Saturday’s Best Bets: Caulfield, Randwick, Doomben

CONCORDE CONNIE (12) burst onto the scene during her autumn campaign, stringing together three successive victories, headlined by a dominant six-length demolition over 1400m at Flemington.

She showed plenty of promise in the lead-up and went close when resuming over 1200m at Mornington, but with that run under her belt and a return to her preferred distance this week, she looks ideally placed to take another step forward in the Tristarc Stakes 2026.

The Blue Sapphire Stakes looks a particularly competitive affair, but STRETAN RULER (1) appeals as an intriguing value runner at $17 at publish.

He put together an impressive two-year-old campaign, consistently performing well and claiming the Silver Slipper in Sydney before rounding out his season with a respectable fifth in the Golden Slipper.

His return in the Danehill Stakes appeared to come a little too soon, and he should strip much fitter for that outing. Back at Caulfield in a race featuring a bend, he looks well placed to enjoy a favourable run from the draw with Lachie Neindorf aboard.

DE ARMAS (4) looks well placed to strike third up in what shapes as a winnable edition of the Thousand Guineas.

The Ardrossan filly finished in the middle of the pack against older opposition over 1200m at Warwick Farm first up, before taking a significant step forward to produce an outstanding effort in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick a fortnight ago, narrowly missing victory.

She should be nearing peak fitness now, and provided she adapts to racing in Victoria, she can be right in the finish again.

There are plenty of chances in this year’s Caulfield Cup, but British raider WINE DARK SEA (10) appeals as a strong contender at double-figure Caulfield Cup odds.

He has been in outstanding form across Europe’s staying ranks, winning three of his four starts last preparation, including a commanding victory in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes over 2617m at Newbury in August, where he accounted for quality opposition including Dubai Honour despite carrying 61kg.

With a potential Melbourne Cup tilt also on the agenda, he’ll need a touch of luck from the wide draw, but his recent form suggests he has the class to make his presence felt in a race of this calibre.

KA YING RISING (1) has held a firm grip on favouritism in The Everest betting market for some time, although his quote has eased slightly to $1.50 at publish following the draw of barrier 11. Despite that minor drift, he remains the world’s premier sprinter and will be exceptionally difficult to beat again.

My betting strategy this year is to play a boxed trifecta, hoping one of TEMPTED (9), JOLIESTAR (8) or NINJA (7) can topple KYR.

Tempted shapes as the main threat after finishing runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in last year’s Everest before taking her game to another level, winning all five of her starts so far in 2026. She has drawn ideally in barrier one and, with a touch of luck in running, should be right in the finish once more.

Joliestar has consistently proven herself among Australia’s elite sprinters over the past couple of seasons, adding both the Canterbury Stakes and TJ Smith Stakes to her impressive record during the autumn. The latter victory came over this track and distance, while the booking of James McDonald is another significant positive for her chances.

Ninja brings an element of intrigue to this year’s Everest, but he has already shown his quality in feature company, including a victory in the Missile Stakes over this course and distance earlier in the preparation. His recent work alongside Ka Ying Rising was also encouraging, suggesting he could be capable of making his presence felt in the big one.

SKYHOOK (3) faces a quality field in the Silver Eagle but looks more than capable of making his presence felt yet again.

He finished his previous campaign with a string of strong performances, including a black-type victory, and has taken his form to another level this preparation with dominant wins in both the Theo Marks Stakes and Shannon Stakes.

With the Golden Eagle firmly in his sights in a fortnight, he gets a favourable draw and has the opportunity to further establish himself as one of the leading challengers to Sheza Alibi by making it three wins on the bounce.

GOLDEN STRAAND (4) is an emergency for The Everest Consolation, officially known as the Group 2 Sydney Stakes, so he looks extremely well placed in this Brisbane Open Handicap.

The Matthew Smith-trained entire resumed over 1100m at Randwick last start, finding a split and surging to the line to win by a neck.

He’s since returned to the trials, where he finished a close third despite racing wide throughout and being under double wraps.

