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News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mitch Cohen, Shayne O'Cass tips and analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday
Racing writers Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass present their race-by-race tips and analysis for the 10-race meeting at Royal Randwick on Saturday. MITCH'S BEST BET Race 10 No.6 PUNTIN MITCH'S BEST VALUE Race 8 No.7 THE BLACK CLOUD SHAYNO'S BEST BET Race 8 No.4 CIGAR FLICK SHAYNO'S BEST VALUE Race 9 No.10 RANTAN â– â– â– â– â– Shayne O'Cass: We should start by pointing out the rail placement for the day; 11m out from the 1000m to the winning post; 8m the remainder. What effect that has, if any at all, will become evident pretty early on. For the record in the first I am eager to see how NAZWAH (7) makes the transition from Gosford to Randwick. Nazwah is out of a very good filly who has turned into a very good broodmare namely Najoom who has already thrown stakes-winners Charm Stone and Najmaty and the way this filly might get to black-type herself. Mitch Cohen: On speed could be the place to be with the rail where it is but we will wait a couple of races to see how it plays out. I am with NAZWAH (7) too. Interesting to hear Peter Snowden say her debut win took him a bit by surprise. It was a very impressive performance and I doubt she will be getting under anyone's guard on the weekend. SHAGGY (1) has to be a chance if he can replicate his early two-year-old form. It wasn't so long ago that he was a hot favourite in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes and a genuine Golden Slipper prospect. Wow, look at Nazwah go! 😮 An impressive win to the @SnowdenRacing1 - trained filly at @gosford_races with @tomo_sherry in the saddle! ðŸ'¨ @EmiratesPark — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 10, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: KINGSTON CHARM (2) is indeed a member of David Hains' epic family that delivered the fastest Melbourne Cup winner ever, Kingston Rule. As for Kingston Charm, she is much more a miler than a two-miler; and make that a 'Randwick Miler' Nosey Parker is known for getting back and charging late mostly in 1200m races but he actually ran a pretty respectable race at Wyong at his only 1600m run when Willie Pike rode him. CALLISTEMON (9) is the obvious, SUNSOURCE (8) might be the value at $7 the place. Mitch: We are in agreement again. I thought KINGSTON CHARM (2) was desperately unlucky not to win the other day and she finds herself in a very similar race here. She's ready for a peak performance third-up. CALLISTEMON (9) is another one that didn't have a lot go her way the other day. She's a chance but the outside draw could make things ugly. FORECASTER (3) is drawn to get every possible on speed. Charmed! Kingston Charm takes out the opener at Randwick today! @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 9, 2024 • â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Typhoon Tracy relation IN SUMMER (6) has three wins, three seconds and a third from eight starts. She was third last start in a Highway here but was, IMHO, the moral victor. The two that beat her had all the favours whereas he had none. A lot of that goes for RED RAGS TO BULLS (7) too who was fifth in that on-pace Highway. How could those two NOT run 1800m? OFF THE SCALE (8) has already won over 'the Tchaikovsky distance' (1812m) by four then won at Scone by three over 1700m. Mitch: IN SUMMER (6) went straight in the blackbook following her strong third in a Highway race at a mile last time. She has never been tried at the 1800m but off that last run you'd expect her to lap it up. RED RAGS TO BULLS (7) is a descendant of an SA Oaks runner-up so the 1800m could prove right up her alley too. Matt Dunn can never be discounted in a Highway either so FULL OF SINCERITY (2) deserves respect. He's dropping back 430m in trip but this is significantly easier than a Grafton Cup. • Big Dance lure not enough to sway Pfieffer â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: CODETTA (1) has been most unlucky this preparation Mitchy, You could make a sane case to argue that this half-sister to Riff Rocket could have won any or all of her three starts this time in but for wide barriers and track bias and so on. Barrier 4 this time, 2kgs off, even luck she wins IMHO. Could it be the same trifecta as the July 5 race here with GOLDEN STRAAND (8) (runner-up that day) and DIDDLE DUMPLING (2) (who won) both fronting up again? Sure can. Outside of those, one has to acknowledge that SIGNOR TORTONI (3) is on a hat-trick. Mitch: GLORIOUS MOMENTS (6) has been given a month to get over his excellent first-up success at Canterbury. The smart son of Brutal hadn't raced for 59 weeks heading into that and should be advantaged by the added break between runs. He's untapped. STARDEEL (4) deserves consideration on the strength of his consistent preparation. The 1300m looks ideal for him now. SIGNOR TORTONI (3) is going through his grades nicely and should be competitive again. “I think he is the best horse we've had for a long while.