logo
Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: ‘I really can't believe the price'

Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: ‘I really can't believe the price'

Courier-Mail24-04-2025

Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Form analysts Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass debate the chances in all the key races at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Mitch Cohen (left) and Shayne O'Cass.
• 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!
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
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.
• What's in a name? Plenty of history … and unwanted pressure
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.
• '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.
• Gosford track facing crucial Friday 'dress rehearsal' ahead of The Coast meeting
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.
Mitch: Major Beel first-up from a good draw off a couple of decent trials looks ready to run a race fresh for mine. As for my best? Save it for the last. The Country Championships winner Know Thyself can win again.
Originally published as Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: 'I really can't believe the price'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Briton Nikora suffers sickening injury as NZ Warriors defeat Cronulla Sharks, NRL news
Briton Nikora suffers sickening injury as NZ Warriors defeat Cronulla Sharks, NRL news

Mercury

time3 hours ago

  • Mercury

Briton Nikora suffers sickening injury as NZ Warriors defeat Cronulla Sharks, NRL news

Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Cronulla were blown off the park on Saturday night as the New Zealand Warriors ran riot at Sharks Stadium. If the 40-10 scoreline wasn't bad enough, the Sharks had some injury to add to the one-sided beat down. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. In the first half second rower Briton Nikora attempted to lay a tackle on Jackson Ford but it all went horribly wrong. Nikora's head slammed into Ford's head with the Sharks player coming off second best. The 27-year-old was slow to get back to his feet as cameras zoomed in to show a nasty cut that looked more like one you'd see inside the UFC Octagon. Watch the moment Nikora is split open in the video player above The incident came shortly after the Warriors had taken a 10-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes before the Sharks responded. Mawene Hiroti crossed first before KL Iro etched his name into the NRL record books with a try in the 33rd minute. He becomes the first player in the NRL era (since 1998) to score a try in their first nine games of the season. 'He's had a season hasn't he,' Greg Alexander said. 'KL Iro, he has been a revelation on this left hand side of the field hasn't he,' Warren Smith added. Sadly that's as good as it got for the Sharks who were completely blown away in the second half with the Warriors running in 28 unanswered points. The Warriors were in complete control of the contest, scoring five tries to leave Cronulla fans in disbelief. Cronulla's second half display left league legend Alexander stunned, failing to record a single point. 'I can't believe what has happened in the second half … but boy, everything has gone wrong,' Greg Alexander said. For the Warriors it was their fifth win in a row in Australia and moves them level with the Bulldogs at the top of the table just a few months after there were fears they'd get the spoon following a heavy loss in Las Vegas. Originally published as Cronulla Sharks forward suffers sickening injury after horror head clash

Kris Lees filly You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip
Kris Lees filly You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip

Mercury

time8 hours ago

  • Mercury

Kris Lees filly You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip

Recent floods nearly left You Wahng stranded in NSW, but the Kris Lees filly overcame travel challenges to take out the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm. Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Kris Lees-trained filly You Wahng was lucky to be even running in Saturday's Queensland Oaks (2200m), let alone winning the Group 1 at Eagle Farm. But that's exactly what she did in a stirring performance, although it nearly didn't happen because of the recent floods on the NSW Mid North Coast. • 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! Lees said it took a marathon 16 hours of travel, comprising two trips, to even get the filly to Brisbane and didn't the waiting game pay off. In an exciting fight to the line, $19 chance You Wahng held on grimly to defeat the James Cummings-trained Pinito ($6), with Group 1 Australasian Oaks champion Benagil a distant third in the $700,000 contest for 3YO fillies. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Queensland Oaks 'There were floods at Taree so I had to spend the night at Armidale and then come across,' a jubilant Lees said. 'Each trip was like eight hours, so it was two lots of eight hours just to get here (to Brisbane). 'It doubled the travelling time. 'She was very stirred up in The Roses (at Doomben) and I thought 'oh we're off here' and I was thinking she'd be going to the paddock. 'But she actually ran super and came out of it well so she's a tough filly.' â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 You Wahng finished a creditable fifth in The Roses (2000m) on May 24 in a Group 2 race won by Queensland Oaks favourite Philia, who struggled to cope with the extra 200m on Saturday. Philia dropped out to finish eighth, ending her four-race winning streak, after starting as the $4.20 favourite. • Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page Lees admitted he was a little surprised at the victory, although he knew You Wahng was capable of an upset following her excellent third in the Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 12 behind super filly Treasurethe Moment and Sun 'N' Sand. When You Wahng finished last in the Listed The Coast at Gosford last month, Lees wasn't exactly brimming with confidence. 'Look we lost confidence after she went to Gosford for a prep run to get her back on track but she was a bit plain,' he said. • Sunrays ends stellar campaign as trainer resists Group 1 lure '(Jockey) Andrew Gibbons suggested putting a tongue-tie on and she's reacted really well to that. 'It was a lovely ride from Tommy. He was able to get us straight across from the gate and got into a lovely position in running. 'He had a lot of horse coming to the corner, but I was always just a little guarded that last furlong when she presented, but she was able to find under pressure. 'She probably got to him a bit early in The Roses, so Tommy was adamant we just needed to hold her up for a furlong sprint and he produced her at the right time today. 'She looked the winner a long way from home. 'She was on her last legs late but she found something extra under pressure so that was very pleasing.' You Wahng will now head to the paddock for a 'well-deserved' spell. 'That's her first city win, actually,' Lees said. 'She'll have a well-deserved rest because she's had a good prep. She's been up all throughout and we thought after the Oaks in Sydney we were a chance and she's delivered.' Originally published as You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip Horse Racing David Payne, renowned for his unconventional training methods, once again demonstrated his expertise as Shohisha claimed an upset victory at Randwick. Horse Racing Trainer Matt Dale faces a tough decision on whether to give Moreton Cup winner Front Page a crack at the Stradbroke Handicap or send the veteran sprinter for a spell.