The son of Snitzel is undefeated second-up and can keep that record intact with even luck.

GRAFTERBURNERS (6) has performed better this preparation than his form guide figures suggest.

The Kelly Schweida-trained entire ran out of room when resuming in The Shorts and went to the line not fully tested, finishing eighth, beaten 1.79 lengths.

He again had trouble last start in the Premiere Stakes, where he was chopped out at the top of the straight by eventual winner Tempted. After regathering himself, he rocketed home to finish fourth, beaten 3.16 lengths.

He looks ready to peak third-up, and Nash Rawiller takes the ride for the first time.

From a good barrier, Rawiller should be able to give him an excellent run not far off the action.

REGAL AMBITION (9) gives every indication that she’s going to love stepping up to a mile in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas.

The Team Hayes-trained filly overcame an awkward jump first-up on the Hillside track to find the line strongly and win the 1200m contest by three-quarters of a length.
Last start in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes over 1440m here, she again settled near the tail before rounding her rivals up in the straight and going on to win by a length.
She’ll strip fitter third-up and with a likely strong tempo, she’ll be able to rattle home hopefully over the top over them.

ENFJAAR (7) earned his spot in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup with an impressive last start win in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood.

The Roger Varian-trained gelding raced keenly in front setting quite a decent speed. He was entitled to weaken at the end of the 2412m contest but found something when his rivals loomed at his girth to go clear and salute by 1.25 lengths.

He carried 58.5kg that day and now gets in tremendously well given his rating of 112 with just 54.5kg.

Ray Dawson was aboard last start and has made the trip to Melbourne to ride so while he is seeing Caulfield for the first time, he does have a good association with the horse.

Barrier 1 is a big plus and should see the Dawson drive forward and settle in a prominent position.

KA YING RISING (1) brings an imposing record into The Everest, with 21 consecutive wins behind him and a chance to become a back-to-back winner. The wet track is the key question, but trainer David Hayes is confident his champion can handle the conditions.

He could have to work from the wide draw, though crossing to lead looks achievable. A position in third or fourth would still leave him well placed.

His latest form is exceptional. The world’s best sprinter resumed with a 7.75-length win in the Chief Executive’s Cup and took just under a second off his own track record.

If the short price doesn’t appeal to you, then you have options like taking a multi with Autumn Glow in the King Charles III Stakes.

For a place alternative, JIMMYSSTAR (2) has a strong case. He handles wet ground, ran third in The Everest last year and arrives after winning the Manikato Stakes, where he relished the addition of blinkers.

SKYHOOK (3) heads to the Silver Eagle with two convincing wins already this campaign and a strong record on rain-affected ground.

He opened with a fast-finishing victory in the Theo Marks Stakes, getting home by 1.13 lengths, before taking control from the front in the Shannon Stakes and pulling away to win by 2.9 lengths.

The Ryan and Alexiou-trained entire is unbeaten in two starts on heavy tracks. His latest heavy-track win came at the end of last preparation in the Gunsynd Classic, where he overcame a wide gate to score by 3.32 lengths.

Kerrin McEvoy can settle behind Beiwacht and look to bring Skyhook into the race late.

UNLEESHING (8) is set to start favourite in the Angst Stakes for Bjorn Baker, and she profiles perfectly for this Group 3 assignment on The Everest Day.

The five-year-old daughter of Dundeel doesn’t know how to run a bad race and has finished top two in her past four runs in easier company.

Has worked her way back up to Group company and is deserving of a shot at Black-Type success now.

Her only start at this level in the past was back in March when three lengths off Pinito for a Group 3 Aspiration third over the mile, but she’s fit and firing now ready to atone.

She ran back-to-back seconds over 1200m and 1400m respectively at BM78 level here behind Decorum and Night Agent respectively before getting back in the winner’s stall beating Polymnia over the Randwick mile as the odds-on favourite on Epsom Day.

Sticks to the same track and trip and even though Polymnia meets her equal in the weights now, Unleeshing has the superior 1600m record (4:3-0-0).

