Saturday’s Best Bets: Caulfield, Randwick, Doomben

MOON SWEEPER (1) was nosed out by Autumn King two starts ago in a Highway Handicap over a mile at Scone.

That was the third consecutive placing for the Matt Dunn-trained gelding, so he was due to return to the winner’s stall and boy, did he do that last start!

In a similar race to this over 1500m at Rosehill, he saved ground on the turn before letting down powerfully to embarrass his rivals by just under three lengths.

With his superior rating under the set-weight conditions, along with Jett Newman’s 3kg claim, he gets in extremely well.

He just needs even luck to be awfully hard to beat.

JEMOMA ALPILAGE (12) has come back this preparation in fine style with back-to-back wins.

The Kevin Kemp-trained mare overcame an outside barrier and heavy conditions when resuming with a head victory over 1700m at Ipswich.

She took a big step up in class last start when proving too strong over this course and distance.

The daughter of Lean Mean Machine has a good record third-up, including a win and a nose second over this distance against Nails Murphy last preparation.

Taylor Marshall retains the ride.

RECOMMENDATION (1) looks over the odds in a wide-open Sir John Monash Stakes.

The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding won this race two years ago by seven lengths on a similar surface and comes here off a strong last-start second over this distance at Flemington.

He was only beaten a neck there and now meets several of the same rivals better under the WFA conditions.

With the wet track no concern and double figures on offer, he looks like a solid each-way play.

• Top 3 – No. 3 Aye Aye Captain
• Top 4 – No. 2 Swiftie Harriet
• Top 5 – No. 4 Bella Corazon

Honestly, how good is the Ladbrokes Place Extra option and the ability to pick horses to now run Top 10 in your SGMs? The race patterns are complicated, but this feature is simple and there’s more ways to stay alive.

AYE AYE CAPTAIN (3) looks well placed after a strong effort behind Surf’s Up at Rosehill, where she settled at the rear and worked home well into third. She stays at 1400m, has had two runs back and handles rain-affected ground.

SWIFTIE HARRIET (2) came through the same race and finished second after chasing hard in the straight. She continues to hold her form, handles soft ground and looks a reliable top-four chance.

BELLA CORAZON (4) also ties in through that Rosehill race, finishing fourth, and was a winner in this grade two starts back. She does meet the other two worse at the weights, but she is fit, proven in the wet and only needs to hold her form to finish in the top five.

CRUISERWEIGHT (5) puts his unbeaten record on the line and looks capable of maintaining it.

The Hello Youmzain gelding made a big impression when scoring on debut in France last December before resuming with another commanding victory at the Swan Hill carnival, suggesting he has brought that talent to Australia.

A subsequent trial has only added to the confidence around him, and with his obvious upside and natural ability, I’m more than happy to stick with him.

BELLA CORAZON (4) is one that appeals at around the double-figure mark in the last at Randwick this week.

She broke through in similar company at Rosehill two starts ago before enduring a tough run in transit when finishing just over two lengths from Surf’s Up last time out, a performance that had plenty of merit.

Now at peak fitness and proven at this level, she looks well placed to bounce back and is a touch of overs this week, in my opinion.

The Sir John Monash Stakes looks as competitive as ever this year, and there are several genuine chances in the field, with BEAST MODE (4) appealing as an intriguing value play at the current quote ($18 at publish).

The talented sprinter showed plenty of promise during his spring campaign, highlighted by back-to-back victories at The Valley, and has always looked capable of measuring up in stakes company.

He gave a bold sight when leading on resumption at Sandown before fitness told late, and a subsequent trial suggests he has taken good improvement from that run. With that hit-out under his belt, he looks ready to produce a much stronger performance and represents appealing each-way value.

The market for this week’s Highway race at Randwick is dominated by the Matt Dunn-trained MOON SWEEPER (1), and justifiably so.

He has returned to the races in sharp form this time, and while six weeks between starts, was nothing short of dominant in a similar contest at Rosehill Gardens.

He boasts a class and ability over most, if not every other horse engaged in this contest, so I am going to select him as my winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with two other runners also performing competitively.

MAPLES (14) undoubtedly faces the sternest task of her career so far, but she puts an unbeaten record on the line following wins at Muswellbrook and Scone last month.

With a light weight and even luck the run, she gets plenty of ticks, as does a fit DUNSTALL THE GUN (6).

Dunstall The Gun has continued to improve with racing recently, and I was with him when he duly saluted at Tamworth earlier this month. Both horses go into the Same Race Multi on a Top 4 basis.

Same Race Multi selections:

• No. 1 Moon Sweeper (Win)
• No. 6 Dunstall The Gun (Top 4)
• No. 14 Maples (Top 4)

SIGNATURE SCENT (2) looks well placed back in grade fresh from a short break.

The Ciaron Maher-trained filly put one away nicely at Morphettville three runs back in late March, before measuring up in stronger company when closing off well for third in the Listed Redelva Stakes.

She was then far from disgraced in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes, beaten only three lengths behind Tycoon Star at big odds, and that form looks more than good enough for this.

From a soft draw, with the likelihood she handles any give in the track, she makes plenty of appeal.

EILISH (9) looks ready to atone second-up for Danny O’Brien.

She was nailed right on the peg by Sharaz at Bendigo a few weeks back, but there was plenty to like about the run. The Written By filly had to burn early from a wide draw, crossed to lead, and gave them something to chase when kicking three lengths clear into the straight.