Matt Dale will weigh up Stradbroke Handicap tilt with Front Page after Moreton Cup win
Matt Dale will weigh up Stradbroke Handicap tilt with Front Page after Moreton Cup win

The Australian

time9 hours ago

  • The Australian

Matt Dale will weigh up Stradbroke Handicap tilt with Front Page after Moreton Cup win

It would be uncharted territory but trainer Matt Dale indicated 'the discussion will be had' about giving evergreen sprint warrior Front Page a crack at next Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. Rising nine-year-old Front Page has never won over 1400m – and indeed only raced over that trip once before – but on Saturday at Eagle Farm won the Group 2 Moreton Cup over 1200m which gives him a golden ticket into the Stradbroke (1400m). Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! Connections would need to pay a hefty late-entry fee and they and Goulburn trainer Dale must decide whether it is worthwhile given Front Page is primarily known for his deeds over nippier sprint trips. But after scoring the Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm, Dale certainly wasn't ruling out a Stradbroke tilt. 'The (Stradbroke) discussion will be had,' Dale said. 'We will certainly give some thought to it. 'A decision will be made on Tuesday, he will either be racing in the Stradbroke or going out for a month in the paddock here in Queensland. 'It's a good problem to have. 'He is a tough old horse who is rock solid fit and he ran right through the line today. 'We will enjoy this win and then dissect everything.' Adding to the complexity of Dale's decision is that it looks, at least on paper, to be shaping up to be one of the weakest Stradbrokes in recent times. Progressive Lindsay Park sprinter War Machine tops the Stradbroke betting market but there are few in the likely Stradbroke field who are standing out on stalks seven days out from the great race. Even if he doesn't contest the Stradbroke, Front Page won more fans on Saturday with his first win since scoring the $2m The Kosciuszko in 2023, his second triumph in that rich race after also scoring it the previous year. Front Page ($4.40) settled down to fight the Moreton Cup out with Tony Gollan's galloper Hidden Wealth and was stronger in the final stages. 'He's just an absolute beauty,' Dale declared. 'We came up here today rapt with how the horse was. 'The track has dried out all week but the track is still a bit choppy, and at the top of the straight I thought we were in a little bit of trouble. 'But he was prepared to get down and dirty and tough it out. 'I didn't think he looked as comfortable as he does on a good surface, but Timmy (jockey Tim Clark) knows him well and he did a great job sitting off Hidden Wealth.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Gollan faces nervous Stradbroke wait with Transatlantic - Daniel Pace Brisbane's premier trainer Tony Gollan has already tasted Group 1 glory this winter carnival with local star Antino, now he could get an unexpected chance to add to his haul. Gollan is sweating on a ratings bump for Transatlantic and the attrition rate in the upcoming Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) to qualify for Queensland's premier race at Eagle Farm next Saturday. The potential bonus to Gollan's epic Doomben Cup (2000m) victory with Antino two weeks ago came after the four-year-old gelding Transatlantic won a nailbiter in the Spear Chief Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Transatlantic had a 99 rating and was No.35 in the Stradbroke ballot order heading into the Spear Chief (1500m). 'He'll definitely be running (in the Stradbroke) if he gets in it,' Gollan said about the seven-day backup. 'It's now up to the handicapper to determine what they want to do with his rating. 'I've always had the Stradbroke in the back of my mind, this was a low percentage play to try to get him into the race. But I wanted to see him back winning. 'We'll see how it plays out with the attrition rate, but if everything marries up we'll be back here next week (for the Stradbroke). 'I've always thought he was a Stradbroke horse for some time.' Transatlantic improved his chances of making the Stradbroke field by winning the Spear Chief Handicap at Eagle Farm. Picture: Trackside Photography Jockey Ryan Maloney put Transatlantic into the ideal spot out wide to surge home just ahead of Desert Lightning ($10), with Fukubana ($5) in third on a Soft 5 track. 'The other day, I thought he was wanting to get out to this sort of trip, and he travelled like the winner a long way from home,' Gollan said. 'Ryan put him into a good position, and we made a subtle gear change with the winkers going on, which had him focused a touch better. 'He's a really nice horse, you saw how well he paraded today. He looks fantastic and he's still on the way up. 'That will have brought him on nicely. If we don't get into the Stradbroke then you might see him in the Wayne Wilson Mile instead.' In the earlier Queensland Day Stakes, $23 roughie Cosmic Fire won the Listed 1200m race ahead of Gerringong ($4) and topweight Coleman ($9) for trainer Billy Healey. 'He's just so honest and he continues to put up a fight every time we send him around,' Healey said 'He's had not much luck a few times but he's a horse who really put me on the map the last 12 months so I owe a lot to him.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store