Saturday’s Best Bets: Caulfield, Rosehill, Eagle Farm

BRIDAL WALTZ (7) looks to have another excellent opportunity to return to the winner’s list on Caulfield Guineas Day 2026.

She was narrowly denied in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at the end of her previous preparation before resuming with another strong performance behind the talented Oliveanotherday in The Heath 1100.

Point Barrow had her measure again when they met in the How Now Stakes over this course and distance second up, but Bridal Waltz has come up with a much more favourable draw this time. It looks a race that should come down to those two, and I’m confident Bridal Waltz can reverse the result in the Northwood Plume Stakes.

LAFITE (7) heads into the Tapp-Craig Stakes in winning form and looks capable of taking another step forward.

He resumed with a narrow second to the impressive Federalist at Newcastle last month before starting a well-backed favourite over 1400m at Kembla Grange, where he put the race away impressively to score by three lengths.

This is clearly a tougher assignment, but he remains open to further improvement and, with the race lacking an abundance of established stars, this shapes as an ideal opportunity for him to make his mark.

A return to Sydney could see LINDERMANN (1) bounce back strongly in the Hill Stakes.

He has built his career around rolling forward and putting his rivals under pressure, and that tactic was once again highly effective when he led throughout to claim the Chelmsford Stakes over 1600m last month.

He headed south for the Underwood Stakes last time and attracted plenty of support in the market but was beaten early and never looked comfortable racing the other way around.

Now at peak fitness, Lindermann gets Nash Rawiller back aboard and I expect him to head straight to the front once again.

There are plenty of legitimate chances in this field, but LINEBACKER (11) looks particularly well suited to the assignment second up from a spell.

The 2025 Randwick Guineas winner is still chasing his first victory in close to 12 months, although he has continued to race consistently against quality opposition. He was strong through the latter stages when finishing fourth in a competitive edition of the Bill Ritchie first up last month, suggesting he should have plenty of improvement to come.

He has been given another trial since that run, is ideally suited at 1400m and gets some relief at the weights with Zac Lloyd taking the ride this week.

I’m happy to stay aboard the WARWOVEN (2) train when he tackles the Caulfield Guineas.

The colt has always displayed plenty of natural ability, but he took his form to another level when returning to the winners’ list in the Run To The Rose second up before producing a dominant display to secure his first Group 1 victory in the Golden Rose a fortnight later.

He now steps up to a mile for the first time with a potential Ladbrokes Cox Plate berth in mind, and with regular rider Rachel King retaining the mount, I expect him to continue his rise.

The Toorak Handicap is renowned for producing a competitive betting race, and with plenty of chances again this year, PANOVA (10) appeals as an enticing roughie at $21 at publish.

She has built an impressive resume throughout her career and enjoyed an outstanding three-year-old campaign, highlighted by a Group 1 Australasian Oaks victory before finishing narrowly behind the winner in the Queensland Oaks.

Panova made a solid return in the Tramway Stakes in Sydney last month, producing a respectable effort in a race that was unlikely to play to her strengths, and she has since been kept ticking over with another trial.

She was taken out of last weekend’s Epsom Handicap field to instead target this, gets into it with just 53kg and looks one of the day’s more appealing each-way prospects at the price.

SAMARELLE (8) heads north from Sydney and looks to have found the right race to go back-to-back.

The O’Shea and Charlton-trained mare settled a long way back two starts ago before finding the line well for a 3.26-length second over 1400m at Warwick Farm.

She again settled well off the lead last start but relished the rise to a mile and stormed home to win impressively by a length.

The step up to 1800m looks suitable, and Anna Roper’s claim brings her weight down to 55kg. Barrier 4 should give her every chance.

No Matt Dunn runner in the Highway? That leaves us without the usual automatic pick, so we’ll need another plan.

MAGIC MERLIN (4) gets the nod and an each way quote after winning three of his past four starts for Brett and Georgie Cavanough.

