It’s Coongy Handicap Day at Caulfield on Wednesday, one of the many midweek highlights of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
With ballot exemption into Saturday’s Caulfield Cup up for grabs, this year’s middle-distance staying race has attracted a field of 12 hopefuls, headlined by current favourite Darkbonee and last-start Mornington winner Ziryab.
The Listed Debutant Stakes opens the program with the two-year-olds taking thier place over 1000m, and it’s worth noting the rail is out 13m across the track.
Looking for some form analysis on all the key runners ahead of 2026 Coongy Handicap Day? Scroll down below to check out our selections ahead of Wednesday’s meeting at Caulfield!
ROYAL PRESS (2) made it look easy winning a recent trial here on the Heath track by two lengths.
Jye McNeil found the box seat and made his presence felt at the top of the straight, pressing the button early to race clear for a dominant win.
The inside barrier will likely see the pair settle close to the speed and with a good turn of foot, this son to Alabama Express looks ready to run a big race on debut.
| 2. Royal Press (1) J: Jye Mcneil 58kg T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
HIEARARCHY (2) was impressive when shedding the maiden tag by 1.5 lengths at Cranbourne last start over 1400m.
The Godolphin colt was third the fence and held up briefly in a pocket at the top of the straight, eventually angling through a gap to burst clear and really charge the line hard.
He looked to have another gear left to go over the final 50m, so the rise to the mile looks ideal now with Ethan Brown sticking.
With the third place-getter of his recent start going on to win at Seymour on Sunday, the form also stacks up nicely.
STEALTH OF NIGHT (5) can roll forward early and contest the speed.
The mare to Night Of Thunder was run down two back here over the track and distance by Pugila, before heading to Randwick a few weeks later where she overraced but still finished off okay to just miss out on a place.
Third-up now, the blinkers come off and the winkers go on, while she also gets in nicely at the weights thanks to Dakotah Keane’s 3kg claim.
BEACH PAD (3) is worth a look each-way.
Stephen Jackson’s gelding ran a nice race in the Listed Ansett Classic at Mornington a few weeks ago, landing up on the speed before being shuffled back to sixth approaching the home turn.
Declan Bates was forced to angle wide to find some clear running room, and once he did the pair charged home strongly for an eye-catching third.
The pair combine again here from a much softer gate and if they can settle closer to the speed this time when it counts, they’ll be very hard to hold out.
BUCCLEUCH (2) looks much better suited coming back a level after finishing 2.6 lengths off in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes.
He’s yet to run a place in two runs here at Caulfield, but you only have to go back and watch his back to back wins at Sandown to open his prep to get a good feel for what he’s all about.
Deep into his prep now and fitter, he maps to get back around midfield from a soft gate and really save his best for the finish this time.
POLITELY DUN (6) has the inside draw and Blake Shinn working in his favour.
The five-year-old son to Dundeel won here over 1800m three back by a length, and was recently stiff to miss out on the money at Mornington when he wound up from near last to run fourth, finishing within two lengths of the winner Ziryab.
Deep into his prep, he’ll benefit from a more positive ride under Shinn in a race that sees a few of the top chances drawn awkwardly.
ZIRYAB (8) has found winning form and rates a big chance in this year’s Group 3 Coongy Handicap.
Ciaron Maher’s seven-year-old was a smart winner over the same trip at Mornington a few weeks prior, stoking up along the outside of Mr O’Reilly to win by a length after settling in behind the speed.
He’s got the wide gate to contend with here but has enough early speed to shuffle across early and settle close to the front.
Having run some nice races here at Caulfield, he looks to have big upside and plenty left in the tank to win a race like this.
The lightly-raced SWIFT FORCE (8) figures to garner plenty of attention on return as the favourite.
The mare to Magnus bolted in to win at Launceston over 1200m in late February, then resuming off a spell for her first look at Melbourne where she put away a good field over the track and distance by more than two lengths.
She overraced badly in her next start on a very wet day out over 1200m, but looks to have returned a treat based on her recent trial win.
The experienced Craig Newitt in the saddle strengthens her claims and she should be very hard to catch with fresh legs.