A specialist at the distance, at her pet track and Jason Collett has ridden her for a win in the past.

Tougher task and doesn’t map quite so well but is going too good to ignore.

Wins.

It’s a wide-open and cracking line-up for The Everest consolation prize, but at 20/1 at time of publish in Sydney Stakes betting, the Brett & Georgie Cavanogh-trained WANARUAH (10) up in grade has huge each way appeal for mine.

The ultra-consistent Snitzel entire is a Randwick specialist with three wins from four starts at the track, and the 1200m is right within his abilities has he’s claimed two of his three six-furlong assignments to date.

Back in June he put nearly a length on General Salute here in the Listed Bob Charley (1100m) before things went amiss for him fresh in the Group 2 Concorde Stakes.

Lacking fitness and taking on a super mare in Tempted, he had to do too much work from the outside alley (12) crossing last seven lengths off the winner who is now the key danger to Ka Ying Rising for the second year running in Saturday’s $20 million feature.

Wanaruah meanwhile bounced back quickly adding to his flawless second-up record with a BM94 win over the track and trip he sticks to on Saturday carting 59.5kg to a photo-thriller win at big odds on Epsom Day.

Back to 58.5kg the WFA conditions suit as does the wet track which he’s proven on.

Love McEvoy coming back aboard, he’s going well, presents fit and will go forward from the midfield gate to sit on pace and can stick with the task as a forgotten chance.

Check out my Top 5 Saturday Roughie Tips over at Hendo’s Hopefuls! 

The money doesn’t lie, and punters have been piling into SAINTLY DANCER (3) since markets opened for this year’s Thousand Guineas field.

After opening at $6.50, the talented bay has now firmed into $3.90 outright favouritism and I’m happy to follow the money trail.

The progressive Ciaron Maher filly has done very little wrong in her five-start career, finishing outside the quinella just once, and her last-start demolition job in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes was impossible to ignore.

She absolutely toyed with her rivals at Flemington, putting six lengths on next best Joely announcing herself as a genuine Group 1 contender in the process.

Sure, that dominant win came on a Heavy 10, but it wasn’t as though she came from nowhere. She had already run a cracking second in the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield finishing second to Icelady and has looked like a filly crying out for the mile all preparation.

Amphitrite was the last filly to complete the Edward Manifold-Thousand Guineas double back in 2018, and Saintly Dancer looks to have all the ingredients to repeat the feat.

From barrier four she’ll get every chance to settle comfortably, while the booking of Blake Shinn only adds further confidence.

If she reproduces anything close to what she showed at HQ, the rest of these fillies could be fighting over the minor money.

WINE DARK SEA (10) as the $9 third elect in Caufield Cup betting at time of publish presents as a lovely winning hope for mine.

The British visitor arrives with the right profile for a race like this, winning three of his past four starts in Europe including a tough Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes victory where he carried 61kg and proved too strong over an even longer trip.

Importantly, there’s no stamina query here. His record at 2400m and beyond suggests the mile-and-a-half journey is right in his wheelhouse.

The draw could have been kinder, but having Damian Lane in the saddle helps offset plenty of that concern. Lane knows exactly what it takes to win this race, having steered international raider Mer De Glace to Caulfield Cup success in 2019, and few riders are better at finding cover and producing a stayer at the right time.

He has a bigger spring target on the agenda with the two-mile Melbourne Cup around the corner, but that’s hardly a knock. European stayers with strong staying credentials have a terrific record in our major handicaps, and this bloke looks capable of making his presence felt straight away.

Likely to settle just behind the speed, conserve energy, and keep grinding away when others are waving the white flag, he’s got huge each way appeal.

If Lane can work out a passage from the wide alley, don’t be surprised to see Wine Dark Sea right in the thick of the finish.

There’s zero value in the defending Everest hero, KA YING RISING (1), returning down under to go back-to-back in the $20 million showdown, but it is really hard to tip against the world’s fastest horse.

His price has eased out slightly after he drew wide out in gate 11, but that shouldn’t present an issue with the alley already producing an Everest winner in Bella Nipotina (2024).