The son of Lucky Vega was impressive over a mile at Scone last time. Despite settling last from a wide gate, he swept past the field with little urging and won by just over half a length.

He’s fit, in form and drawn well enough for Jason Collett to settle closer this time.

LINDERMANN (1) never looked comfortable with the Melbourne way of going last start, tailing off to finish last in the Underwood Stakes.

He can bounce back on his return to Sydney and defend his Hill Stakes crown.

The Chris Waller-trained gelding led throughout last year before kicking clear late to win the 1900m feature by 2.17 lengths. He beat Attrition, Kovalica and Militarize, who he meets again here.

Before his Melbourne trip, Lindermann made light work of the Chelmsford Stakes in what looked like a paid trial.

Nash Rawiller is back aboard and should give him every chance by rating him perfectly in front.

SEPALS (5) made an encouraging start to his campaign in the Rupert Clarke Stakes and looks capable of building on it.

The Cliff Brown-trained gelding travelled well before taking the lead with 100m to go. Angel Capital, who was fitter, edged past late, leaving Sepals three-quarters of a length away in second.

He should take improvement from that run and has a strong second-up record, highlighted by last year’s Rupert Clarke Stakes win and his second in this year’s Stradbroke Handicap.

His most recent Sydney run was below his best, but he had finished second to Autumn Glow in the Golden Eagle at the start before.

Jamie Mott has won on all his rides aboard Sepals and has made the trip from Melbourne for this race. He should settle within striking distance, and I expect him to be in the finish.

BLIND RAISE (5) has tasted defeat only once in five starts, when he had excuses in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm last preparation.

The Busuttin and Young-trained gelding has returned in fine style this time in, with his last-start win in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude making quite an impression.

He was forced to work to share the lead, then came under pressure approaching the home straight as rivals tried to go around him. Blake Shinn stayed calm, allowing them their moment before asking the exciting three-year-old to respond. Blind Raise surged clear to win by 2.75 lengths, seemingly with another gear or two to use.

He’ll strip fitter third-up and looks more than capable of handling a mile for the first time.

Shinn is likely to try to control the race, and if he’s allowed to do so, Blind Raise should be hard to stop.

LADY SHENANDOAH (2) looks ready to fire over a mile after two very good runs to start this preparation.

The Chris Waller-trained mare chased home Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi first-up in the Group 1 Winx Stakes when finishing fourth before an excellent effort last start in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes where she raced handy and held her ground to the line for a 1.27 length fourth.

She has an excellent record over 1600m having won the Group 1 Flight Stakes as a three-year-old and finishing second to Idle Flyer in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes when rounding out last preparation.

James McDonald returns to the saddle for the first time this preparation and should land in a prominent position.

JIGSAW (1) resumes in the Schillaci as he builds his credentials chasing one of the final two The Everest slots.

He’s the hot favourite to extend the picket fence fresh and make it an incredible eight straight victories, but the Cindy Alderson-trained super sprinter remains at a backable quote of $2.50 at time of publish.

Drawn the rails with apprentice Logan Bates continuing associations with the gun Manhattan Rain gelding, Jigsaw may be eight now, but he showed he wasn’t ready to start giving away wins just yet with to blistering trial victories ahead of his highly anticipated return.

The latest at Cranbourne in mid-September over 1000m saw him beat Jenni The Fox by three lengths and he looks to be biting at the bit to get back.

Closed out his stellar autumn campaign with a win from wide out in Perth’s $5 million The Quokka over fellow Schillaci hopeful Rey Magnerio.

Prior to that he beat Angel Capital home by a half-length here in the Group 1 William Reid, also drawn the carpark that day, and he’s finally been gifted with an inside draw on the weekend.

He’ll jump from barrier one in a compact nine-horse field, is a genuine first-up specialist with four wins from nine runs at this stage of a prep in the past and the 1100m to get things underway is ideal.

