Ready to back a big-priced winner this weekend? Find Saturday’s best racing roughies around the grounds, only at Ladbrokes!
We had a bit of luck in the final Group features of the Brisbane Winter Carnival last weekend tipping the emphatic four-length Tatt’s Cup winner, Manzoice, at $10 at time of tipping.
While our roughie tip for the Tiara was disappointing on the day, we did atone in the last with Metalart winning the WJ Healy as our Each Way play of the day.
The Group 1s for the current season may be done and dusted but we’re pressing on with our Saturday roughies at Flemington, Rosehill and the Sunshine Coast including some huge Place hopes at blowout odds.
Trust the “value whisperer”! Lucy Henderson shares her exclusive top roughie picks below.
Flemington Race 2 (12:30PM AEST) – Listed $175,000 TAJ ROSSI SERIES FINAL (1600M)
Each Way: No. 2 Bayou Music ($8.50 at time of publish)
Taking on the favourite and for value in this juvenile’s showdown early on the card have landed on BAYOU MUSIC (8) who is a last start winner for the powerhouse Godolphin stable.
James Cummings’ talented and progressive son of Street Boss is a colt on the rise coming in with confidence after a win at Bendigo last time out.
Carted 58kg over 1500m in mid-June at his third start to shrug off his maiden status and can go on with the job now.
Drops back to 56.5kg helping him run out the mile and the airborne Jamie Melham comes aboard for the ride in another plus.
Going well, distance should suit, and the roomier course works to his advantage.
Looks to have versatility and should be there in the finish.
Sunshine Coast Race 6 (3:23PM) – Group 3 $300,000 WINX GUINEAS (1600M)
Each Way: No. 7 Barbray ($9.50 at time of publish)
Taking on the in-form favourite in the Winx Guineas and siding with this progressive Chris Waller trained son of Zoustar with BARBRAY (5) drawn a treat and racing well.
The up-and-coming gelding from the country’s leading stable won back-to-back races in easier grade carrying big weights to victory earlier this prep.
He then ran a game fourth last time out in a BM72 at Randwick when only 1.2 lengths beaten by ROTAGILLA on June 21.
Can improve on that over the same 1600m distance here which he’s previously proven over (5:2-0-1).
Having a mile win in the bag is a positive here, can stay in touch with the front runners from the gate and be there in the finish.
Value.
Place: No. 11 Loch Awe ($51 at time of publish)
LOCH AWE (3) is ultra-consistent and has been completely forgotten in the markets, which appeals to me.
Barry Lockwood’s Magna Grecia gelding is trained at Eagle Farm and is one of the proven milers in the field.
Comes off three straight top three runs including a nice effort at Ipswich in late May behind I’M HEROIC narrowly beaten in a BM65 on a Heavy (8), so track conditions a non-issue.
Latest two have also been by narrow margins in June at Doomben at Class 1 level.
Although this is a notable rise in grade he’ll be flying back from 59.5kg last time out only 1.63 lengths off LARUSSO over 1640m with 57kg on Saturday and a good gate 3 draw to boot.
Luke Dempsey comes back aboard and gives this galloper every chance to make up ground late from a likely midfield run.
Definitely tested but have a hunch he’ll defy the odds.
Rosehill Race 9 (3:50PM AEST) – Listed $200,000 WINTER STAKES (1400M)
Place: No. 15 Saltcoats ($31 at time of publish)
SALTCOATS (15) is at 30/1 at time of publish which looks well overs for a Chris Waller runner who has plenty of top three runs under the belt boasting a Place Rate of over 76%.
The airborne Jason Collett partners the Kiwi bred Ardrossan four-year-old fresh off a five-month break with the galloper a two-time runner-up when resuming from four previous campaign kick-offs.
Has been around Rosehill on four occasions for three runs in the money, is proven at this 1400m distance (3:1-1-0) and comes off two Sydney trials.
Those were a little flat to be honest but is one of those horses that saves his best for race day so happy to rule a line through the hit-out form.
Back-to-back Listed third placegetter at his last two in January behind his talented stablemate OSIPENKO in the January Cup (2000m) here at Rosehill and TAJANIS in the Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm.
No doubt will be better over further, but getting in on 54kg puts him in the trifecta frame.
Needs to overcome a wide alley but has the talent to make up late ground and feature.
Flemington Race 8 (4:10PM AEST) – Listed $200,000 VRC-CRV WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FINAL (1600M)
Place: No. 9 Yellow Sam ($9.50 at time of publish)
Good price offered on YELLOW SAM (8) who chases a fourth win on the trot.
Lindsey Smith’s Ready For Victory mare runs at HQ for the first time and is yet to win over further than 1440m which explains the odds, but think she’ll surprise a few on class and consistency alone.
Two back she narrowly won Swan Hill’s Gold Topaz before saluting on a Soft (6) at Caulfield with 55.5kg on June 28.
Drops a kilo for her mile test and regular rider Fred Kersley continues associations from a midfield draw.
Presents fit now third-up and has won at this stage of a campaign in the past.
Gets conditions to suit and always hard to knock a mare going this well.
Happy to suggest she’ll see out the trip and be in the finish.
Sunshine Coast Race 8 (4:45PM) – Listed $300,000 CALOUNDRA CUP (2400M)
Each Way: No. 6 Flash Aah ($16 at time of publish)
Taking a bit of value in the Caloundra Cup and have FLASH AAH (13) on top at $16 at time of publish.
A proven wet tracker, this evergreen nine-year-old continues to show a zest for racing having run top four in his latest three.
Troy Pascoe’s veteran was third to FELIX THE SCAT two back only a half-length beaten over 1800m at this track two back before turning the tables to beat that galloper home in a last start win in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) on a Good (4).
Versatile, his winning form on Heavy going is also there to be seen (5:2-0-0) so think he can race well again on rain-affected going this weekend.
Rises in weight but Ron Stewart stays on.
Can surprise with another run in the money.
Place: No. 8 Dark Destroyer ($35 at time of publish)
For a real blowout in the Caloundra Cup I think DARK DESTROYER (11) has been overlooked.
This Kiwi raider from the Matamata stables of Darryn & Briar Weatherley has his fourth run in Queensland for the winter and has been improving each time out down under.
Was a narrow runner-up on a Heavy (10) at home in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) across the ditch going down a nose before disappointing at 25/1 when 12th behind potential Melbourne Cup bound CAMPALDINO in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
Tenth at his next start behind FLASH AAH in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) but showed something on the Good (4) track.
Improved placing-wise when third behind MANZOICE at his latest in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) last weekend, albeit being eased back the closing stages.
Fit now and on the quick back-up in an easier grade assignment with suggestions he’ll improve.
If it stays in the Heavy range he’ll relish that as a proven mudlark (8:4-1-0) and comes back a kilo to 54kg.
Maybe not the same horse he was as a three-year-old back in 2022 when he won a number of Group races, finished fourth in a QLD Derby and claimed the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy, but also not completely out of this if he shows a little bit of his former zest.
Happy punting!