Looking for Saturday’s Best Bets? The Ladbrokes form analysts have you covered with the horses to back across the nation this weekend!
Two Group 1s are in store this weekend, with the Golden Rose headlining Saturday’s action at Rosehill, and the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes taking centre stage at Caulfield on Sunday.
It’s a bumper weekend with stacked programs across the country, including Toowoomba’s famous Weetwood Day up in Queensland, coinciding with a tidy eight-race program on AFL Grand Final Day at Mornington for Ansett Classic Day.
Our tipsters have their work cut out, but Craig Sheppard, Jared Timms, Lucy Henderson, and Ryan Cook are confident they are onto a few winners across their weekend Best Bets!
Saturday Racing Previews
Sunday Racing Previews
Jared Timms
CROSS TASMAN (3) looks ready to peak second up at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Super Seth gelding has built an impressive record since debuting, winning four of his ten starts and finishing runner-up on another four occasions, while also measuring up against some quality performers along the way.
He went close to taking out the Goulburn Cup when resuming last month and has been kept ticking over with a trial since, which should have him in great order for this assignment.
He’s unbeaten second up and is my best bet anywhere in the country on Saturday.
| 3. Cross Tasman (6) J: Zac Lloyd 59kg 122×2 T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton |
There are several runners with genuine claims in this race, but I’m siding with BEAR ON THE LOOSE (2) to make an impact fresh, and a huge odds.
He hasn’t been seen since May and, while he doesn’t have the strongest winning strike rate, he has been a reliable performer in similar company since coming to Australia.
He has trialled nicely ahead of his return and is yet to miss a placing from five previous first-up runs, so if he can land in a prominent position, he should prove very hard to get past late.
LAZZURA (1) looks ideally placed to make her presence felt second up in the Golden Pendant.
She has always shown plenty of ability, but took her form to another level last autumn, claiming the Coolmore Classic before finishing runner-up to Beiwacht in the All Aged Stakes, beaten by less than a length.
She resumed with an excellent effort in the Sheraco Stakes over 1200m here a fortnight ago, finishing just over half a length from the fitter Savvy Hallie, and with that run under her belt, a step up in distance and James McDonald retaining the ride, she looks set to take plenty of improvement from it.
Two bets for me in the Golden Rose this year – I’ve put GUEST HOUSE (1) on top, but I’m also eager to have an each way saver on TRON BOLT (3).
Guest House was outstanding throughout his two-year-old campaign, and his first-up return suggested he may have come back an even better horse when charging home to win the San Domenico Stakes with plenty in hand.
Stepping up to 1400m for the first time is the obvious query, but with further improvement expected, I’m not convinced the extra distance will pose any problems.
A Group 1 winner after claiming the JJ Atkins over this distance in June, Tron Bolt settled at the rear in the Run To The Rose before hitting the line strongly late.
He should take good improvement from that first-up effort and gets out to a suitable 1400m in the Golden Rose, while the addition of Damian Lane in the saddle is another positive.
The Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes has attracted an excellent field, with plenty of genuine chances, and I’m keen to have an each-way play on the progressive EXTRAGALACTIC (13).
She made rapid progress through the autumn, establishing herself at the top level before heading to the paddock after narrowly missing out in Group 1 company.
Extragalactic was clearly strongest late and through the line when resuming in the Moir Stakes, and with improvement expected second up and James McDonald taking the ride, she looks ideally suited stepping into this feature.
Craig Sheppard
If OFF THE PRESS (8) handles the rise at Toowoomba, he should be very hard to beat in the final race.
Trainer Todd Smart has brought the Press Statement gelding all the way from Canberra, and he brings excellent Sydney form with him.
He found the line strongly first-up over 1100m at Rosehill to finish second by a neck before trying hard for third, beaten 3.16 lengths, over six furlongs at Randwick.
He looks set to peak third-up and gets in with just 53kg after Anna Roper’s claim.
The apprentice should be able to land on speed and enjoy a lovely run.
MADALSA (11) has a strong record over this course and distance and can bounce back from a luckless run here last start.
