Nine races at Caulfield on Saturday are headlined by the time-honoured Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes.
Boasting an honour roll that is rich with Group 1 winners, the Sir John Monash Stakes has once again drawn a classy and open field of sprinters, as stables and connections continue to gear up for the forthcoming Spring Carnival.
Check out my complete Caulfield best bets, including my 2026 Sir John Monash Stakes tips below!
ANGELS FURY takes winning form and improvement into the first on Sir John Monash Stakes Day.
She finished at the tail of the field in the Blue Diamond Preview F back in January and was immediately put away but returned to action for an easy win in maiden company Bendigo.
She’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since that race, she’s got plenty of upside and can fight out the finish again this week.
| 2. Angels Fury (10) J: Jabez Johnstone 57.5kg 9×1T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second-up. First start ran last of 9 at this track in the G3 Bd/Prev F on January 24 over 1000m, 17 len behind Rubi’s Choice carrying 56kg at $1.70. Returned from break favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.5 len at Bendigo 2yo Mdn-Sw June 13 over 1000m on a rain affected track defeating Heat Map carrying 56kg at $1.95. Profiles very well and looks the one to beat. | |||
ZOUPER FUND is second up and open to plenty of improvement into a nice race at Caulfield.
The Zoustar gelding has won half of his ten career starts so far, placing a further two times and finding form around some credible opposition.
He clearly needed his first run back this time when fourth, beaten more than three lengths by the classy Bazaball Rewarded at Sandown, but he’s yet to miss placing at this point of his preparation and is another that has had a trial between races.
| 2. Zouper Fund (1) J: Jabez Johnstone 60.5kg 138×4T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second run back. First-up after four months 4th of 12 at Sandown-Hillside Bm84 on June 13 over 1000m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Bazaball Rewarded carrying 57.5kg at $5. Previously second-up 3rd of 8 at Cranbourne Bm84 on December 27 over 1200m, 0.7 len behind Meridius carrying 56kg at $2.90. Nice return and up to 1100m will suit better. | |||
CRUISERWEIGHT puts an unbeaten record on the line.
The Hello Youmzain gelding was nothing short of dominant on debut in his native France back in December, picking up where he left off with a sharp victory out at Swan Hill during the carnival last month.
He’s since trialled well, he’s clearly got a lot of ability, and I am keen to stick with him until he gives us a reason not to.
| 5. Cruiserweight (8) J: Craig Williams 54kg 1×1T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Third race start. Won on debut as favourite; won by 6 len at New Plymouth Raceway Mdn-Sw December 31 over 1200m on a rain affected track defeating Star Onehundred with 57kg at $1.60. Returned from break favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 1.3 len at Swan Hill 3yo Bm64 June 7 over 1200m in soft going defeating Very Torquee with 59.5kg at $3.50. Hard to knock albeit this is a fair rise in grade. | |||
CAVALRY GIRL gets a great chance to successfully transition back into Saturday metro company this week.
The Bivouac filly stamped herself as one to follow last time in, finding form around some classy opposition and winning down the Flemington straight most notably.
After only just missed behind Saluted on the Heath track here first up in May, she returned to winning form with a dominant performance to beat home the likes of Actuality last time out, and with further improvement this week, I’m confident she can go on with it.
| 1. Cavalry Girl (5) J: Craig Williams 60kg 10×21T: Tom Dabernig | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming 2nd in a small field at Caulfield Heath F&M Bm70 on May 20 over 1000m, slow going 0.5 len behind Saluted with 61kg at $5. Second run from a spell tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 2 len at Caulfield Heath F&M Bm74 June 17 over 1000m on a rain affected track defeating Actuality carrying 59kg at $4.20. Little query up in trip but will be in this a long way. | |||
The consistent AMLETO shapes as a key chance again on Sir John Monash Stakes Day in the fifth race on the card.
Amleto is yet to miss placing in four appearances since resuming this time, winning in BM66 company at Ballarat two back before returning to town to finish second behind Bella Savoir right here at this track and trip.