So tough, he handles everything thrown his way from east to west and across the Tasman, continues to deliver at elite level and lands a very winnable race to kick off his spring and keep the turf triumphs coming.

Jumps, leads, they won’t catch him.

While I’m on the still-value favourite Headly Grange to win the Alan Brown (see below), the price on MAGNATEAR (13) to run in the money behind him is too good to ignore.

Richard & Will Freedman’s consistent Written Tycoon seven-year-old rewarded me fresh on September 17 when I tipped him for a top three return in the Group 2 Theo Marks at 25/1 and boy did he deliver.

With 54kg, he took advantage of barrier one here at Rosehill over 1300m settling on pace and sticking on so well to cross a length back second to Skyhook.

He lost momentum at a crucial stage on the straight getting caught up briefly on the rails before getting his inside run and, while I don’t think that would have changed the quinella, the margin could have been even tighter.

A month between runs now after he was scratched from the Group 2 Shannon Stakes on September 26, but he’s always had the Alan Brown in sight ahead of his grand final in The Big Dance.

Kept ticking over with a Rosehill trial last week and did enough.

Yet to win here but also yet to run out of the money in four starts at the course, the 1400m second-up looks right within his wheelhouse and he comes back a half-kilo from his Theo Marks weight to 53.5kg which adds further appeal.

He’ll go forward with the light allocation and can hang on again as a forgotten chance.

Check out Hendo’s Hopefuls for all my best Saturday roughie tips!

LINDERMANN (1) was only fair finishing eighth in the Underwood at Caulfield well beaten by Birdman at his latest, but he’ll bounce back returning to Sydney now fit and ready to atone.

Chris Waller’s Lonhro seven-year-old was terrific the run prior defending his Chelmsford crown over the Randwick mile with ease, and he’ll relish a return to his preferred way of racing.

His Rosehill strike rate is imposing (9:4-2-1) and he’s won over 2000m before when claiming the Guineas here as a three-year-old back in 2023.

Lindermann’s last go at the distance was in the autumn when he claimed back-to-back Group 1 seconds in the Ranvet and Queen Elizabeth at double-figure odds in each.

Won’t be found anywhere near that quote into odds-on territory in Hill Stakes betting now and deservedly so.

Rawiller comes back aboard in another tick and will likely cross, lead without challenge and the horse he’s on is good enough to go all-the-way to secure his second Hill Stakes trophy after his big two length romp home over Attrition in the event 12 months ago.

A host of livewire chances in a cracking edition of the now Group 3, $1.5 million feature but finding the favourite HEADLEY GRANGE (2) hard to knock even with the big weight.

Joe Pride’s talented Exosphere six-year-old rarely runs a bad race and has been typically consistent this prep atoning for his Stradbroke flop from the winter when found out by a Heavy track in Brisbane to return to his best in Sydney.

Won the Group 2 Tramway by a nostril flare fresh before sticking with the 1400m at Randwick to place third only 1.5 lengths beaten by General Salute in the Gorup 3 Bill Ritchie giving away weight in a gutsy effort.

He is fit third-up now back from 61kg to 59.5kg and proven with plenty of his back before.

Pet distance, performs well at Rosehill (6:2-2-0) and races at the track for the first time since his game fifth to the country’s best mare Autumn Glow in the autumn’s Group 2 George Ryder as a 40/1 outsider.

This is easier, he comes via the right form lines and Adam Hyeronimus knows him so well.

Gun barrier three draw, defends his title after a tough win in the same race last spring from wider out and is seasoned now.

Conditions suit, he should find himself somewhere midfield from the gate and with a couple of longer shots likely to go hard out in front he’ll be there when it counts to run past them and go back-to-back.

WARWOVEN (2) is the standout pick in Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas for mine, with the Bjorn Baker-trained colt arriving in Melbourne in career-best form and justified favouritism.

The talented son of Sword Of State has put together an impressive Sydney spring campaign, completing the prestigious Run To The Rose and Golden Rose double before heading south in search of a third straight victory.

