Ladbrokes is here with our expert 2026 P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day Preview as the leadup to the 2026 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival continues at Caulfield on Saturday with four black-type races sprinkled across the card.
The Group 3 Vain and Quezette Stakes promise two high-octane battles down the straight between the three-year-olds, before a few familiar names contest the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400m.
Wet track form is a must with rain continuing in Melbourne, and it’s worth noting the track is rated a Heavy 8 at time of writing.
Read on for our complete race analysis, P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day tips, and a complete betting strategy highlighting all the key runners.
FUNDAMENTAL NATURE (10) resumes for Ciaron Maher and has claims after winning back-to-back starts to kick off her career to start the year.
The daughter to Exceedance wrapped up her autumn campaign finishing second-last in a Group 3 over 1200m at Caulfield, although there were excuses on offer after being caught five-wide the trip.
She was impressive the run prior finishing a length third off the talented Getta Good Feeling in the Inglis Sprint, class that could take her a long way here, providing she handles a wet track for the first time.
| 10. Fundamental Nature (6) J: John Allen 57.5kg 1138xT: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Resuming after a five months break. Finished off last preparation second last of 9 at this track in the G3 Don Casboult March 21 over 1200m, 4 len behind Point Barrow with 56kg at $9. At her first start won by head Pakenham Mdn-Sw January 23 over 1100m defeating Afterberna with 57kg at $3.60. Profiles nicely, big chance. | |||
SIMURGH (4) has drawn a tricky gate but is one of the better chances in a tough race.
The Hayes boys have given him a brief spell after running at Sandown in mid-June where he was up on the speed like always and finished off strongly for second.
He’s been given a couple of tick over trials between starts and his wet track form obviously works in his favour here.
Providing Craig Williams doesn’t spend too much petrol getting across, he’ll be very hard to run down with fresh legs.
| 4. Simurgh (11) J: Craig Williams 60.5kg 2112xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Dual acceptor. Resumes after a break of nine weeks and has been in the money when fresh before. Finished off last campaign second of 9 at Sandown-Hillside Bm84 June 13 over 2400m, soft track; a head behind Straand Deal with 57kg at $3.20. When resuming last campaign second of 11 at Pakenham Bm70 April 23 over 1600m, 1.0 len behind Factcheck carrying 58kg at $6. Progressive stayer who can win despite the gap between runs. | |||
GLASGOW LASS (5) is second-up for Matt Laurie and rates one of the main chances with improvement still to come.
She was wide and a long way back at Caulfield over 1200m last start, before making up a stack of late ground to run third where she was seen closing the gap behind the winner, Custom.
The daughter to Alabama Express would probably benefit from a more positive ride this time under Logan Bates, but with some good wet track form and the claim helping her out at the weights, she’ll be very tough to hold out regardless.
| 5. Glasgow Lass (2) J: Logan Bates 59kg 9x0x3T: Matt Laurie | |||
| Second-up today. Last run 3rd of 10 at this track on July 25 over 1200m, on a slow track; 4 len behind Custom carrying 58kg at $26. At only start last preparation 10th of 14 at this track on May 9 over 1100m, slow going 9 len behind Swift Force with 59kg at $7.50. Nice return and looks a big chance up in trip. | |||
HE’LL RIP (8) has been knocking on the door for a while now.
The seven-year-old son to Hellbent is looking to snap a string of recent placings, finishing runner-up here in a similar race over the track and distance in early June.
He’s gone on to find the placings again in two runs since at Caulfield and Sandown and is close to a month between runs now with a recent trial here down the straight to keep him sharp.
A proven wet tracker, Blake Shinn could prove the key to his chances with 3kg less in the saddle on Saturday.
| 8. He’ll Rip (1) J: Blake Shinn 55kg 74233T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin | |||
| Racing well recently. Comes off a 31 day let-up. At the latest run made ground from midfield; 3rd of 14 at Sandown-Hillside on July 15 over 1400m, on rain affected going; 2.25 len behind Kahhof carrying 58kg at $7. The run before that 3rd of 14 at this track on June 27 over 1400m, slow going 1.5 len behind Coeur Volante with 54kg at $11. Shinn takes over from the inside, he’ll take beating. | |||
CLOSER TO FREE (2) looks ready to rock ‘n’ roll based on his recent jump outs.
