What an incredible Spring Racing Carnival we're witnessing!

I'm running out of superlatives to describe the racing we've enjoyed over the past few weeks, and last Saturday's Everest and Caulfield Cup meetings delivered another extraordinary chapter.

We witnessed thrilling finishes, outstanding jockey performances, major upsets and some of the biggest names in racing going head-to-head.

The Everest produced a stunning result as Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising was narrowly denied by Tempted, while Kingswood delivered a memorable Caulfield Cup victory at generous odds.

And just when you think the spring carnival can't get any better, we're heading back to Flemington for a historic edition of the Cox Plate.

For the first time, the famous weight-for-age championship will be staged at Flemington rather than Moonee Valley, creating a fascinating new challenge for some of Australia's best racehorses.

There's plenty to discuss from last weekend, another outstanding Group 1 feature to preview, and some terrific betting opportunities across Flemington and Randwick.

Let's get into another massive edition of Around The Grounds!

 

Last Saturday’s Racing Review – Everest Day & Caulfield Cup

The Everest – Tempted Upsets Ka Ying Rising

What an incredible edition of The Everest!

Hong Kong sensation Ka Ying Rising arrived with an enormous reputation, but the superstar sprinter was narrowly beaten by Tempted ($8) in a thrilling finish at Royal Randwick.

It was a masterclass from jockey Chad Schofield.

After jumping cleanly, Schofield positioned Tempted just behind the speed and had his mount perfectly placed approaching the home turn.

Meanwhile, Zac Purton was forced to cover additional ground aboard Ka Ying Rising, who raced wide for much of the contest.

As the field straightened, Tempted had the tactical advantage and was able to establish a narrow break.

Ka Ying Rising refused to surrender, charging home strongly to finish just 0.23 lengths behind the winner.

There was absolutely no disgrace in defeat.

Joliestar produced another powerful finishing burst to claim third, while Headwall was excellent in fourth.

Remarkably, just 0.71 lengths separated the first four runners in an extraordinary finish to Australia's richest sprint race.

What a spectacle!

I'm already looking forward to next year's Everest and another showdown between these two outstanding sprinters.

Even better, wouldn't it be something to see Tempted travel to Hong Kong and take on Ka Ying Rising on his home turf before their next Everest meeting?

Now that would be worth watching!

 

 

King Charles III Stakes – Autumn Glow Does It Again

The brilliant Autumn Glow continued her remarkable winning sequence with another commanding performance in the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick.

Stepping out over 1609m, the superstar mare was sent around at extremely short odds and never looked in serious danger of defeat.

She controlled the race beautifully before asserting her superiority in the home straight.

Ceolwulf battled away gamely to finish second but couldn't get within two lengths of the winner.

With just five runners contesting the race, Autumn Glow's class proved decisive.

She continues to raise the bar with every appearance, and it's difficult to see where her winning streak ends if she maintains this extraordinary level of performance.

 

 

Caulfield Cup – Kingswood Delivers a Stunning Victory

The Caulfield Cup provided another sensational finish, with Kingswood producing a memorable victory for trainer Gavin Bedggood and jockey John Allen.

Allen deserves enormous credit for the ride.

Rather than getting involved too early, he showed tremendous patience as the first and second waves of runners made their moves from behind.

He waited for the right moment before asking Kingswood to accelerate, and the gelding responded brilliantly.

It was a perfectly timed winning move.

Saint George finished strongly to claim second, while international raider Enfjaar produced an excellent performance to finish third.

Race favourite Cosmic Crusader was ridden closer to the speed than usual and battled on well for fourth.

His campaign has been outstanding, and although he couldn't claim the Caulfield Cup, he certainly lost no admirers.

But the day belonged to Kingswood, John Allen and the Gavin Bedggood stable.

A fantastic result at very generous odds!

 

 

Thousand Guineas – Maher Stable Dominates

The Group 1 Thousand Guineas was another feature where race positioning proved crucial.

The Ciaron Maher stable dominated proceedings, preparing the quinella with Saintly Dancer and Icelady.

Blake Shinn gave Saintly Dancer an excellent ride, positioning her prominently before she proved too strong for stablemate Icelady, partnered by Ethan Brown.

Race favourite Regal Ambition settled further back and worked home into third, but the task of making substantial ground proved difficult.

That was a recurring theme throughout the Caulfield program.

Runners positioned closer to the speed generally enjoyed an advantage, making it challenging for those attempting to sweep home from the rear.

Another reminder of just how important the race map can be when assessing these big spring features.

 

 

 

Cox Plate Day – Flemington Takes Centre Stage

This Saturday, we return to racing headquarters at Flemington for what promises to be a fascinating edition of the Cox Plate.

And this year, there's a major twist.

Since its inception in 1922, the Cox Plate has been synonymous with Moonee Valley, but the 2026 running will be staged at Flemington.

That changes the entire complexion of the race.

Instead of the tight turns and short home straight of the Valley, runners will tackle Flemington's spacious circuit and long finishing straight.

For some horses, that could be a major advantage.

For others, it presents a completely different tactical challenge.

 

Three-Year-Old Stars Add Another Dimension

Two of the most intriguing runners are the first two home in the Caulfield Guineas.

Warwoven, the Guineas winner, arrives in outstanding form and has already demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level.