She was entitled to win there and should take good improvement from the outing. Barrier 8 looks a kinder setup this time, and with the rail out, she should roll forward, control the race, and prove very tough to get past.

WATCHME WIN (6) can make his presence felt fresh.

He hasn’t been seen since The Goodwood, but he’s the type that tends to come to hand quickly and has typically raced well off a break. Prior to that, he’d put together a couple of runner-up efforts at Group 3 level, before a horror draw made life tough in The Goodwood.

He returns to Caulfield, where he was fourth in Listed company last year, and looks well suited back a notch in grade. Lachlan Neindorf knows him well enough now and should be able to have him stalking the speed early.

Freshened, back in class, and with the right run, he looks a serious player in Saturday’s Caulfield feature.

DECALOGUE (1) is deserving favourite in the sixth on the John Monash Day card at Caulfield and, even with a host of other in-form runners in the field, he’s my best of the day to make it four on the trot.

Ciaron Maher’s flying Extreme Choice gelding only broke his maiden status at Newcastle back in May, but it was an enormous performance to get that first win on the board when putting 4.4 lengths on his rivals over 1850m as the odds-on elect.

Has gone from strength to strength since rising through the grades aplomb with back-to-back 2000m wins at Randwick and Flemington respectively on rain-affected tracks.

His latest on a Heavy (8) at HQ had him beat Our Chief home by over two lengths off an excellent late turn of foot, and apprentice Jabez Johnstone sticks aboard for this handicap clash bringing the claim and weight relief Decalogue needs to keep the wins coming.

Was originally set to go up in trip last weekend but more than happy with the call to keep him at this distance where he’ll be hard to run down.

The rails-drawn MURPHILLY (7) looks a terrific each way play early on the Randwick card paying $10 for the win at time of publish.

Kylie Gavenlock’s Gosford-trained daughter of Churchill is in top form ahead of her first Randwick assignment having won two of her past three around the NSW tracks before heading to the big smoke this weekend.

The bonny four-year-old was in a BM64 against her own kind last time out on June 18 at home and was far too good for her rivals over the mile on a Heavy (8) course saluting by an easy two lengths even with 60kg on her back.

Up in grade here and taking on the boys but remains a huge chance for mine right down in the weights to 55kg with regular rider Grant Buckley sticking with.

Always love me a mare going this well at double-figures, she was favourite last time and saluted impressively so happy to give her a go at this level.

Drawn to get the right run again. Don’t overlook.

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An open Sir John Monash field this season, but the favourite WATCHME WIN (6) looks pretty hard to knock in his resuming run ahead of what could turn out to be a big spring.

Andrew Gluyas’ Adelaide raider is a first-up specialist having won three from four fresh and finds himself a winnable short-distance sprint at his pet trip in Melbourne here.

While he didn’t win his last first-up assignment at home in April’s Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes over this distance, it was still a killer run when just denied by Super Smink in a thriller as the beaten favourite.

He hasn’t won since September last year but is hitting peak maturity now as a rising six-year-old and is down in grade off his last start eighth when only 1.7 lengths off Desert Lightning in Morphettville’s Group 1 The Goodwood back in early May at a huge price.

His 1100m strike-rate is enormous (9:4-2-0), he can handle a Soft track, and from a likely midfield position and a strong pace up front, he can do his best work late to finish on top.

One of the best events on the Caulfield card and some very nice types getting about including a few for the exotics overlooked in the markets.

• Top 2 – No. 10 Ten Commandments
• Top 3 – No. 3 Coeur Volante
• Top 4 – No. 2 Rise At Dawn

TEN COMMANDMENTS (10) is the rails-drawn favourite for star trainer Maher who has this gelding in the right race. Chases his fourth win on the trot and deserves his spot at the top of the markets. The six-year-old has gone back-to-back since moving stables and put away a solid field at Flemington over this distance in a BM84 on June 20 carrying 54kg. Wasn’t an easy watch but the horse found a way and drew away late in a terrific performance in slick time. Jabez Johnstone sticks with and his claim sees this guy get in on a postage stamp weight of just 50kg. Top 2 easily.

COEUR VOLANTE (3) next best for mine from the Hayes’ boys and is also flying chasing a hat-trick here. Allocated 60.5kg but this lovely daughter of Proisir will cart just 53kg with Jackson Radley having his fourth straight ride on her. Was Black-Type placed fresh at the track in late May at 60/1 before proving that was no fluke with two subsequent victories. Last time out lumped 58kg and still won over this track and trip by a length over a somewhat luckless Big Swinger. Maps well, big weight relief, can’t not have her in the trifecta.

RISE AT DAWN (2) is also Lindsay Park-trained and looks good value for his resuming run. Logan Bates’ claim keeps him right in the mix fresh weight-wise set to carry just 52kg which is the lightest he’s had since his 52.5kg in last year’s Stradbroke up in Queensland. Was fourth under a half-length beaten by Stefi Magnetica in the 2025 Doncaster so is a handy horse on his day. Group 2 placed in the spring, hardly ever runs a bad race and so often forgotten by the punters. Hasn’t won in a long while but he’ll be there in the finish with a terrific first-up record (5:3-0-1). Genuine Caulfield specialist having won two from three at the track and boasts a 50% winning strike-rate over this distance from six starts so ticks plenty of boxes. Runs for the first time since his midfield sixth in the Group 3 TS Carlyon Cup in early February which was a performance full of merit seeing him only 1.5 lengths off Light Infantry Man. Comes via a winning Pakenham hit out, class is there and could hit the front and be hard to run down.