real wow horse) and Crossbow on debut over 1250m; 1400m suit better in my opinion. If I am right about the Central Coast form, then you've got to have CROSSBOW (4) in there somewhere. FEAZABEEL (5) trialled well and had a head start in life by being born and raised at Newhaven Park.
Bet: Kokatahi to win
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IN SUMMER (6) is by The Autumn Sun (of course) from one of the best families in the Studbook. In brief, her dam is a very close genetic relative of Typhoon Tracy. What's not to like about her form. So often it takes a Highway winner to win a Highway and she's ticked that box off. Ditto that for RED RAGS TO BULLS (7) who was a deserved Highway winner at Rosehill last start. Why not again? Joe Cleary and Gerry Harvey's mare VERMICELLA (8) has got some great numbers.
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AGITA (9) is one of mine. I remember telling anyone who'd listen that he would win a Derby of some description. Didn't happen for one (good) reason or another but I feel I know the horse well enough to suggest that a Randwick mile, first-up, is right up his street. Wide draw might even help him. HASTY HONEY (4) was never going to lose when she led on the Kensington track second-up. She's always had Saturday class talent; maybe a bit more even. Hard not to be taken with the Midway win of CALLISTEMON (10) last time.
Bet: Agita each-way
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RACE 4: Petaluma (Bm72) 1100m
Godolphin don't buy that many horses at the yearling sales but they certainly wanted CELERITY (11) it seems given they signed off on her for $850,000. She's by Exceed And Excel so who knows them better than Godolphin. She is a three-year-old filly taking on all comers but we are late in the season and more to the point, James Cummings invariably hits the mark when he tries this. FLAME OF HESTIA (9), the half to Hot As Hell, has won three times and all by pretty sizeable margins. This is harder than last start but if she wins, it will be the draw that did it.
Bet: Celerity to win
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FEDERER (3) is trading off on those two wins that cast him as a future star of the sport early days and look, he might still make it to a decent grade; he has only had five runs. His breeding reveals a lot being a son of Dundeel out of Jameka and it could be that he will get to 2000m and even 2400m before we see him really sparkle again. Third-up here; he is peaking. MISTERKIPCHOGE (4) toughed it out for a well overdue win last time. How often does it happen, they win and they win two. It is Misterkipchoge though.
Bet: Federer to win
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AGE OF KINGS (1) left England/Ireland as a Group 3 winner at Ascot over 1408m. The now Chris Waller-trained five-year-old has run in some big races since he got down here including the Golden Eagle, Linlithgow, Hall Mark, Luskin Star and a McKell Cup last start. You would like to, nay, need to see him doing something in a winter Benchmark 88. Ditto that last bit for ROYAL SUPREMACY (2). Take it as fact, he is not a '00' horse (in Australia so far).
Bet: Age Of Kings each-way, Royal Supremacy each-way
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LULUMON (3) was purchased by Jason Coyle at the HTBA Yearling Sale in 2022 for $50,000. As of now, she has won $436,125 and she's only a four-year-old with 18 starts under her belt. The good numbers don't end there; she has won five times with five seconds and three thirds. Just to top it off, she is a last start Randwick winner beating Storm The Ramparts and Hi Dubai; talk about form being franked. YISKA (2) has won three of six of Soft, two of five first-up and there was plenty there to like about her last trial.
Bet: Lulumon to win
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RACE 8: Asahi Super Dry Handicap 1600m
KING RATEL (11) has raced twice since February 11, 2023. Both runs are here at Randwick; in fact he has run here eight times in his 20 starts for the simple fact that he is purpose-built for Randwick, pattern-wise, etc. Take note that the Bryce Heys-trained son of Animal Kingdom's best stats are at this same track and trip. OH DIAMOND LIL (4) is one for one at the track and distance and drawn a peach this time. TRAVOLTA (5) deserves great praise for that first-up win at Warwick Farm given he had 60kg on a Heavy 9.
Bet: King Ratel each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg 11, 2nd Leg 2
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RACE 9: Tab (Bm88) 1400m
I was rather keen on RAZORS (7) first-up in a very deep Benchmark 94 here on June 21 but the market indicated that he might need the run; he was $12 to $18 on the day. He ran more like a $12 shot than a drifting $18 pop too, making a bit of ground at the right end. Gets out to 1400m here. The only time he was at this track and trip was his nose second in the Listed South Pacific. SUPER HELPFUL (3) is back at Randwick for the 12 time on Saturday. Funny record here, no wins, no seconds but one third and for that he picked up $300,000. Yep, it was the Big Dance.
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Could be a Randwick (Daily) double for Bryce Heys who has King Ratel in the first leg and GENTLY ROLLED (2) here. Two things standout about the daughter of Press Statement, one is that she is an accomplished 1400m horse and two, she has a neat little record here at Randwick. She was third to Nettoyer's little (half) sister CHANGING COLOURS (5) 14 days ago so if you like one, you have to like the other.
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