The Pat Webster-trained mare loomed ominously before the straight but could not get clear until the opportunity had passed. She went on to finish third, beaten just under two lengths.
She boasts an excellent record over the track and trip, with three wins and four placings from 12 starts. One of those victories came just three starts ago, when she bolted in by 4.19 lengths.
She’s five weeks between runs but has shown she can race well fresh.
Les “Bubba” Tilley replaces the apprentice and should be able to settle her in a prominent position.
LAZZURA (1) returned in good order in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes, working strongly to the line to finish third, beaten just over half a length.
The Chris Waller-trained mare should have come on nicely and boasts an excellent second-up record, with three wins from five starts.
She’ll appreciate the rise to 1400m, having won the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes over that distance when second-up two preparations ago.
The Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner is well placed under the set-weight conditions, given she is seven rating points higher than her nearest rival.
James McDonald should be able to settle her prominently and give her every chance.
GUEST HOUSE (1) made a strong return, winning the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes.
The Price & Kent Jnr-trained colt looked hard to beat once he settled just behind the speed. He was pinned to the rail in the straight, but Zac Lloyd made a brave move to hug the Dulux, and Guest House went on to win comfortably by 1.25 lengths.
He is undefeated in two starts at the track, including his Group 1 Golden Slipper win here at the end of last preparation.
He steps up in distance for the first time, but maps to get all the favours and should run it out strongly.
EXTRAGALACTIC (13) looks set for a big preparation after resuming with an impressive effort in the Group 1 Moir Stakes.
The Trent Edmonds-trained mare was squeezed leaving the gates and settled back but saved ground on the turn before charging to the line for fourth, beaten 1.25 lengths.
She’s a four-year-old on the rise, progressing from a Benchmark 62 Handicap win to a narrow second in the Group 1 Goodwood in just four starts last preparation.
The daughter of Deep Field is unbeaten in two second-up starts, including one win over this course and distance.
There looks to be good speed in the race, which should allow James McDonald to take a stalking position from the inside barrier.
Lucy Henderson
SKYHOOK (2) is odds-on to take out the Shannon Stakes on his way to a potential Golden Eagle bid, and he’s my best of the day to salute for the favourite backers and make it two wins on the trot this prep.
The classy Written By entire from the Ryan/Alexiou yard is putting it all together now recording his fifth win first-up when overcoming gate 13 of 13 here in the Group 2 Theo Marks over 1300m on September 12.
Winner of the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas and Gunsynd Classic over the winter, he’s come back in terrific order and should have an easier go of it now from a better alley (2) with Kerrin McEvoy sticking with.
This is one of his preferred tracks and the step-up to 1500m suits to a tee.
Oozes potential and from the low draw he can bounce out, sit on pace and could be mighty hard to deny.
Outside of the major players, one that stands out for mine looking way overs at 30/1 is the Waller-trained STORMY MARCO (8) 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.
View all my best Saturday roughie tips over at Hendo’s Hopefuls now!
LAZZURA (1) can absolutely return to winning form in Golden Pendant as the deserving favourite.
Waller’s consistent Snitzel mare has banked close to $2 million in prize money over her 18-start career to date and presents fit second-up off a nice return.
Her autumn prep was typically excellent including a gutsy Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) win here at Rosehill.
She went out with merit when second to Beiwacht in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick under a length beaten at big odds, and we all saw what the All Aged winner did fresh in the Memsie.
Lazzura kicked off her spring in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at this track and lost few admirers running only 0.6 lengths third to Savvy Hallie off an on speed run throughout reeling off some terrific late sectionals to suggest she’s come back in the right order.
Yet to run out of the money at the track (5:2-2-1), she’s got a strong second-up record (5:3-0-1) including her Coolmore victory and will improve naturally off her fresh performance.
Gets up to her preferred trip, gets in pretty well in the weights and J-Mac sticks with.
Expect her to settle midfield and run over the top of these late.
GUEST HOUSE (1) looks the standout play in this year’s Golden Rose and is a deserving favourite after announcing his return with a dominant first-up win in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill.