He meets that horse substantially better at the weights this week, while he has drawn to receive the run of the race under Craig William.
| 12. Amleto (5) J: Craig Williams 54kg x2312T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Racing well recently. Most recently 2nd of 14 at this track Bm78 on June 27 over 2000m, on a slow track; 3 len behind Belle Savoir carrying 57kg at $4.80. The run before that came from midfield and won by a neck at Ballarat Bm66 June 12 over 2036m in heavy going defeating High Tempo with 61kg at $3.80. Gets in light and looks ready to win. | |||
DECALOGUE has gone to another level and looms as the one to beat again in this contest.
Having stripped fitter with a few credible performances earlier this prep, including a fourth placing in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes in Sydney, Decalogue has been outstanding in each of his three latest starts, breaking his maiden before winning a pair of Saturday metro races at Randwick and Flemington.
Understandably, in-form apprentice Jabez Johnstone retains the ride and claims a few kgs, and with even luck in the run, the horse will take a power of beating again.
| 1. Decalogue (6) J: Jabez Johnstone 60kg 42111T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| On a three run winning streak. Last start favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 2.25 len at Flemington 3yo Qlty June 20 over 2000m on a heavy track defeating Our Chief with 56kg at $3.40. The start before that favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 1.4 len at Randwick 3yo Bm72 June 6 over 2000m on a rain affected track defeating Simply Gold carrying 56kg at $3.20. Dominant last time and can repeat the dose. | |||
The Sir John Monash Stakes is a typically open affair this year and there is a case to made for many of them, including BEAST MODE at big odds ($18 at publish).
Beast Mode has always hinted at above-average talent and turned in plenty of fine performances during his spring prep last year, recording consecutive wins at The Valley most notably.
He took up the running and tried hard, though his condition just gave out a little at Sandown when resuming last month, but having since turned in a nice trial performance to tune up further, I’m confident he’ll be right back on for this contest, and he looks a touch of overs in Sir John Monash Stakes betting, in my opinion.
| 4. Beast Mode (7) J: Damien Thornton 58.5kg 327×2T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Second-up. First-up after five months led but faded 2nd of 12 at Sandown-Hillside Bm84 on June 13 over 1000m, slow going 2 len behind Bazaball Rewarded with 60.5kg at $11. Previously second-up 4th of 12 at Flemington Bm78 on July 19 over 1000m, 1.2 len behind Losesomewinmore with 61.5kg at $9. Last 100m will be the worry. | |||
There’s some genuine black type talent engaged in the penultimate race on Sir John Monash Stakes Day, including the resuming RISE AT DAWN.
We haven’t seen Rise At Dawn at the races since his unplaced effort in February’s Carlyon Cup, but he was far from disgraced behind the likes of Light Infantry Man on that day, and it capped another strong and consistent preparation.
In give previous fresh attempts, he’s won three times and placed once more, he boasts a class edge over a number of these rivals, and he’s proven on both soft and heavy going.
| 2. Rise At Dawn (3) J: Logan Bates 61.5kg 3456xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Gelding returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last campaign sixth of 14 at this track in the G3 Carlyon Cup February 7 over 1600m, 1.5 len behind Light Infantry Man with 58kg at $3.60. When resuming last campaign third of 12 at Flemington in the LR Tontonan September 13 over 1400m, 1.5 len behind Cafe Millenium carrying 59kg at $7. Looks forward enough after a recent trial win. Has the class and can give a sight. | |||
Tough end to the program from a betting perspective, but MAKDANE is one with genuine winning claims in my opinion.
Makdane returned to action with a fine effort to get up over a mile here back in May, and after something of a flat second up effort when getting out to the 2000m, he was far better when finishing just over a length behind the winner dropping to the 1800m last time out.
The wide alley is the knock this week, but the booking of Craig Williams will go a long way towards cancelling that out, and in peak order, the horse is certainly up to winning something of this quality.
| 4. Makdane (16) J: Craig Williams 58.5kg 7×154T: Michael Kent | |||
| Most recently raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 8 at Sandown-Hillside Hcp on June 13 over 1800m, on a slow track; 1.2 len behind Bankers Choice with 52kg at $2.90. The start before that did the work up front then tired 5th of 9 at this track Bm84 on May 30 over 2000m, on heavy track; 2 len behind Simurgh carrying 56.5kg at $7. Knocking on the door, just needs a good ride. | |||