Latest news with #ShayneO'Cass
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Hawkesbury on Saturday
Form expert Shayne O'Cass analyses Saturday's 10-race card at Hawkesbury, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis. • 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! â– â– â– â– â– HERB (12) is a grandson of Snitzel with broodmare sires like Courtza's son O'Reilly, Noble Bijou, Mellay, etc, which probably accounts for his superb and very compelling numbers on Heavy tracks. Rest assured Jason Collett will get the timing just right on this backmarker so long as the track is fair. MISS HADES (5) was a real eye-catcher first-up in the Candlewick midweeker. Has Midway form, likes the trip, and goes well second-up. PIRAEUS (8) is costly but always a chance in these Midways. Bet: HERB to win â– â– â– â– â– FEIMAZUO (9) has raced 13 times for two wins, five seconds and two thirds. Some of those placings were by narrow margins and more than some were the result of bad luck. Here is the most crucial bit; Clayton Gallagher has ridden her twice and won both times. STRAIGHT FIRE (8) is by Vancouver out of a More Than Ready mare out of a Zabeel mare. No wonder she is one for one on Heavy. Matthew Dunn is one or two off winning his 40th Highway. MOSCOW CIRCUS (3) profiles a fair bit like a fair few of his previous winners. â– â– â– â– â– DAMIEN (2) was $2.15 into $1.55 first-up at Newcastle and won accordingly. To win like that must have done his confidence and racecraft the world of good. This is much harder but he is a well-bred colt with plenty of upside (and a pedigree made to swim). AERODROME (1) was a narrow winner on debut but just so impressive. P.S. How good is Ole Kirk going? HEREWARD (4) is one those typical David Payne '3YO prospects' for next season but was forward enough to win a trial at Rosehill. Bet: DAMIEN to win â– â– â– â– â– IRON MAN (3) has finished on the podium 13 times in 19 starts; granted only three are wins but all of them were on rain affected tracks. One of them was on Heavy 8 at Kembla the day he won by three lengths. When it is all said and done, one word comes to mind and that is 'reliable'. Warwick Farm resident WORLD ALLIANCE (4) was bred nearby at Hobartville Stud, he's got a good 'local's' record at the track and has won on Heavy. Loved the EPIC PROPORTIONS (8) trials. Bet: IRON MAN to win, quinella 3, 4 â– â– â– â– â– QUANTUM CAT (4) won three times in England (from her first and only five starts there) and has never seen a Heavy track before Saturday. That's a bit of a worry but she is a Sadler's Well's descendant and has placed three times in five runs on Soft so gets a very cautious tick. Good news is that she has won second-up and was more than passable first-up. PHILLIPSBURG (3) is on a hat-trick here. Tough and genuine, he has a lot of weight this time but he's going so well, in fact, too well to overlook. Bet: QUANTUM CAT each-way â– â– â– â– â– There might not be a horse better bred for Heavy tracks racing on the weekend than SNITZANOVA (2) who is by Snitzel out of a Galileo mare. That means she is bred on a 3x3 cross of Snippets and Sadler's Wells. It stands to reason then why she won her only Heavy track run and that was the Sandown Guineas straight after the Spring Stakes win. MODELLA (14) is going to fly at them late here. I just hope the track plays fair. CANDLEWICK (13) is a quality filly. Is barrier 3 good or bad on the day? Bet: SNITZANOVA to win â– â– â– â– â– CITY OF LIGHTS (12) is a half-sister to Winx who you may recall was four from four on Heavy tracks for two reasons: One, she was a Champion and two, was the presence of Al Akbar (by Success Express) as the sire of her dam, Vegas Showgirl. That's a good omen for City Of Lights on a Heavy track here. Heavy 10 Golden Slipper winner Sebring is represented by TASHI (10) here. She's a spirited little mare who runs the same honest race no matter the venue or the level of competition. Bet: CITY OF LIGHTS each-way, box trifecta 2, 6, 10, 12 â– â– â– â– â– Provided the track is fair, the rain has come at the perfect time for FLOATING (11), a true example of the 'greys in the wet' theory. He's won seven races from 33 starts, three from 10 at this trip, four from 11 on Soft while his record on Heavy is one win, two seconds and one third from five goes. He ran a lot better than a 10th of 14 reads first-up. PUNCH LANE (5) is backing up for the third Saturday in-a-row but why not, the way he won last week and the fact he is a big time muddie. Bet: FLOATING each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg 11, 2nd Leg 2 â– â– â– â– â– ASTERO (7) has won eight races which is no small feat in the Benchmark era. The Matthew Smith-trained son of Zoustar has raced here twice for a win and second The win was on a Heavy 8; the second was on a Heavy 9 behind Norwegian Bliss. His old form includes a second to Big Dance winner Rustic Steel in the Newcastle Provincial Championships Heat. Goes well fresh, trials are very good and Jason Collett is the perfect fit for him. Stacks of other chances; IN FLIGHT (12) for one. â– â– â– â– â– I may be certifiably insane to tip ROSE BLOOM (2) again. Personally, I prefer 'loyal' myself but for those of us who went down with the ship last start, I can see why you'd be giving her a wide berth. I just see the gear changes as a potential plus and more to the point, she likes it soft underfoot which is a guarantee here. I'm sticking and so is Tyler Schiller. She is $81/$20 so worth a flutter. :
News.com.au
24-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kensington, Gosford, Bathurst best bets, inside mail for Friday, April 25, 2025
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets and analysis Randwick-Kensington and best bets for Gosford and Bathurst on Friday. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. BEST BET Race 7 No. 10: Piperita Only unplaced runs were behind El Castello and Lilac. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 2: Engine Room Lightly-raced and progressive first-up winner. VALUE Race 8 No. 10: Up And Under Was a certainty beaten first-up last campaign. QUADDIE Race 5: 2, 3, 4 Race 6: 4, 5 Race 7: 8, 10 Race 8: 6, 9, 10, 14 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW James McDonald is on 99 wins on the Kensington track. GOSFORD BEST BET Race 2 No. 6: Dial Of Destiny Has come back really well and is ready to strike. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 4: Frankely Sublime Blueblood of epic nature who has been trialling well. BATHURST BEST BET Race 3 No. 1: Jason Darren Placed at six of seven runs and all in better races than this. INSIDE MAIL - KENSINGTON RACE 1: LONE PINE MDN PLATE 1400m KIKOIRA (4) has been gelded since the debut but still worth noting that he was a $650,000 Magic Millions purchase by Pierata out of an I Am Invincible Reisling placegetter who is herself out of a Kindergarten winner and a half-sister to Amelia's Dream. This is the perfect launch pad to take off to Brisbane for the carnival. Ex Anthony Cummings, now Jim and Greg Lee galloper CONVERGENT (1) has trialled seven times dating back a year. As for the two recent ones, his win was outstanding and the last of 10 wasn't that bad at all. SATIN SPARKLE (8) was well down the order behind Aeliana on debut here in August. Resumed with a surging second at Wyong over 1200m. This suits big time. KUNDABUNG (4) is by emerging super sire Super Seth; his dam was fourth in the Karaka Million and has foaled Queensland Derby runner up, Paternal. This is another of the Waller/Morgan/Devine 'K's that will serve them all well. Brisbane for him too I suspect. ENGINE ROOM (2) (another Super Seth) was fourth at the Farm on debut then runner-up here splitting Snitzanova and Brigidine Gal - wow. Was off the map and in the red when a more convincing winner than it looks when he won on April 2. LINKS (1) has only managed two wins in 16 starts but is well suited here (albeit) with the big weight. DEEP EMOTION (8) is flying this prep and deserves her shot in town. TRAPALANDA (5) was runner-up in his first two runs, one The Curragh, prior to winning his third and final start in Ireland at Listowel in a 2414m Maiden. Lightly-raced