Saturday Roughie Tips – September 26, 2026
Chasing Saturday’s best roughie tips in Sydney? Golden Rose Day is packed with star power and Ladbrokes have you covered with the better valued runners across the card!
Thank goodness for Mazu! We found a few top three placed roughies last weekend but punters that put a $1 on all our selections to place finished narrowly on top thanks to the upset win by our The Shorts pick Mazu who jumped at $16!
This Saturday we home in on the Rosehill races and have kept it short and sweet unearthing three forgotten contenders out to give the favourites a run for their money.
Check out Lucy Henderson’s best weekend roughies below as the Value Whisperer continues her solid spring strike rate!
What are the Best Value Racing Tips for September 26?
- Rosehill Race 7 – No. 3 Verona Rose
- Rosehill Race 8 – No. 8 Stormy Marco
- Rosehill Race 9 – No. 6 Magnatear
Rosehill Race 7 – Blooming Chance
No. 3 Verona Rose
I really like the favourite Lazzura to get the job done for punters in this year’s Golden Pendant but for a run in the money behind Chris Waller’s class mare, VERONA ROSE (9) appeals second-up at double-figures.
Gary Portelli’s Castelvecchio five-year-old has a terrific record at this stage of her prep (3:2-1-0) and caught the eye fresh here at Rosehill when third behind the talented young Skyhook in the Group 2 Theo Marks (1300m) on September 12.
Natural improvement has her finishing closer again and she’ll appreciate getting out over a little further boasting a 50% strike rate from four previous 1400m runs.
A proven miler, she is after her first win since the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes over this distance at Randwick in late February.
Her Group 1 Coolmore Classic performance after that when fifth to Lazzura was excellent as she crossed only 1.35 lengths away in a blanket finish.
Showed she’d come back in fine order last time out, and Kerrin McEvoy comes aboard here, and he’s got a good record in her saddle.
Map is far from ideal but at her best she’s capable of outrunning her quote late.
| 3. Verona Rose (7) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 56kg 150×3 T: Gary Portelli | |||
| Second-up. First-up after six months 3rd of 13 in a G2 Theo Marks Stakes at this track on September 12 over 1300m, 1.5 len behind Skyhook carrying 54.5kg at $7. Previously second-up ran on from midfield and won by 0.8 len in the G2 Guy Walter Stakes at Randwick on February 28 over 1400m on a soft track defeating Manaal with 56kg at $5. Has won second up in the past but the map looks ugly again. | |||
Rosehill Race 8 – Big Finish Brewing
No. 8 Stormy Marco
Outside of the major players in the 2026 Golden Rose Stakes, one that stands out for mine looking way overs at 30/1 is the Waller-trained STORMY MARCO (12) who may be drawn wide but is already proving himself at this level.
The nicely bred son of Wootton Bassett was an upset winner at Hawkesbury on debut back in May over the 1400m, and while he’s been winless since, he’s been matching motors with the likes of these rivals.
Third in the JJ Atkins over the Eagle Farm mile in the wet behind Tron Bolt, he was under two lengths off his stablemate in that winter feature and considering the price gap between them in this field, I’m drawn to the roughie.
Fresh he ran in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty at this track and trip putting in a tremendous effort to go down narrowly behind Persian Wonder when giving away 5.5kgs to the winner and making up ground from midfield the closing stages.
He’s second-up now, fitter for the run, proven at the distance and should relish coming back two kilos from the 58.5kg he carried there.
J-Mac comes off in favour of a run on St Gotthard which isn’t the best indicator from the stable, but Craig Williams is an ideal replacement.
Needs to overcome a nasty gate (12), but four Golden Rose winners from 2013 – 2025 jumped from a double-digit barrier.
Not saying he’ll win, but at the price he can run a huge race and finish in the money.
Check out my full Golden Rose 2026 Tips, Predictions & Best Bets for Saturday now!
| 8. Stormy Marco (11) J: Craig Williams 56.5kg 183×2 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 10 in the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality at this track on September 12 over 1400m, 0.6 len behind Persian Wonder carrying 58.5kg at $8. Previously second-up 8th of 16 in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 30 over 1400m, slow going 3.5 len behind Berzelius carrying 57kg at $11. Excellent return but probably looking for the 1600m now. | |||
Rosehill Race 9 – Magnetic Roughie
No. 6 Magnatear
Richard & Will Freedman’s locally trained Written Tycoon seven-year-old paid a lovely dividend for me fresh when lining up at 25/1 to run second to Skyhook in the Group 2 Theo Marks, and I’m keen to stick with MAGNATEAR (1) for another good run in Saturday’s Shannon Stakes.
The gelding’s not an outright “roughie” but close enough at $9.50 and he’s usually even better with a run under his belt boasting a good record at this stage of his prep (5:2-0-2).
Only a length off Skyhook, who is hot favourite in this race, he gets every chance to finish behind his younger rival again up to the 1500m which he’ll relish based on his stats at the distance (6:3-0-2).
Was on speed and boxed on well last time out and he’ll be on pace again in this.
Drawn the rails again, Ash Morgan sticks with and even up from 54kg to 55kg he’ll actually meet his last start conquerora better weight wise in the rematch.
A couple of key gear changes pending to help this consistent and underrated runner who I’m really happy to add into the exotics – maybe even Each Way!
| 6. Magnatear (1) J: Ashley Morgan 55kg 331×2 T: Richard & Will Freedman | |||
| Second run back. First-up after six months sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 2nd of 13 in a G2 Theo Marks Stakes at this track on September 12 over 1300m, 1.2 len behind Skyhook carrying 54kg at $26. Previously second-up won by 2 len in a Bm78 at Eagle Farm on August 30 2025 over 1400m defeating Alectrona carrying 60kg at $3.50. Consistent galloper who will be in this for a long way. | |||
Saturday Racing Previews
- Golden Rose Day (Rosehill)
- Weetwood Day (Toowoomba)
- R.M. Ansett Classic Day (Mornington)
Happy Golden Rose Day punters!
