Hendo’s Hopefuls: Saturday’s Best Roughies

After the weekend’s best roughies? Ladbrokes have crunched the fields and found the outsiders that might just run a big race!

Flemington hosts the final Group 1 in Melbourne for the autumn on Saturday with value galore to be found in this year’s Australian Cup field.

Up in Sydney and the Rosehill card for Stakes Day is elite featuring a double shot of Group 1 racing plus a host of key support acts for The Championships bound hopefuls.

We’ve got some more open fields than in recent weeks with plenty of longer priced fancies with genuine claims.

Our Value Whisperer, Lucy Henderson, has dug deep for the hidden gems — here are her top under‑the‑radar plays for Saturday’s racing action.

Rosehill Race 5 – Group 2 $300,000 Tulloch Stakes (2000m)

No. 4 Brave Danza

Open edition of the Tulloch Stakes and one of the potential Australian Derby hopes that stands out for mine at the price is BRAVE DANZA (6) for Matt Cumani.

This consistent and improving Brave Smash gelding from Victoria may have just the one win on his CV from seven starts, but he continues to be competitive at a lower level and looks deserving of his spot in this field now.

Third first-up at Sandown on March 11 only 1.35 lengths off Roulette King over 1800m with 59kg.

Fitter and ready to improve second-up from a favourable midfield raw with Billy Egan booked for the ride.

Comes back to 56kg at set weights and should eat-up the 2000m.

Eye catching in return run further south and should be competitive if he handles the Sydney way of racing.

Rosehill Race 6 – Group 1 $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m)

No. 6 Long Legs

The NZ Oaks winning Kiwi raider, Ohope Wins, looks mighty hard to stop in the Vinery but for a top three placing at a good price LONG LEGS (1) ticks a few boxes.

She’s already been crunched from $13 into $11 at time of publish, and honestly, I can see why — she’s the sneaky type that always flies under the radar until she’s suddenly in the finish.

Gary Portelli’s Russian Revolution filly draws the rails, which is perfect for her on‑pace style, and she’s been building nicely this prep.

Her fourth in the G3 Kembla Grange Classic was much better than it looks on paper — she was only a quarter‑length off the winner, stuck on bravely, and looked like a filly crying out for further.

That run says she’s ready to peak now.

She’s being thrown into the deep end here, sure, but she’s earned her shot and still has upside to come.

With natural improvement, a soft map, and a bit of grit about her, Long Legs is exactly the kind of roughie who can cling on for a podium finish at a juicy price.

If you’re chasing a Vinery outsider with genuine Top 3 claims, she’s my best.

Race 7 – Group 2 $300,000 Emancipation Stakes (1500m)

No. 12 Blindedbythelight

Value everywhere you look in the Emancipation including my tip to win Arctic Glamour ($7).

Adding even more value to my exotics is BLINDEDBYTHELIGHT (2) who resumes for the Moody/Coleman camp from an ideal gate two draw for airborne jockey Billy Egan.

She hasn’t raced since the Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield in mid-November where she was narrowly nudged out by Rumbled Again.

First-up now and she’s won fresh in the past by no less than four lengths at Bendigo last September on a Heavy track, and she presents fit off two good Pakenham trials including a winning 1000m jump out on March 10.

Maiden Sydney assignment for this up-and-coming Shamus Award four-year-old and she’ll be given every chance from the draw with 55kg.

She’ll relish the Soft conditions and can sit on pace from that alley holding for a run in the money.

Flemington Race 8 – Group 1 $2 million Australian Cup (2000m)

No. 2 Light Infantry Man

While I don’t think LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (9) will be winning the Australian Cup again in 2026, Ciaron Maher’s defending champ definitely looks overs for a top three finish.

The rising eight-year-old son of Fast Company loves it here at HQ having won two of his four previous Flemington assignments including last year’s Australian Cup when putting two lengths on Deny Knowledge in a high-pressure affair not soon forgotten.

He won first-up at Caulfield with 60kg in the Group 3 TS Carlyon Cup (1600m) in a huge return before crossing a brave fourth only two lengths off Saturday’s favourite in the Group 1, Birdman, in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m).

The return to Flemington is the big difference now and he’ll relish the 2000m third-up and fit.

Pride Of Jenni will ensure the pace is on and that suits this guy to a tee.

He’ll relish the fast speed she injects and can swamp a few late.

Respect at the price.

Rosehill Race 8 – Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m)

No. 3 Soul Of Spain

SOUL OF SPAIN (5) faces a tough test taking on his odds-on stablemate Aeliana in the Sydney feature on Saturday, but this fellow Waller-trained stayer can absolutely finish in the money behind her as he heads towards the Sydney Cup.

Waller has a terrific recent record in this race — Preferment in 2016, Verry Elleegant in 2020 — and while the stable’s short-priced favourite will hog the headlines, this bloke is the one offering some standout value.

Tommy Berry sticks, which is always a good sign, and the Phoenix Of Spain gelding is absolutely humming this prep.

He shocked a few people when running a massive fourth at triple‑figure odds in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, then backed it up with a strong second in the Sky High last start.

He’s improving with every run, he’s tough, and he profiles like a horse crying out for a genuine staying test.

Fourth‑up now, he should be right at his peak as he builds towards his two-mile grand finale, and this 2400m assignment looks the perfect stepping stone.

He’ll settle handy, give himself every chance, and if the race turns into a strong staying contest, he’s the type who’ll keep grinding and stick on when others are waving the white flag.

Well worth a cheeky place play.

Rosehill Race 9 – Group 3 $250,000 Doncaster Prelude (1500m)

No. 2 Globe

GLOBE (2) is a massive price in the Doncaster Prelude and honestly looks way better than the market’s giving him credit for.

He was plain first‑up, sure, but he drew the car park and still wasn’t beaten all that far after doing the donkey work in front.

Second‑up has always been more his go, he’s fitter now, and the rise to the mile is a big tick for a horse who’s won up to 2000m and even claimed the G1 Might And Power by three lengths in the spring.

He gets a Soft track he’ll appreciate, he’s a six‑time winner from just 16 starts, and he’s definitely one of the classier types in this field.

If he bounces back anywhere near his best, he’s finishing a whole lot closer than his odds suggest — and he’s exactly the kind of forgotten roughie I love to throw into the mix.

Good luck punters!