Zac Purton travels to stick in the saddle of the iconic Shamexpress gelding, and he’ll cross from the gate and be at the front giving them something to chase.

He hasn’t been defeated since January of 2024 and is looking down the barrel of his 22nd straight victory – that’s some record.

The Hong Kong champion faces a similar The Everest field to the one he easily accounted for 12 months ago, and he’s going even better for his title defence looking to become the second dual winner in the race’s history.

At his latest it was a demolition job with Ka Ying Rising putting a silly seven lengths on an easier grade of rivals in the Group 3 Chief Executive’s Cup at Sha Tin with 61kg on his back.

His 1200m strike-rate is ridiculous (22:20-2-0), he’s gifted by the weight conditions back to 58.5kg and he won the race at the same stage of his prep in 2025.

Those wanting to tip against the favourite got a little glimmer of hope when he was beaten by Ninja in a Randwick hit-out on October 6, but he wasn’t there to prove anything, just kept ticking over and trainer David Hayes was bullish about his performance.

Can win with authority again.

For more value outside just the favourite check out my full 2026 The Everest Tips & Predictions! 

SKYHOOK (3) is deserving favourite for the Silver Eagle and is still at a backable quote of $3 at time of publish to make it four on the trot.

The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained Written Tycoon entire is winless from three previous Randwick assignments, but he’s building a sensational profile and looks more than capable of beating his track hoodoo rock hard fit third-up.

After taking out the Group 3 Gunsynd in Brisbane over the mile on Heavy going by over three-lengths in the winter, he raced fresh as favourite wide-out in gate 13 at Rosehill and put over a length on Magnatear in the Group 2 Theo Marks (1300m).

An emphatic three-length Group 2 Shannon Stakes win over 1500m followed and he’s back against his own age now back a half-kilo at set weights plus penalties.

Drawn to get a dream run from gate five with Kerrin McEvoy sticking with, the drop back to 1300m is a slight query, but he maps beautifully and is in career best form.

This then the Golden Eagle and he might just win them all this prep.

GEEGEES MISTRUTH (1) is easy to have on top after two solid performances in Group 1 company.

She finished fifth in the Manikato Stakes here a fortnight ago, despite being held up badly along the rail at a crucial stage. Once clear, she quickened strongly and finished less than two lengths behind Jimmysstar.

Her class should count for plenty back in grade. The blinkers go on for the first time, and if she handles the big weight under Blake Shinn, she can break through for a deserved win.

I’m with I Am Aria on top in this race, but ZOEHRER (11) is worth considering each-way. He scored impressively at Seymour last start, and the form received a boost when the runner-up won his next race by three lengths.

A wide draw makes the task tougher, but he has the ability to sneak into the placings.

SAINT GEORGE (12) is capable of much better than his Turnbull Stakes finish suggests.

A poor draw and testing track conditions worked against him that day, so I’m prepared to overlook the result. Before that, he finished a length behind Zahrann after a strong effort in the Naturalism Stakes.

He meets Zahrann better at the weights and has several sound 2000m runs behind him. Back on a dry track and from a more favourable gate, he can make his presence felt late.

KA YING RISING (1) will take an absolute power of beating and there isn’t much more that needs to be said when it comes to this odds-on favourite.

The weather should play into NINJA’S (7) hands though, and I feel he’s being slightly overlooked in the market off one bad performance in The Shorts last time out.

Aside from that, he was an impressive fresh winner of the Missile Stakes first-up and I love the fact he’s had a trial between runs.

Two-from-two on heavy going, he’ll love the slop and should be running on late.

SKYHOOK looks the one to beat in this year’s Silver Eagle, with proven form over 1300m.

The Written Tycoon entire has been in terrific form this campaign, winning the Theo Marks Stakes by a clear margin before completing his hat-trick with an even stronger performance over further in the Shannon Stakes. He’s still chasing his first Randwick win but draws ideally and Kerrin McEvoy should be able to settle him close to the pace.