His dominant three-length Golden Rose triumph not only highlighted his class but also suggested the rise to the Guineas mile will suit perfectly.

Drawn ideally in barrier six and partnered again by Rachel King, Warwoven gets every chance to settle comfortably before unleashing his trademark finishing burst.

While Saturday marks his first look at Caulfield and racing in the Melbourne direction, his outstanding recent performances, fitness, and proven elite level credentials make him the horse to beat and the one to back to complete the interstate Group 1 double.

Check out my full 2026 Caulfield Guineas Tips, Predictions & Best Bets now!

CHANGING COLOURS (13) appeals as the value each way play in this year’s Toorak Handicap, with Lucy Yeoman’s progressive mare bringing outstanding form and a luxury weight into one of the spring’s toughest mile contests.

The daughter of The Autumn Sun is chasing a fifth consecutive victory and continues to raise the bar with every run, most recently producing a sharp turn of foot to capture the Group 2 Stocks Stakes over the same Caulfield 1600m.

That victory confirmed her credentials at both the track and distance, while a drop to just 52kg on Saturday gives her a significant advantage against several of her higher-weighted rivals.

Unbeaten in four starts this preparation and proven on Soft ground, Changing Colours maps to enjoy a cosy midfield run before unleashing her trademark finishing burst.

With confidence soaring, the ideal weight profile, and plenty of upside still to come, she looks perfectly placed to storm home late and run in the money.

JIGSAW (1) finds a very winnable race on his return after a couple of pleasing jump-outs.

He’s been remarkably consistent since this time last year, adding two Group 1 wins and a Quokka victory to his résumé.

A five-time winner at Caulfield, he maps to lead from the inside gate under Logan Bates. Rain or shine, he’ll be very hard to run down in the 2026 Schillaci Stakes.

PERFECT TEN (8) has drawn a favourable gate for her return.

The daughter of Tavistock is chasing a hat-trick after ending her winter campaign with a win over 1800m on the Heath track. That form has since been franked, with the runner-up winning at Warrnambool last week.

She’s had a quiet jump-out in preparation and maps to settle just off the speed early.

With solid fresh form and Willo’s experience in the saddle, she’ll be one of the hardest to beat. She’s already recorded two wins over the mile in the Vase.

LINDERMANN (1) deserves another chance in Saturday’s Hill Stakes. He finished last after failing to handle the 1800m at Caulfield in the Underwood Stakes, but last year’s edition of this race showed he can bounce back.

Chris Waller’s galloper led all the way to beat some serious talent by more than two lengths, while his win two starts ago in the Chelmsford Stakes was also encouraging.

From a favourable gate, Nash Rawiller should have every chance to roll forward and set the tempo. The pair look very hard to beat.

SEPALS (5) just needs a bit of early luck from the wide gate when he steps up second-up in the Alan Brown Stakes.

Cliff Brown’s gelding is looking to build on a brief but solid winter campaign in Queensland, where he finished second to Spicy Martini in the Stradbroke Handicap. His return effort at Caulfield, finishing within a length of Angel Capital in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, was very encouraging.

With experience at Rosehill, he looks ready to run a big race at each-way odds.

WARWOVEN (2) has taken time to bounce back from injury, but he’s starting to live up to his billing as one of the country’s best three-year-olds.

His emphatic win in the Golden Rose Stakes two weeks ago was breathtaking. He put his rivals to the sword with a late burst, surging more than three lengths clear.

If he brings that same confidence to this race and handles the step up to a mile, he’ll be hard to beat. Rachel King is likely to use similar tactics, settling him in midfield early.

SUN GOD (9) is a three-time winner over the mile who looks ready to run a big race at odds.

He was a little flat over the late stages in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes fresh, tucked away along the rail where he only battled on to finish sixth in the end.

In saying that, he was clearly in need of the run and deserves big respect as a two-time Stakes winner up in Brisbane over the winner.