Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: ‘I really can't believe the price'
Form analysts Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass debate the chances in all the key races at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
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Shayno: In the words of The Seekers Mitchy, the Carnival of Over – the Championships, that is – but there are so many horses racing tomorrow that have Hawkesbury / Scone and Brisbane written all over them. Get out the Black Book.
Mitch: Wide betting card this week Shayno. I am tipping if we can find 2-3 winners on the card, we are coming out in profit land.
Shayno: My pre-emptive Black Booker is Automne Tree. He's by The Autumn Sun from the same family as Gold Trip. Going to need luck to make the cut as an emergency but look out if he does.
Mitch: You'll need a few scratchings yet but if the rain arrives you might just get them. I found that to be one of the harder races on the card. I landed on Yankee One. She's a mare in form from the form yard in the country with a draw that suits.
Yankee One claims the last at Warwick Farm at a big price! @KPMcEvoy @BBakerRacing pic.twitter.com/ZAdaqXHcQW
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 2, 2025
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Shayno: You'd be happy to have a share in pretty much any of those 2YOs in the first race. I know it's hard to beat race-experienced horses on debut but I love the trials of Tyrone's Power, more so after the form has been franked lately.
Mitch: I reckon Hidden Motive is one of the better bets on the program. We went down to a smart one the other day in Aerodrome but they gapped the rest by five. Tipping they are both pretty smart and it will be his day on Saturday.
HIDDEN MOTIVE (2 c Capitalist - Secret Agenda) notches up another nice trial win this morning at @newcastleraces_ 🤩
The colt was a $120k buy for @ndoyleracing & @KBloodstockNSW from @Cressfieldstud at @mmsnippets ☀� @NewgateFarm
🎥 @racing_nsw pic.twitter.com/UvII2hIsnt
— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) April 2, 2025
• 'It's a sad day': Multiple Group 1-winner Happy Clapper dies
Shayno: I've got the great man David Payne pencilled in for a big day. State Of America can trump his rivals again whilst Trafalgar Square is the best weighted horse on the day on a kilo to talent ratio.
Mitch: I really can't believe the price of State Of America. He's beaten both Saganti and Flying Bandit over the past six months and yet he's double the price. All three are nice horses but surely the market has got it wrong.
Three hit the line with the outside prevailing! ðŸ'¸
State Of America gets up for @dpayneracing with @ZacLloydx on board! pic.twitter.com/nMihyddzEU
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 9, 2025
Shayno: The Precise Air (race eight) is the feature for mine. Great race. I have been tracking Punch Lane since he got here and his runs have been good then better again. He peaks here hopefully.
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