Saturday’s Best Bets: Flemington, Rosehill, Doomben

He’s short in the market, but bad luck looks to be the only real knock on OLIVEANOTHERDAY (5) in the Bobbie Lewis Quality.

He continued to improve as the bar was raised last time in, but the manner of Oliveanotherday’s fresh performance and victory in the Group 3 Heath 1100 at Caulfield suggested he’s gone to yet another level.

With natural improvement, this is the next logical step for him to take.

STAR VEGA (2) made an encouraging return over 1600m in Listed grade at Hawkesbury and should strip fitter for the run.

He rises to 1800m second up and carries 60kg, but a favourable draw gives him every chance to settle comfortably, while his form in comparable races indicates he is capable of measuring up again.

With that first-up run under his belt, this looks well within his reach and the $18 about him betting is over the odds.

The 2026 Makybe Diva Stakes has attracted an outstanding field, but SHEZA ALIBI (12) has been installed as a deserving favourite and she’s the one I want to be with.

She went to a new level during the autumn, completing an unbeaten campaign with an emphatic Doncaster Mile triumph.

She was unable to maintain that winning run when resuming this preparation, finishing behind AUTUMN BOY (8), but she still worked to the line strongly and should take plenty of improvement from the outing, particularly with the return to 1600m.

I’ll be backing her to win in a Same Race Multi, while boosting my odds by including Mr Brightside and Autumn Boy to finish in the first four.

MR BRIGHTSIDE (1) has claimed the past three renewals of the Makybe Diva Stakes and resumes for his second run of the preparation after a runner-up finish in the Memsie Stakes, while Autumn Boy should appreciate stepping up to a mile second up and appeals as the value runner in the race.

Same Race Multi selections:

• No. 12 Sheza Alibi (Win)
• No. 1 Mr Brightside (Top 4)
• No. 8 Autumn Boy (Top 4)

COEUR VOLANTE (5) put together a hat-trick of wins through the winter and was beaten by less than two lengths by Sass Appeal over this course and distance two starts ago, before holding her own in the Group 2 PB Lawrence last time out.

She has been kept fit with a trial since that effort and returns to mares’ grade with a weight drop this week. From the inside draw, Ethan Brown should be able to settle her in a favourable position before asking her to produce her best late.

At around the $10 mark in Let’s Elope betting, she looks one of the better each way prospects of the weekend.

The Sheraco Stakes looks a high-quality affair, with LADY SHENANDOAH (1) and Lazzura bringing excellent black-type credentials into the race.

Lady Shenandoah made a strong return when fourth in the Group 1 Winx Stakes over 1400m and has an impressive record at Rosehill, while Lazzura gets the advantage of barrier five with James McDonald aboard and brings a strong first-up record.

Based on her performance in the Winx Stakes and with natural improvement expected, Lady Shenandoah is the one I’m siding with on top.

The Run To The Rose has produced another quality line-up of emerging three-year-olds, with Group 1 winners Fireball and TRON BOLT (2) returning to the track after impressive two-year-old campaigns.

Tron Bolt won three straight races, culminating in the JJ Atkins before heading to the paddock, while Fireball also secured Group 1 glory with victory in the Champagne Stakes back in April.

Berzelius, Music Time and Warwoven all resume for their second runs of the preparation and should have more to offer, while St Gottard puts his unbeaten record on the line first up with James McDonald in the saddle.

Tron Bolt has reportedly returned a stronger horse and, with some ambitious targets ahead, he’s the one I’m keen to be with this week at the big odds on an each way basis.

Love the Listed Tontonan Stakes third-up for the talented Danny O’Brien-trained SASS APPEAL (8) who can return to winning form here fit and firing on all cylinders.

The consistent So You Think mare has proven a force to be reckoned with winning five of her seven starts to date including a trio of Flemington victories last prep and a win here fresh on August 1.

As a filly she beat the reigning Thousand Guineas queen Ole Dancer home by over two lengths in mid-February’s Listed Desirable Stakes at this track and trip before gapping them again up in grade for the Group 2 Kewney over the mile in March.

Carried a lightweight as the odds-on fancy to kick off her spring campaign defeating Rise At Dawn over the seven furlongs in a BM100 at HQ when going all-the-way in a dawdling affair.

At her latest she suffered just her second career loss on August 29 at Caulfield.

She went around short in the markets in another BM100 with 54.5kg but ran fourth to Fancify on her first Soft-rated track and forced to do the chasing which she’s out to atone for now.

