Saturday Roughie Tips – October 24, 2026
Chasing the best Saturday roughies this weekend? Ladbrokes have you covered with our top value racing tips for Cox Plate Day and the Spring Champion line-up!
Punters playing along last week will have enjoyed an absolute fill-up as we found a host of value on Caulfield Cup and The Everest Day including Icelady (2nd in the Thousand Guineas), Just Folk (3rd in the King Charles III) and of course the 25/1 Caulfield Cup winner Kingswood was our roughie find of the weekend.
Attention now turns to Flemington for a historic edition of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, and we’ve unearthed the forgotten fancies in the big one and some of the key support acts on the day.
We’ve also gone deep in the Sydney form guides to find those double-figure chances at Randwick.
As we move ever closer to the ‘race that stops a nation’ on the first Tuesday of November, now is the time to fill up with our Saturday racing roughie tips.
Ladbrokes’ Value Whisperer Lucy Henderson has again shared her thoughts on the runners to back at the better odds this weekend.
Saturday Roughie Tips – October 24
- Flemington Race 3 – No. 6 Gilgeous
- Flemington Race 5 – No. 4 Arkansaw Kid
- Flemington Race 6 – No. 13 On Display
- Flemington Race 7 – No. 8 Future History
- Flemington Race 8 – No. 6 Birdman
- Randwick Race 5 – No. 7 Gridlock
- Randwick Race 7 – No. 4 Wonka
- Randwick Race 8 – No. 12 Modella
Read on for Hendo’s detailed thoughts on each of her roughie selections.
What are the Best Value Racing Tips for Cox Plate Day 2026?
Flemington Race 3 (Moonee Valley Vase) – No. 7 Gilgeous
GILGEOUS (6) is a maiden coming into the Moonee Valley Vase and, while this progressive Farnan gelding may not get to the finishing post first, he’s overs to come close.
Saturday marks his first Black-Type assignment and he’s up in trip after back-to-back seconds at Bendigo over 1500m.
Narrowly denied in a 3YO Maiden on September 20 by Written Empire, he went down 1.5 lengths on a Soft (7) at the same track and trip as the beaten odds-on fancy having set the pace throughout and chases atonement now.
Tough test but he’ll likely be allowed to settle a bit further back on Saturday and has the fitness to charge home late with Michael Dee sticking the saddle.
Caught the eye last time, is building and deserves a shot at this grade back on firmer ground.
| 7. Gilgeous (6) 57kg422 |
Flemington Race 5 (McEwen Stakes) – No. 4 Arkansaw Kid
ARKANSAW KID (1) gets the rails run in the McEwen Stakes and shouldn’t be overlooked at generous double-figure odds.
The Hayes-trained gelding is a proven Flemington specialist, boasting an impressive record at headquarters with 10 starts for two wins, two seconds and two thirds, and gets every chance to produce another bold showing from the coveted inside draw.
His recent form stacks up nicely for a race like this. He was excellent first-up when finishing less than a length from Losesomewinmore in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis despite giving weight to the winner at $17, before backing that up with a strong third behind Skybird in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes.
Ethan Brown retains the ride, the pair combine well, and he should enjoy the perfect run on the speed from barrier one.
With proven Flemington credentials, consistent spring form and a map that looks ideal, Arkansaw Kid shapes as the forgotten runner in the market and the value play of the race at around $16.
| 4. Arkansaw Kid (1) 58.5kgx3043 |
Flemington Race 6 (Crystal Mile) – No. 13 On Display
ON DISPLAY (5) is a mare who can make her presence felt in the Crystal Mile with the Fastnet Rock five-year-old getting in beautifully weight-wise with 55kg.
She’s had five goes at Flemington and finished third on four occasions, a Place strike-rate she can maintain at a price this weekend.
In the past she’s matched motors with some very good types including her Group 1 Empire Rose third to front-running queen Pride Of Jenni at this track and trip last Cup Carnival.
It’s been over a year since she’s won, but her two lead-up runs this prep have been full of merit.
Third fresh to Pondalowie in the Group 2 Let’s Elope here making up ground late, she was last seen doing it tough from wide out at Caulfield in the Group 3 Ladies’ Day Vase to finish fourth to Saturday’s favourite Surfin’ Bird and she can finish closer from a softer draw now.
Fit third-up, natural improvement can drive her home the closing stages and she’s got the ability at her best to finish in the money.
| 13. On Display (5) 55kg99×34 |
Flemington Race 7 (Moonee Valley Gold Cup) – No. 8 Future History
FUTURE HISTORY (14) is the veteran in this year’s Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup field and looks overs for mine to continue to prove his evergreen status with another competitive performance.
At around the $23 mark at time of publish, the well-tried stayer looks terrific value for trainer Gregory Hickman.
He’s been in encouraging form this preparation, finishing a close second in the Group 3 JRA Cup before another honest effort when fourth in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes, beaten just two lengths in what shapes up as a key form reference for this.
