Related Articles
NSW form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets, race-by-race tips, analysis and quaddie picks for Royal Randwick on Boxing Day, as well as his top selections for the Beaumont meeting at Newcastle.
• 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!
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
ROYAL RANDWICK TIPS
BEST BET
Race 8 No.6 LAST COMMAND
Beat Just Party and Broadsiding in the Max Lees and been very good ever since.
NEXT BEST
Race 7 No.5 TAVI TIME
Bit of a heart-breaker but the Ingham runs says 2000m bang on again
VALUE
Race 2 No.1 AGRAFFE ROCKET
Stunning looking son of Graff on debut for Graff’s trainer.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1,3,5,8
Race 6: 3,8,9,10
Race 7: 5
Race 8: 6
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Jason Collett has a fabulous book of Boxing Day rides including Estadio Mestalla in the Cup.
RANDWICK INSIDE MAIL
RACE 1: 3YO+ MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
KONSA (5) is an Ocean Park son of a mare who won over 1850m in Ireland. The Chris Waller-trained gelding has gone 1250m, 1300m – fourth both times – into a Randwick mile for which he looks purpose-built. LORRIE BELLE (10) is a stablemate of, and a half-sister to Agita. The filly shapes as a miler now and more later on. Expecting huge improvement from her second time to the races. KUMBAYA (8) and POUR BENN (3) make appeal at this track/distance.
BET: KONSA (5) to win, LORRIE BELLE (10) each-way, exacta/quinella 5,10.
RACE 2: 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
AGRAFFE ROCKET (1) is a striking son of Graff trained by Graff’s trainer Kris Lees, he is a half to Paris D’or and a great grandson of Nanny Maroon. Trials suggest a debut win is achievable. PERFORMANCE (12) was $3.40 into $2.70 for good reason on debut at Canterbury and just bumped into a good one who has race experience. Bad draw is the worry. EXTRA HEIGHTS (16) is a blueblood that has trialling well.
BET: AGRAFFE ROCKET (1) each-way.
RACE 3: 3YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400m)
ERIN JO (9), the $700,000 yearling buy and daughter of I Am Invincible out of Lucia Valentina, has drawn 20 of 20 here so could end up running at Beaumont today. Huge on debut! FARSIDE (17) wasn’t that bad when 8th of 13 in a Super Maiden at Gosford on December 4 bearing in mind the winner won by five-and-a-half which puts Farside three-lengths behind the runner. CELLARMASTER (6) has the draw and the talent.
BET: ERIN JO (9) to win, FARSIDE (17) each-way.
RACE 4: 3&4YO BENCHMARK 64 (1000m)
BESIDE THE OCEAN (5) was a ‘cheap horse’ at $250,000 when you factor in that she is by Zoustar of a G3 winning mare whose foals include Farnan and Sandbar. Beside The Ocean led at her only two runs at the first prep; she was run down late on debut, won by panels at the other one then spelled. Drawn to win. DA SNOOP DOG (6) won both the lead-up trials to his Sunshine Coast 1000m debut on Nov 28 which he also won (on-speed). He doesn’t look out of place here!
BET: BESIDE THE OCEAN (5) to win.
RACE 5: 4YO+ BENCHMARK 78 (1000m)
INDEFENSIBLE (8) was scratched the previous race; he drew 9 of 10 there, he has 10 of 10 here but that’s not the end of the world from the 1000m start at Royal Randwick. Technically this is the harder race but is it really? Whatever the case, she is the up and comer in the field. SILENTSTAR (1) has drawn barrier 1 which is significant to him, if he can take advantage that is. Goes well fresh too. Pay to keep a good eye on where dual acceptor UNIQUE AMBITION (3) goes.
BET: INDEFENSIBLE (8) to win.
RACE 6: FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 72 (1300m)
SEQUISTA (8) has her hat in the ring for Sunday’s Gosford Guineas. MOTOSCAFO (3) has accepted for the Midway here on Saturday. Let’s just hope that she gets a bit more luck in this weekend’s Midway than she did in her December 13 quest. She can win wherever she goes. CHIX (12) has her name down for another race on Saturday here. Tough win on debut. WRITTEN SCANDAL (9) has been awfully costly but if we lose all these key runners, she rockets into contention, more so from barrier 2.
BET: MOTOSCAFO (3) to win either Friday or Saturday.
RACE 7: GROUP 3 SUMMER CUP (2000m)
TAVI TIME (5) has been costly at times for a horse that has won 9 races and placed on 6 occasions from 27 starts. Even so, he never runs bad races, in fact his 9th of 20 in The Ingham can be put in the ‘good run’ column. All that aside, the most pertinent point to make is that his only run at 2000m so far was this same race in 2024 which he won. UNSPOKEN (4) belied his $31 SP when fourth in the ATC Cup. Tick over trial since. Good enough to medal.
BET: TAVI TIME (5) to win, UNSPOKEN (4) to place.
RACE 8: COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 72 (1300m)
LAST COMMAND (6) won the Paul Perry Stakes at just his second start in a race beating Just Party and Broadsiding no less. The Michael Freedman-trained gelding has won two more since then, placed twice as well, in a career total of 11 starts. He goes well fresh, the two trials were good and 1300m (at home) is the absolute perfect scenario! ENGINE ROOM (4) has been well managed by Bryce Heys hence the tidy little CV. This is an ideal kick off for him and he could easily convert!
BET: LAST COMMAND (6) each-way (best bet), First 4 Nos 2,4,6,12,14 (boxed).
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
BEAUMONT TIPS
BEST BET
Race 3 No.5 LEVELLING UP
Grandson of a VRC Oaks winner who has looked the part in his trials.
NEXT BEST
Race 7 No.5 COSY CORNER
Been hitting the line with gusto all three runs this preparation.
VALUE
Race 6 No.11 OCEAN TSUNAMI
Won with raw ability in a quality maiden at Scone. Bred to progress.
• Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from Royal Randwick last Saturday
Originally published as Best bets and inside mail for Royal Randwick and Beaumont on Friday December 26, 2025
Source link