The markets suggest she can, and, returning to her pet course, I agree considering she’s four-from-four at Flemington.

Unbeaten over the 1400m here, nicely weighted in on just 54kg and apprentice Logan Bates retains the ride from a favourable gate.

Back on firmer going third-up, she’ll lead and can bounce back.

PLAINTIFF (10) faces some better seasoned, multiple Group 1 winning mares in the Sheraco but fresh paying $10 (at time of publish) she has definite appeal for the wider exotics and looks top value for her return.

The Peter Snowden-trained Zoustar four-year-old remains untapped with Saturday marking just her sixth career start, and she’s already put together a very tidy record.

Four-from-five with a second at her latest behind Snitzel Dancer under a length beaten in the Group 3 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 18 puts her right up there.

Oozes potential, secured a Group 3 win of her own defeating Nepo Baby in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) during ‘The Championships’ and Rosehill has been a happy hunting ground for her as she’s won both her previous assignments here.

Unbeaten fresh, she’s been trialling a treat and the set weights plus penalties conditions suit as she’ll carry 55kg.

Chad Schofield has ridden her to victory here in the past and has been aboard for her two lead-up trials to reacquaint himself with this potential Group 1 runner in the making.

Continues to rise to the occasion and gets conditions to suit.

Can surprise a few here.

• To Win: No. 12 Sheza Alibi
• Top 3: No. 1 Mr Brightside
• Top 4: No. 10 Treasurethe Moment

SHEZA ALIBI (12) is the deserving favourite and it is pretty hard to see anything get in her way now that she’s in a field without Autumn Glow. Three-from-three over the 1600m including becoming the first filly in nearly 30 years to claim Doncaster glory in the autumn, she’s a true racehorse and was far from disgraced making up ground from midfield for her game Winx Stakes second first-up. Hasn’t had the most experience at Flemington but was a big winner here against her own kind as a filly last spring and went on to trump the boys in the Sandown Guineas after that. She’s also unbeaten second-up so presents fit and ready to get back into the winners’ stall. Luke Nolen sticks with and described her return as “terrific” so he’s also brimming with confidence. Second-up last prep she put over three lengths on Autumn Boy in the Randwick Guineas and that bodes well for her now. Options from the gate but she’ll be somewhere in the mid pack with the right distance to close hard late and potentially gap them.

MR BRIGHTSIDE (1) is the cult horse who, should Sheza Alibi be off her game, presents as a genuine hope despite being nine. He showed plenty of zest fresh in the Memsie having sat on the speed before being found out by the young gun Beiwacht but he was 10 months off the scene, and didn’t we love that placing from the grand old boy. Back to the Flemington mile where he boasts a terrific record (12:5-2-1) he is another that always improves with a run under the belt with his second-up strike rate very strong (9:7-1-0). History was made when he collected his third win in this race last year beating Aeliana by 1.5 lengths and he is going equally as good this season. What a horse. Can finish in the money again despite Willo jumping off for the Sir Delius ride.

The double figure quote on Matt Laurie’s darling TREASURETHE MOMENT (10) certainly appeals considering the consistent five-year-old Alabama Express mare is a four-time Group 1 champion and Flemington specialist. From a VRC Oaks victory in 2024 to a 2.5 length win over Mr Brightside in the 2025 Memsie Stakes, she knows how to win at elite level and has incredible versatility. She’s not been first past the post since saluting as the odds-on favourite by a big margin second-up in the autumn’s Group 2 Sunline Stakes at Caulfield, but her fourth in the Memsie to get her spring underway was full credible considering she was knocked around a little inside the final furlong and she’s sure to appreciate a return to Headquarters where she’s won three of her four previous Flemington assignments. Second run into her prep is always a sweet spot for her (5:4-1-0), Damian Lane knows her very well and she looks the improver heading into this. From the wider gate she’ll bounce out, likely take up front running and ticks a few boxes to take some running down.

The airborne Gold Coast Belle is our heavy Let’s Elope favourite but this is a rise in grade and based on class alone I’m happy to have an each way play on the Ciaron Maher-trained SALTY PEARL (1).

The always honest Tagaloa grey has been first past the post just three times from 15 starts but she rarely finishes out of the money and has form around the best from her division.

As a filly she was strong last spring running fourth in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at 25/1 behind Ole Dancer before taking out the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic.

She’s been equally as consistent this year when third behind Sass Appeal in the Group 2 Kewney at this track and trip back in March before putting 2.75 lengths on the next best in the VOBIS Guineas over the Caulfield mile.

