Group 1 racing returns to action in Melbourne for 2025 Memsie Stakes Day this weekend!
One of the strongest editions of the Memsie Stakes since the turn of the century headlines ten races at Caulfield on Saturday, and you can find my complete Caulfield best bets below.
For punters looking for more Caulfield track insights as the Group 1s continue, make sure you also check out our The Punters’ Playbook: Caulfield Spring Carnival Deep Dive!
GILDED WATER resumes in a winnable race.
The talented gelding hasn’t been seen at the races since January, but he was almost faultless last time in, winning his first two runs back before running second behind an impressive Tajanis at Rosehill.
He’s had the benefit of a couple of trials and looks well placed this week to kick off Memsie Stakes Day.
GALA QUEEN is third up and primed to strike.
She’s yet to place in two runs back from a spell, but there is no doubt that Gala Queen has improved in condition, and she made up ground to finish on the placegetters’ heels here last time out.
Fitter third-up, she should be able to find a nice position in running from a wider draw before calling on her turn of foot again.
I’m keen to stick with YOSHINOBU third up from a spell.
Having returned to action with a fine performance to win in BM78 company up at Rosehill last month, the Written Tycoon gelding was too bad to be true on a genuinely heavy track last time out.
With further improvement this week and on a firmer deck, he gets plenty of ticks under Jamie Melham.
REVELARE strips fitter into his second up target on Memsie Stakes Day.
Revelare was nothing short of excellent last time in, winning five races in succession as he continued his journey through the grades, peaking with consecutive victories at Flemington.
He clearly needed his first run back this time to tune up, but he improved noticeably with a run under his belt last time in, and there’s little doubt he’ll be better getting out to the 2000m this week with only 54kgs in tow.
Memsie Stakes Day’s first black type feature has drawn a typically smart and capacity field including GOLDEN PATH, who I’ve put on top.
He was a little outclassed in strong Group 1 races up in Sydney last time in, but Golden Path has been a great horse since arriving in Australia, winning at this grade and finding form around some of the best horses in the country.
After trialling up fairly, he returned to action to finish a length third in BM100 company here a fortnight ago and is open to plenty of improvement.
Ten talented three-year-olds will step out in this year’s McNeil Stakes field, including undefeated Group 1 winner VINROCK.
While he only made three appearances at the races in the autumn, the I Am Invincible colt enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence that peaked with victory in Group 1 company claiming Sydney’s Inglis Sires’.
He’s trialled up nicely and rates as a key winning chance again.
ARKANSAW KID is second up and rates as a key winning chance in a lovely race.
He attracted good interest in the market before ultimately finishing second in the Regal Roller Stakes here fresh from a break, and Arkansaw Kid was excellent last time in, picking off some nice races and running an impressive sixth in a Newmarket Handicap.
There is a case to be made for a few of them in this year’s The Heath, but with the benefit of that run under his belt and boasting a strong second up record, I think that Arkansaw Kid will prove difficult to overcome.
Outstanding New Zealander DAMASK ROSE makes her Australian debut in the Cockram Stakes.
Damask Rose couldn’t have been more impressive during her summer and autumn prep earlier this year, winning both the Karaka Millions 3YO and The Kiwi, and she has reportedly pleased the team with her condition ahead of Saturday’s return.
In my opinion, the $9.50 about her at publish is over the odds in Cockram Stakes betting and she looks a terrific each way contender.
All but one of the eleven confirmed starters in the 2025 Memsie Stakes field has won in Group 1 company previously – it’s absolutely stacked edition of the race!
With that in mind, I’ve put FANGIRL on top, but will also have an each way bet on HERE TO SHOCK at big Memsie Stakes odds.
Fangirl was due to resume in last week’s Winx Stakes up at Randwick but was scratched as a result of the Heavy 10 track.
There might not be a better fresh horse in work in Australia, while she’s arguably at her best over 1400m as well. Assuming the track isn’t bottomless by Saturday afternoon, I think she’ll be extremely hard to beat.
Here To Shock is a horse that is almost always overlooked in the market, but he rarely turns in a poor effort.
Having won in Group 1 company over in New Zealand in February, the Shocking gelding was only just denied by Royal Patronage in the Canterbury Stakes when resuming to Australia.
He returned to action to finish third in the PB Lawrence Stakes over this route last month and boasts an excellent second up record.
Don’t forget to check out our runner-by-runner 2025 Memsie Stakes preview in full right here!
Sepals resumes off some lovely trial performances.
The Calyx gelding was excellent during his debut prep, winning three of five starts, including the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington, while he went to the paddock after finishing fourth in the Australian Guineas.
His trials suggested he might have furnished into a stronger horse, and this looks a nice campaign launchpad for him.