The Golden Slipper winner settled on speed, put the race away with ease in track record time and remains unbeaten at the track, ticking plenty of boxes ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 assignment.
The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained colt gets another ideal setup from barrier five, with in-form hoop Zac Lloyd maintaining an unbeaten partnership aboard the exciting son of Home Affairs.
Expected to settle midfield with cover, he should enjoy every chance to unleash when the pressure goes on.
Recent history is also firmly on his side, with a string of Golden Rose winners arriving via a lead-up victory, and Guest House fits that profile perfectly.
While the rise from 1100m to 1400m is the obvious query, his class, race pattern and outstanding fresh-up performance suggest he’s ready for the challenge.
If he can reproduce his San Domenico effort second-up, Guest House looks the horse to beat and my best bet in the Group 1.
Check out all my 2026 Golden Rose Stakes Tips, Predictions & Best Bets now!
Sunday’s Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes field is a cracking affair with plenty of genuine winning hopes.
Look, the favourite Beiwacht was huge fresh in the Memsie over 1400m but could be vulnerable back in trip after his commanding three-length success, so I’m tempted to look a little further down the markets.
Have landed on the underrated MY GLADIOLA (11) for an each way play.
John McArdle’s smart I Am Invincible mare was outstanding first-up as a four-year-old scoring an upset win over Cavalry Girl and Natural Fling in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) with 56.5kg boxing on well having tracked the speed throughout.
Runner-up to Tentyris in the Group 1 Lightning back in February, she’s obviously a genuine short-distance sprinter so her double-figure quote is explained by the fact she’s winless over further than 1100m.
She’s had five goes at the six furlongs and has placed twice, so she can stretch out a little further, more mature now and fitter for her resuming elite-level victory.
Jamie Mott continues associations and gave the grey a peach of a ride in the Moir, so with similar luck in running, she can feature in the finish.
View my insider 2026 Manikato Stakes Preview & Best Bets for more insights on Sunday’s Group 1!
Ryan Cook
STARZINTHEIREYES (3) was unlucky not to win when resuming over the mile at Randwick a few weeks ago.
He raced facing the breeze around the turn before unleashing a brilliant turn of foot, only to be narrowly beaten by The Mona Lisa, who fought back strongly to claim victory.
He continued to find the line, suggesting he’s ready for more ground. With solid second-up form and a favourable barrier, he looks well placed.
DETONATOR JACK (3) is a live chance returning from a six-week break.
The veteran won the Winter Championship over a mile at Flemington in July, then backed up that performance with a strong second to smart rivals First Chorus and Darkbonee at Caulfield.
A jump-out win between runs is another positive, and he has typically performed well on rain-affected tracks. John Allen, who partnered him to his Flemington victory earlier this year, reunites with him for the JRA Cup—a significant boost.
LAZZURA (1) is hard to look past in the Golden Pendant.
She has a clear class edge over most of this field, having won the Coolmore Classic in March before producing a huge run to finish a narrow second to Beiwacht in the All Aged Stakes.
There was plenty to like about her first-up third in the Sheraco Stakes, and the step up in distance should suit perfectly. She’ll be very hard to beat.
GUEST HOUSE (1) was outstanding on his return, winning the San Domenico Stakes in record time. He may have scored by an even bigger margin after finding himself in a difficult position along the rail during the race.
Once clear, he showed an impressive turn of foot to win by more than a length—a promising effort in his first start since claiming the Golden Slipper.
The rise to 1400m is significant, but his latest performance suggests he’ll handle the extra distance comfortably.
He looks the best horse in the race, and if he can settle in a stalking position off the speed, he’ll be hard to beat.
EXTRAGALACTIC (13) gets James McDonald aboard for the first time after a promising first-up effort in the shorter Moir Stakes at Sandown.
The Deep Field mare stuck on well along the rail to finish fourth, though a slow start may have cost her ground and ultimately a placing.
She’s unbeaten second-up and handles wet tracks, while her overall form stacks up well here. The inside barrier should give J-Mac every chance to use similar tactics on Sunday, and the step up to 1200m looks a plus based on her past performances, particularly at Caulfield.