The old warrior has a strong affinity with Flemington, boasting two wins from seven starts at the track, including a perfect one-from-one record over this track and distance.
Expected to roll forward and control the tempo, he could prove hard to reel in if left alone up front.
Adding further appeal is the booking of the in-form Willie Pike, while the addition of a first-time nasal strip and pre-race earmuffs could help extract a little extra improvement.
He may not have the upside of some rivals, but with proven credentials at HQ, rock-solid lead-up form and a favourable racing pattern, Future History is an excellent roughie play in this Melbourne Cup lead-up.
| 8. Future History (14) 57kg6×324 |
Flemington Race 8 (Ladbrokes Cox Plate) – No. 6 Birdman
I wouldn’t be surprised if BIRDMAN (6) is the one rattling home at a price in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding looks the forgotten runner in the market despite putting together a rock-solid spring campaign and boasting a Group 1 win that stacks right up with the best form in the race.
After a pipe-opener in the Memsie over an unsuitable 1400m, he announced himself as a genuine Cox Plate contender when he toyed with his rivals in the Underwood Stakes, putting 1.75 lengths on fellow Plate hopeful Cosmic Crusader.
He then backed that up with a brave third in the Might And Power, beaten just 1.4 lengths by surprise winner Land Legend in a race shaping as a key form reference.
The real bonus came at the barrier draw. Gate one gives Ben Melham every chance to enjoy the perfect run, save ground and stalk what should be a strong tempo set by the speed drawn wider out.
If Birdman can reproduce anything close to his Underwood performance, he’s right in the finish.
Drawn to get every favour, trained by the King of the Cox Plate and still flying under the radar, he looks one of the best value plays in the race and a must for the Cox Plate exotics.
| 6. Birdman (1) 59kg1×613 |
What are the Best Value Racing Tips in Sydney on Saturday?
Randwick Race 5 (Callander-Presnell) – No. 7 Gridlock
GRIDLOCK (9) chasing a hat-trick at double-figures in a competitive edition of the Callander-Presnell has huge appeal for mine.
Michael Freedman’s in-form Home Affairs gelding broke his maiden status first-up at Newcastle over 1250m before rising to seven furlongs at Kembla Grange on October 10 in a BM64 where he denied his rivals by over a length in an eye-catching effort to set him up for this acid test.
Has his first go at a mile but looks likely he’ll runout the 1600m, comes in fit and full of confidence and gets conditions to suit.
Oozing upside, he’ll need to go to the next level now, but with Tommy Berry jumping aboard he’s every chance to do just that and earn his keep.
| 7. Gridlock (9) 57kg34×11 |
Randwick Race 7 (Spring Champion Stakes) – No. 4 Wonka
Who doesn’t love a bit of WONKA (2) at double-figure odds?
The consistent Snitzel colt looks a terrific value play in Saturday’s Spring Champion Stakes, and from barrier two he should get the run of the race while some of his more fancied rivals have to more work.
The likeable youngster has done very little wrong in six career starts, never missing the First Four, and already boasts winning Black-Type form at Randwick courtesy of his tough Listed Dulcify Stakes victory two starts back.
He backed that up with another excellent effort when narrowly beaten by Proxima Dea in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes, chasing hard after giving the winner a soft run and looking every bit a horse with more improvement to come.
The step up in trip looks ideal, the draw is a beauty, and he maps to settle in the perfect stalking position.
While plenty of punters will be focused on the headline acts, Wonka is quietly building a very handy résumé and looks the type who can give backers a golden ticket at around the $11 mark.
If he runs out the distance, he’s right in the finish.
| 4. Wonka (2) 56.5kg23112 |
Randwick Race 8 (The Invitation) – No. 12 Modella
MODELLA (10) at the juicy $20 quote can answer a few of her rivals in this year’s The Invitation.
This mare looks to be hitting her straps at exactly the right time and could be ready to surprise a few on Saturday as she faces off against a good field of proven Group 1 mares.
The daughter of Castelvecchio has returned in terrific order this campaign, resuming with a tough victory in the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong before producing a brave effort for third in the Group 2 Golden Pendant behind Saturday’s top elect Lazzura at Rosehill where the race shape was against her.
Despite settling back and giving the leaders a head start, she kept finding the line and wasn’t beaten far by quality mares.
Importantly, she has a strong record on good tracks, is proven third-up, and looks set to get the right conditions to produce another peak performance.
She’ll likely drift back again, but with a genuine tempo expected up front, the race could set up perfectly for a swooper launching late.
Fitter this time in, she maps to get her chance and appeals as one of the better value plays in The Invitation for punters chasing something at a price.
| 12. Modella (8) 58kg68×13 |
Saturday Racing Previews
- Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day (Flemington)
- Spring Champion Stakes Day (Randwick)
- Eagle Farm
Happy punting!