and can obviously stay. Can see why he's come down to Australia; 1800m gives him a chance to win. MISTERKIPCHOGE (4) has only won once in 15 starts with six placings. Granted, a lot of those runs were in quality races and he was frequently finding the line. At least that win was here but it was a long time ago now. Bet: Trapalanda to win CASUAL CONNECTION (2) lines up for start 40 here; $8,000 short of $400,000 in earnings. The John Sargent-trained gelding won at Warwick Farm two starts back then was third in another 2200m at the Farm so he is as fit as he is ever going to be and his pattern suits here. Ditto that big time for CAMPALDINO (4) who won the Orange Cup on April 11, post his consecutive seconds at this venue over 1400m and 1800m. Regarding the 2400m, he was once third to Matusalem and Kureder. BOTANICA (4) is a far distant relative of Eight Carat, but breeding buffs will spot a resemblance straight away. Vinery bought her for $140,000 and gave her to Team Hawkes who have helped her craft a tidy resume of two wins and three thirds from nine runs. That was a pretty brave effort there at Wyong considering she had 61.5kg, led, 1200m, first-up. Drawn 1 here. EVERYONE'S A STAR (5) is a major player today and tomorrow depending where she goes. Bet: Botanica to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 4, 2nd Leg 10 PIPERITA (10) is a very typical Pierata, looks-wise. Pedigree-wise, it is world-class, literally - just one that stands out is Moon Ballad who won the Dubai World Cup. This Domeland/Sara Ryan filly won first-up and was inched out after that. Her two runs last prep were fourth to Lilac then two and a half lengths behind El Castello. Nice prospect. Waller is the undisputed master of the Zoustar progeny and he would have been happy with the comeback run of ERAANTYVA (8). UP AND UNDER (10) was one of the best things beaten in the entire 2024/25 season when climbing all over their backs, going half pace too, in that August 3 first-up run. My point there is, if you excuse him for that one, his fresh record becomes three starts for a second and third. Just pray for a fair Kensington on the day for backmarkers. put the writing on the wall first-up. SYDNEY BOWLER (9) and his stablemate SHE'S UNUSUAL (14) are major players and they're not the only ones. This is pure 'Get Out Stakes' stuff.
News.com.au
24-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday
Form expert Shayne O'Cass analyses Saturday's 10-race card at Royal Randwick, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis. Form expert Shayne O'Cass analyses Saturday's 10-race card at Royal Randwick, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis. • 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! â– â– â– â– â– TYRONE'S POWER (8) finished an honourable third in his first trial to Chicama and Beadman then won his next one 18-days later, easily handling The Little Master. Point being, there are some pretty strong Heats and it is clear from what he has done that he is ready for his debut. Great draw (2). The issue/negative is that there are some 2YOs here with very, very good form/race experience. Take BESKAR (1), for example – he walked in on debut then was a half-length third to North England and King of Pop in the Kindergarten. BET: TYRONE'S POWER (8) each-way. â– â– â– â– â– PHOTOGRAPHICS (3) has a tidy set of numbers; not least that two of her three career wins have been here at home, both with Molly Bourke in the saddle for her boss, Sarge. The daughter of Per Incanto has had a month between runs but kept ticking over (like a Rolex I might add) winning a 1050m trial here on April 14. BET: PHOTOGRAPHICS (3) to win. â– â– â– â– â– ZAMPANO (11) won the prestigious Romantic Dream at home at Tamworth on debut then went to Gunnedah and won again a month later. Spelled, failed first-up and was spelled, but resumed this time (on March 28) with a massive 'from the back' third. Now there's another dimension to the horse. SPEEDY HENRY (15) is unbeaten in two starts; not sure about the opposition but he's running time and is from a noted 'Highway