â€� Co-trainer Greg Lee believes Glorious Moments can deliver on that high opinion when he turns out on home turf at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Story: @MitchRWCohen ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) July 24, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: In case you forgot Mitchy, I was declaring RUBY FLYER (1) first-up in the Winter Stakes but the fact that he was $41 to $51 suggested that she would need the run. The long and short of it was that he was 11th of 13 but only beaten six-lengths and I thought he ran through the line with purpose. Loves the 1600m and loves Randwick. One has to be (totally) forgiving of Big Dance placegetter SUPER HELPFUL (2) first-up given he bombed the start. OH DIAMOND LIL (4) is bombproof. Mitch: No one could doubt your loyalty Shayno! I found it impossible to go around OH DIAMOND LIL (4). I know David Pfieffer was considering the Coffs Harbour Cup but with the rail out, this looks like an ideal race for her. She will settle close to the speed and I am tipping she will be too hard to run down. ABERLOUR (9) is another one that will find herself on speed and was good doing it from out in front over 1800m last time. RUBY FLYER (1) is best of the rest. She's back on the winners list! ðŸ'� Jason Collett lifts Oh Diamond Lil over the line to take out race 8 at Randwick! @DavidPfieffer — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 12, 2025 • Thompson has strong hand to cap off outstanding season â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Tasmanian Oaks runner-up VERY SEWREEL (9) was my Black Booker from the July 12 meeting here even though she ran ninth of 13. That was her first run for Bjorn Baker but she is familiar with HQ given she came from Waterhouse/Bott. Terrible bias on the day, she has to be marked 'up' for what was an already honourable return over 1400m; 1800m this time. Boom. SHE'S UNUSUAL (5) is a last start track/distance winner. Nettoyer's little (half) sister CHANGING COLOURS (7) had no chance with the bias here two weeks back. Mitch: SHE'S UNUSUAL (5) won't get the same luxury out in front that she was afforded last start but she can win again. She gets a great draw to settle close to the speed and only has to carry a kilo more after Ben Osmond's 2kg claim. PIGGYBACK (8) has been a tad frustrating in recent starts but hasn't had a lot of luck either. She is at peak fitness and will be in the mix again. BRIGHT RED (10) is a consistent mare but doesn't win all the often. She's nice... unusual! She's Unusual wins in style for @JohnOSheaRacing with @TommyBerry21 in the saddle! 🤩 @aus_turf_club @OTIRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Not sure if GENTLY ROLLED (7) turns up on Saturday or is saved for another day given the wide draw and the rail placement. The brief version from last start is 'beaten by the bias'. UNSTOPABULL (6) 's trainer Chris Waller mastered the art of the back-up a long time ago Mitchy. The stats say he has an 18.2 per cent winning strike-rate with horses backing up within 7 days and that increases to 46.6 per cent when placings are added. One more thing, Unstopabull had no luck last weekend. Mitch: SACRED ROCKS (4) would be odds on if she drew a gate. She's the clear class runner and only needs to overcome another wide draw here. I am convinced she is a stakes quality mare and she's unlucky not to be three from three this preparation. DRIFT NET (9) is drawn to get on speed favours from barrier one. She is going to be the one the favourite needs to catch. UNSTOPABULL (6) will run his typical race and be the best of the closers. Sacred Rocks storms home on the outside to win the last at Rosehill! 🚀 @CMaherRacing @djgibbons22 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: We all use the term 'unlucky' a lot, sometimes too much Mitchy but seriously, how unlucky was CIGAR FLICK (4) the other day! I know she is not everyone's cup of tea, for some she is poison, but honestly and truly, if the best Cigar Flick shows up, she has to be in the finish. STORM THE RAMPARTS (1) is '211212' this preparation, and I'm tipping Cigar Flick! The world's gone mad! But one last time and if she gets rolled this time with no good reason, it's goodbye. Mitch: I think THE BLACK CLOUD (7), albeit it not a huge price, still present some nice value around the $6 quote. She is a model of consistency with two close seconds already to her name this prep. If the rain hits Sydney, that's only going to help her cause. BUNDEENA (11) looked the winner a long way out first-up. He will be poised pounce from a good draw. STORM THE RAMPARTS (1) has to go in the quaddie. He's flying and has shown big weights are no concern. The Black Cloud wins and wins well for punters in the last! @ProvenTbreds @PrideRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 17, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: RANTAN (10) has been incredibly unlucky (there's that word again) this whole three start campaign. Unless this rail placement spoils it for backmarkers, I am working on the wide barrier being favourable, or at very least, not disadvantageous to her winning prospects. APACHE BREEZE (18) is $9 the place which is an inviting price about a horse in form and nearing a win. Like him at Randwick with its big straight. Mitch: I went looking for a different angle away from the favourites and landed on RANTAN (10) too. She will need the likes of ZOURIPPER (15) and REGIMENTAL COLOURS (12) to set a genuine tempo up front to get her chance but if she gets clear air late, she will be finishing strong. CASSIEL (3) is racing well and his racing pattern should help him negate the wide draw. He's got the form man Tom Sherry aboard too. LORDSTER (7) is a cheeky hope at double figures. Rantan loops the field to win Race 4 at Warwick Farm for @RonQuinton! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 18, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: KING RATEL (9) is perhaps not a guaranteed starter given the draw, but he is on top for me if he comes otherwise it is as open as the Heads – like all good Get Out Stakes should be. Maybe MIRACLE SPIN (3)? Encouraged by the trial. TRAVOLTA (5) wants 1800m now, big time. PUNTIN (6) just keeps on running good races and is 'Bjorn in the last!' Mitch: Saving the best to last Shayno and that's PUNTIN (6). This bloke couldn't run a bad race if he tried, running second, first and second this prep. He has been well prepared for a crack at 1800m here. Provided he avoids another slow getaway, I think he's going to take a power of beating. MIRACLE SPIN (3) is an interesting runner. Matt Smith has wasted no time, going first-up over 1800m. He's raced well and the same track and trip before. The Waller pair of PURE ALPHA (7) and KAZALARK (11) are in the mix.
Irish Examiner
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Diego Velazquez highlights O'Brien's impressive Curragh treble
Classy Diego Velazquez bagged his second Group 2 success and retained his unbeaten record on home soil when landing the Romanised Minstrel Stakes, highlight of a Sunday treble for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. Close to the pace, set by California Dreamer, the 11/8 favourite hit the front before the furlong-pole and then responded to Moore's handling to hold 25/1 shot East Hampton by a neck. 'This year has been a bit of a mess for him. He got upset in the stalls at Leopardstown and had to be withdrawn. And then the 'Queen Anne' turned into a non-event for him," O'Brien explained. "A mile is his trip – this seven furlongs was a bit short and the ground a bit easy. But everyone has been happy with him at home and he's a classy horse, powerful and strong, and knuckled down well.' Described by his rider as 'uncomplicated, with a very good attitude" Diego Velazquez will now step back up to a mile and into Group 1 company, with Goodwood's Sussex Stakes and the Prix Jacques Le Marois possible targets. Following the withdrawal of morning favourite Signora, Moore switched to Sugar Island in the opening two-year-old fillies maiden. Although a market drifter, drifting out to 9/2, the Dubawi filly delivered in good style to spark the Ballydoyle treble. Having raced prominently, she stayed on to beat fellow debutante Saint Agatha by a half-length. 'She was ready for her first run and was very green," O'Brien commented. "Ryan said that when he asked her to quicken at the two, she found plenty – and that's a good sign. She'll have no problem going a mile this season and should be a lovely filly over a mile and a quarter, or more, next year.' The Ballydoyle treble was completed when 88-rated Light As Air dug deep to see off Winston Junior in the mile and a half maiden. Earlier, the Paddy Twomey-trained One Look, stepping-up to a mile and a quarter for the first time, bounced back from her trip to Royal Ascot when taking the Group 3 Al Shira'aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes under Wayne Lordan, sweeping past Azada inside the final furlong to score by a length, with favourite Tasmania coming from last to take third spot. 'She didn't enjoy the clearest passage through, but Wayne looked happy, and she hit the line well,' stated Twomey. 'Ascot didn't work out for her and she appreciated the ten furlongs today, on softer ground. "We just let her tick over since Ascot. But she's four now and we might run her a bit more. We might look at races like the Blandford, back here, the Romanet and the Opera with her.' Winning rider Lordan added: 'I sat where I was happy and she travelled quite well. As Billy (Lee) told me, she hit a bit of a flat spot but, when I pulled her out, I knew she'd finish well. She pulled up when she got to the front, but won well.'