We got a good look at this Street Boss colt when he came out and won the Blue Diamond Prelude by a length over subsequent Golden Slipper winner Guest House early in the autumn.
Not a lot went right for him in his grand final from a wide gate, but he looks to be a serious fresh horse with a bit more maturity on his side now as a three-year-old.
| 2. Closer To Free (9) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 120xT: Danny O’brien | |||
| Racing first-up today. Finished off last preparation second last of 16 at Rosehill in the G1 G Slipper March 21 over 1200m, soft track; 8 len behind Guest House with 56.5kg at $8. At his first start won by 1.0 len this track G3 Bd/Prel Cg February 7 over 1100m defeating Guest House carrying 57kg at $13. Classy colt who will be very hard to catch. | |||
RIVERINA LULU (10) is a serious sprinter who is being overlooked in this market.
Graheme Begg’s filly did it tough on debut over 100m shorter down the straight at Headquarters, forced to lift between a pair of runners, where she clicked into gear and went 1.5 lengths clear ahead of Leopard Shark.
She’s been given nearly a month between runs but looked in fantastic order clicking up along the outside to win a recent jump out.
Where she winds up from wider out this time is the query, but with good change up speed, she’s a great each-way chance at the current odds.
| 10. Riverina Lulu (11) J: Jordan Childs 56kg 1T: Grahame Begg | |||
| At debut, won tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.5 len at Flemington on July 18 over 1000m in soft going defeating Leopard Shark carrying 54kg at $8. Had jumped out like a good one prior and can measure right up. | |||
William Pike has made the trip across the country to saddle the Peters-owned COSMIC CRUSADER (7), and that obviously counts for a lot.
The six-year-old gelding to Maurice resumed a handy 2.5 length winner in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield a few weeks earlier, settling back off the speed in the early stages before making a move rounding the turn.
His turn of foot was too good in the end, and everything about that effort suggested he’ll be wanting longer second-up.
Carrying only 0.5kg extra and likely to settle handy to the speed this time from wider out, he’s very tough to fault.
| 7. Cosmic Crusader (8) J: William Pike 59kg 112×1T: Andrea Leek | |||
| Second-up. First-up after eight months favourite; won by 2.5 len in the G3 Bletchingly Stakes at this track on July 25 over 1200m on a soft track defeating Winnasedge carrying 58.5kg at $3.60. Previously second-up favourite; scored a big 8 len win at Belmont Park on September 20 over 1650m on a soft track defeating Sensessional with 54.5kg at $1.24. The one to beat based on that latest effort. Dominant in Melbourne debut and should only be better at this trip. | |||
PERSIAN SPIRIT (6) has been given a nice little spell having raced in much tougher contests than this over the autumn.
Symon Wilde’s six-year-old raced well without winning, notably finishing just outside the money in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate where he was beaten 4.5 lengths.
His fresh record (5:2-3-0) is the main selling point ahead of his first run back on Saturday, while he’s only missed the cash twice from six goes over the 1200m trip.
| 6. Persian Spirit (3) J: Harry Coffey 55.5kg 3648xT: Symon Wilde | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation eighth of 15 at this track in the G3 Vic Hcp April 4 over 1400m, 4.5 len behind Hughes with 54.5kg at $4.20. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 1.5 len Flemington Bm78 September 13 over 1100m defeating Tonkin with 57kg at $51. Talented but gets back and will give some good ones a start. | |||
LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (3) figures to be a popular runner here given his overall class.
Ciaron Maher’s old boy is having his first run since competing in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April, a solid overall effort from the inside barrier at Randwick where he finished midfield.
The mile first-up is right in his wheelhouse and he could be right at home in the wet conditions, providing we’re not racing in the heavy range by this point in the day. Off two soft trials and drawn to get forward early, his class counts for a lot against this field.
| 3. Light Infantry Man (5) J: Jabez Johnstone 62kg 1415xT: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation fifth of 7 at Randwick in the G1 Queen Eliz April 11 over 2000m, 9 len behind Sir Delius carrying 59kg at $26. Previous preparation first-up won by head this track G3 Carlyon Cup February 7 over 1600m defeating Immediacy carrying 60kg at $4.20. Class runner, needs a fast race but not sure if they want to ensure it. | |||