stable'. MASSIRA (1) has bankable Highway form. BET: ZAMPANO (11) to won, exacta 11 to beat 15. â– â– â– â– â– ZEALOUSLY (1) went from Maiden winning to Benchmark 72 winner in three starts in the summer of 2024 which led him to the Sunshine Coast on Jan 4, 2025, for the $3 million Sunlight when and where he clocked in an admirable fourth to Private Harry no less. His 'best' is better than the rest's 'bests' IMHO. JW Kelly owned and bred EXTRAVAGENT LAD (3) has won six times with 11 placings in 25 starts. If you think that's impressive, he has posted four wins and five placings from 11 runs over the 1000m. IRON HAT (9) is pitched in here! BET: ZEALOUSLY (1) to win. â– â– â– â– â– STATE OF AMERICA (4) has finished with a medal 18 times in 33 starts; with seven wins. That's pretty impressive stuff. So too is the fact that he has a 50 per cent strike-rate at the track and trip. To cap it all off, he is a last start winner who has a proven ability to hold his form. Lightly-raced French Group horse, SAGANTI (3), has presumed natural improvement in store off that very narrow loss to State Of America when he made his Down Under debut over 1600m. This trip is better again for him. BET: STATE OF AMERICA (4) to win, quinella 3,4. â– â– â– â– â– STEP ASIDE (6) 's first-up record is two wins and a second from five fresh runs. Of course we have to scrub one of those given he lost the rider (Tommy Berry) first-up last preparation. He hasn't been away from racing for all that long so one trial probably suffices … well, if Waller thinks so, then so do I. Stablemate INVADER ZIM (10) is good here at Randwick and good early in his preparations too. The bottom line with both of them is what price they are about 10 minutes before they jump. BET: STEP ASIDE (6) to win (best bet). â– â– â– â– â– TRAFALGAR SQUARE (13) has only managed one win in 15 starts but she has contested a Golden Gift, Kindergarten Stakes, Clarendon Stakes, Silver Shadow and Furious Stakes – and has run rather well in some of them. There was so much to like about her first-up run behind Candlewick in that WF 1200m on April 16. Reckon she is the 'weight horse' of the day with 52kgs. MARTINI MUMMA (9) is first-up out of the Kosciuszko. She was fourth in the Denise's Joy around this time last year. PAJANTI (7) could be in for a really good prep. BET: TRAFALGAR SQUARE (13) each-way, PAJANTI (7) to place. â– â– â– â– â– PUNCH LANE (4) won the Glasshouse in 2024 and was runner-up in the Shannon Stakes that same spring. He was solid, at least, in the Star Kingdom first-up. He was the run of the race, IMHO, in that Benchmark 100 last Saturday at HQ. Regarding the seven day back-up, he raced eight-days prior to winning the Glasshouse. GREBENI (5) was rather unlucky behind LAVISH EMPIRE (17) (runs here too) in the Muswellbrook. Both are major players as is Ducasse. Big, big watch on WOOTTON VERNI (10)! BET: PUNCH LANE (4) to win, box trifecta 3,4,5,10, DD 1st Leg 4, 2nd Leg 12. â– â– â– â– â– AUTOMNE TREE (19) is one of those Waller horses that will/might head to Queensland this winter. I think he could win a good race or two at anything from a mile up to the Derby. He's bred to stay being by The Autumn Sun and from the same family as Gold Trip. Going to need luck to make the cut, that's all. LINKS (11) has accepted for Kensington today. Runs well wherever she goes. LADY BOSS (12) has a wide draw but is talented and consistent. Ditto for DUVANA (14). BET: AUTOMNE TREE (19) to win (best each-way). â– â– â– â– â– James McDonald's last three rides on the card tomorrow have drawn barriers 12, 17 and 19 (minus scratchings, etc). Now even though 19 is the biggest number, it probably matters least on the day given this is the Doncaster start. Long story short, he'll be on KIND WORDS (12) in the last for Kris Lees. She was a handy 3YO (she ran 4th in the Queensland Oaks) and has been very good in her two starts back over 1400m, including a three-lengths 6th of 15 in the Provincial Championship Final. Peaks now. POPPIN' CHAMPAGNE (9) was good enough to place fourth in Lekvarte's G2 ATC Angst at her only run at the t/d.