Courier-Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Gosford preview: Sneaky Choice aims for repeat victory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Brad Widdup is hoping history repeats for pint-sized filly Sneaky Choice. Widdup sent Sneaky Choice to Gosford for a 1000m race on debut and the daughter of Extreme Choice tracked the leader before running down Miss Judas to score by three-quarters of a length. Spelled after a sixth at Goulburn, Sneaky Choice returns to the Central Coast for the TEG Tradies Day 29 August 2025 Class 1 Handicap over the 1000m. Jockey Grant Buckley, who was aboard for her debut win, will again partner the three-year-old. 'She is only very little but she did a really good job to win on debut,' said Widdup. 'Where going back to where she won and hopefully she can do it again. Trainer Brad Widdup is chasing a two-year-old win with You're The Choice. Picture: Grant Guy The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'She's only had the one trial this time in so she is obviously open to improvement but I thought this was a good starting point for her.' Widdup is hoping well-bred filly You're The Choice can claim a late season two-year-old win and a BOBS bonus when she resumes in the Central Coast Locksmiths Provincial Maiden Plate (1000m) where she has drawn barrier 6 with apprentice Mitch Stapleford aboard. The two-year-old made her debut at Newcastle over 900m back on February 15 where she finished a head second behind Frostfire. She then took a big jump in grade when Widdup sent her out in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick. After racing keenly she finished down the order behind Within The Law. 'She was quite good on debut so we gave her a run in the Sweet Embrace,' Widdup said. 'She is a nice filly and has come back in good order this preparation. 'I expect her to run well first-up from a good draw.' A two-year-old win will increase her future broodmare value. The filly is a daughter of Golden Slipper Farnan from a half-sister to Group 1 Blue Diamond winner and top sire, Extreme Choice. Widdup also has Gladstone Grande in the same race but will likely save him for Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury the following day. The gelding has only had one run, in the Kirkham Plate at Randwick on October 26 where he was last of the six runners behind Comedy. 'I will likely split them up,' he said 'Even though he has drawn worse at Hawkesbury he will probably go there. 'I had a throw at the stumps in the Kirkham. I may not have been the right thing but it gave him some experience. 'He is still mentally immature but I have been happy enough with him in his trial. 'If the brings that to the races, he should be competitive.' Widdup also has two options with the promising Tequisoda this weekend – Gosford and Hawkesbury. The two-year-old is entered for the Consolidated Panels & Veneers 2&3YO Maiden Plate (1600m) at Gosford and a Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury over 1500m. 'He will likely go around at Hawkesbury on Sunday but I will wait until I see if there are any scratchings at Gosford,' Widdup said. 'If it ends up a small field, he may head that way.' The son of Pierro was gallant in defeat on debut over 1300m at Wyong where he finished a length-and-the-quarter second behind Sapling who is one of the favourites in the opening race at Rosehill. 'He ran enormous on debut,' he said. 'He was a smidgen slow out but then he got a buffeted and settled a fair way off the leader. 'That's not ideal for a horse having its first start so he did a very good job to finish as close as he did.'
Independent Singapore
18-07-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
12 new millionaires as Toto jackpot snowballs to over S$12.7 million but goes unclaimed
Photo: WM Commons SINGAPORE: As no one won the jackpot in the Toto lottery drawn last night (July 17), the prize money of more than S$12.76 million was divided equally among the 12 winning bets in the second group. Each bet received S$1.186233 million, making each Group 2 winner a millionaire overnight. No one won the first prize for three consecutive periods, and the first prize for last night's draw swelled to S$12,766,543. This marks the seventh time in 2025 that the jackpot has exceeded the $10 million mark. Under Toto's rules, when the first prize remains unclaimed for three draws, the jackpot continues to snowball, but if it still remains unclaimed after the fourth draw, the total prize amount will not be carried forward again and will instead be distributed evenly among winners in the next prize group. If no one secures the Group 1 prize, the entire accumulated amount will be shared among those who win Group 2. See also SMRT, SBS launch new virtual maps for passengers Yesterday's draw produced the winning numbers 7, 8, 17, 29, 32, and 42, and the additional number was 1. Singapore Pools advises participants to play responsibly and reminds the public that official tickets should only be purchased from authorised retailers or through its website and app. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Malay Mail
18-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
No jackpot, but 12 Toto punters still laughing all the way to the bank with RM4.2m each
SINGAPORE, July 18 — Twelve Singapore Pools punters struck it rich with about S$1.2 million (RM4.2 million) each after no one won the S$12.7 million (RM44.5 million) Toto jackpot on July 17. Because it was the fourth draw without a Group 1 winner, the massive prize rolled down to the 12 Group 2 tickets, The Straits Times reported today. The winning numbers were 7, 8, 17, 29, 32, 42 and 1. The winning tickets were bought at places like Tampines, Race Course Road and Toa Payoh, though it's unclear if they were bought solo or shared. Separately, there were 609 winners in Group 3 who will each take home S$1,658 (RM5,810). The jackpot had snowballed from S$1.2 million (RM4.2 million) on July 7 to S$5.8 million (RM20.3 million) on July 14 before hitting its RM44.5 million peak.