Proved her elite level claims with a Vinery Stud Stakes third under a half-length off Belle Cheval in a true blanket finish, travelled to Adelaide for a fifth in their Oaks in a decent performance before getting her four-year-old campaign underway on August 29.

Raced in the Group 3 Courtza at double-figures and rounded out the trifecta over the 1200m doing her best work late.

Will appreciate the extra furlong now, presents fitter for the run and finds firmer going to suit.

Ben Allen has a lovely association with her and retains the ride.

Likely to settle off speed but she’ll be there late.

Watch out.

Wide open edition of the Sheraco and it’s pretty tough to divide the two Waller mares here.

Lazzura is our firming favourite fresh with J-Mac in the saddle, but with a run under her belt I’m just siding with the better priced LADY SHEANDOAH (1) despite her draw.

It’s been a while between drinks for the now five-year-old daughter of Snitzel who hasn’t won since collecting her third Group 1 trophy in Coolmore Classic here at Rosehill last March.

Her form since however has remained highly competitive including a brave seventh in the $20 million The Everest only two lengths off Ka Ying Rising last October.

During the autumn she ran Top 4 in all four of her assignments including placings in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (3^rd to Joliestar 1.19 lengths beaten) and second in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf (2^nd to Idle Flyer 0.85 lengths beaten).

Really impressed fresh on August 22 at Randwick taking on the stable’s super mare Autumn Glow at 20/1 to finish fourth having trailed the speed before presenting late with improvement now pending.

Considering how short the runner-up from that, Sheza Alibi, is to take out Flemington’s Group 1 Makybe Diva on the weekend the price on Lady Shenandoah is generous for mine.

Her record at Rosehill is very strong, her Winx hoop Kerrin McEvoy sticks in the saddle and he liked what she showed first-up.

McEvoy will take her back from the gate likely somewhere midfield ready to swoop them late with the map working in her favour.

Stellar ensemble of three-year-olds gathered for the 2026 Run To The Rose but one overlooked contender paying $12 (at time of publish) who has genuine each way claims for mine is MUSIC TIME (4).

This talented All Too Hard gelding has been a sensation for his Canberra-based trainer Gratz Vella taking him on one hell of a ride in the autumn.

From a hometown win in the Group 3 Black Opal from wide out to make it a hat-trick at the track, he then came here for the Golden Slipper and raced out of his skin as a 40/1 roughie to place third behind Guest House.

The Slipper form is proving strong already this season with Guest House returning to win the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 29 in record time.

This guy was brave again when ignored in the markets to place third, with The Rosebud winner Blue Door second, showing plenty of grit chasing in a truly run race.

I like those form lines, I like this guy and I think he can outrun his price again.

McEvoy sticks with and Music Time proved in the Black Opal he can overcome a wide alley.

SKYHOOK (6) looks forward enough to make a strong return.

He has not raced since claiming the Gunsynd Classic over a mile at Eagle Farm several months ago, but his recent trial win was encouraging despite being untested over 1300m.

Kerrin McEvoy returning to the saddle is a major positive, while any give in the track should suit him perfectly. In what appears to be an ordinary field, he looks very well placed.

SALTY PEARL (1) can be inconsistent at times, but she is generally a very genuine mare, as demonstrated by her strong first-up third in the Group 3 Courtza Stakes at Caulfield.

She again faced a wide draw there, settling towards the rear before Ben Allen worked her into a favourable position approaching the straight.

Her powerful finish suggested she is ready to step up in distance. While this trip remains short of her ideal, she should be competitive second-up with improved fitness on her side.

APOCALYPTIC (3) deserves another chance after a luckless first-up effort.

She tackled the Toy Show Quality over 1100m at Randwick two weeks ago but was bumped at the start and ended up further back than planned. Despite that, she worked home strongly in the straight to finish third.

She was outstanding second-up at this stage last year when winning the Tea Rose Stakes comfortably, and the inside draw should allow her to settle closer this time. With the benefit of that first-up run, she can bounce back to her best.

UNDER FOCUS (12) looks capable of running a lot better than her current price suggests in this year’s Run To The Rose.

She was arguably the run of the race behind Chilly Girl in The Rosebud two weeks ago, making up a stack of ground from a difficult draw before flashing home down the outside for sixth.

This is only her second run back, and the trial between starts should have kept her ticking over nicely. She showed an impressive turn of foot when breaking her maiden at Kensington earlier in the year, and on potential, she looks more than capable of measuring up here.