Runner-up Blind Raise also brings excellent credentials into the race.

Both three-year-olds receive a significant weight advantage against their older rivals, adding another layer of intrigue to an already competitive contest.

Can the younger generation take down the established weight-for-age stars?

We'll soon find out.

 

The Seven-Day Back-Up Factor

Another interesting feature of this year's Cox Plate is the presence of four runners backing up after competing last Saturday.

That creates plenty of questions surrounding recovery, fitness and whether those horses can reproduce their best performances just seven days later.

Two runners who particularly interest me are Cosmic Crusader and Ceolwulf.

Both look capable of benefiting from the move to Flemington, where the longer straight should allow them to build momentum and finish strongly.

Ceolwulf comes through his second placing behind Autumn Glow in the King Charles III Stakes, while Cosmic Crusader returns after finishing fourth in the Caulfield Cup.

Their ability to handle the quick turnaround could prove crucial.

 

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James McDonald Chases Five Straight Cox Plates

Champion jockey James McDonald has an opportunity to extend an extraordinary Cox Plate record.

He's chasing his fifth consecutive victory after partnering:

• Anamoe – 2022

• Romantic Warrior – 2023

• Via Sistina – 2024

• Via Sistina – 2025

This year, McDonald partners the talented mare Aeliana, who looks a genuine winning chance for trainer Chris Waller.

Waller has already enjoyed remarkable success in the Cox Plate, preparing six winners through two champion racehorses, Winx and Via Sistina.

He now has the opportunity to claim a seventh victory in the race across 12 seasons.

Waller also saddles up Birdman, giving the stable two chances to add another Cox Plate trophy to the collection.

Meanwhile, Ciaron Maher launches a four-pronged attack as he attempts to claim his first outright Cox Plate victory.

Maher previously shared in the success of Sir Dragonet in 2020 when training in partnership with David Eustace.

With so many quality runners, intriguing form lines and different tactical possibilities, this has all the ingredients of another classic Group 1 contest.

Bring it on!

 

This Week’s Free Racing Tips

Flemington – Cox Plate Day

Race 1 – #4 Ice Kool ($2.30)

Ice Kool travels down from Sydney and faces an interesting challenge tackling Flemington for the first time.

He's established an excellent career record, winning five of his eight starts, and has particularly strong statistics over 1000m.

His natural on-pace racing style should be an advantage, especially if he can settle comfortably near the lead.

There is a class rise to consider, along with the unfamiliarity of Flemington's straight course.

However, the booking of Damian Lane is a major positive.

Lane should give Ice Kool every opportunity to establish a favourable position and remain competitive throughout.

The $2.30 is a little shorter than I'd ideally like, but his overall record makes him difficult to overlook.

Selection: #4 Ice Kool – $2.30

 

Race 4 – #1 Chayan ($3.50)

Chayan is another Sydney visitor who looks capable of making her presence felt at Flemington.

The talented filly brings some encouraging two-year-old and three-year-old form into this assignment, and I believe the straight course could bring out further improvement.

Her previous performances suggest she has the ability to compete strongly in this company.

Importantly, connections have secured the services of champion jockey James McDonald, who is riding in outstanding form.

That booking adds considerable confidence to her chances.

If Chayan adapts quickly to the Flemington straight, she looks extremely well placed to produce a strong performance.

Selection: #1 Chayan – $3.50

 

Race 5 – #3 Rey Magnerio ($8.00)

Rey Magnerio is one of my more interesting selections at Flemington, particularly given his proven ability down the straight.

Several of his rivals lack experience on the straight course, but that's certainly not a concern for this runner.

His first-up performance was better than it appeared.

He settled towards the rear and was positioned close to the inside rail, where he struggled to secure clear running for much of the straight.

Despite being held up, he finished through the line strongly once an opportunity finally appeared.

That suggests he had more to offer.

He should also take natural improvement from the first-up run.

With a cleaner passage and the opportunity to build momentum when required, I expect Rey Magnerio to finish powerfully.

At $8, he looks a terrific chance to feature prominently.

Selection: #3 Rey Magnerio – $8.00

 

Race 7 – #11 King Pedro ($6.00)

King Pedro is another Sydney galloper making his first appearance at Flemington, and I think the spacious circuit will suit him beautifully.

His first-up performance was very encouraging.

Returning from a break, he worked home strongly to finish third behind Attrition and Lindermann, suggesting there was plenty of improvement ahead.

The additional distance looks a major advantage.

King Pedro should appreciate having more time to find his rhythm before gradually building into the race.

Flemington's long home straight will also give him every opportunity to unleash his sustained finishing run.

I expect him to be winding up strongly approaching the final stages and charging through the line.

Selection: #11 King Pedro – $6.00

 

Randwick Free Racing Tips

Race 3 – #7 Scintilla ($11.00)

Scintilla is an interesting first-up runner who looks capable of producing a competitive performance at double-figure odds.

The trainer and jockey have enjoyed a successful association over several seasons, and their combination is another positive heading into this assignment.

Scintilla has trialled in preparation for the return and appears to be well placed under the race conditions.

The key question is whether we see the horse's best form immediately after a spell.

If Scintilla can reproduce those stronger performances, there's every reason to expect a competitive showing.

At $11, the price makes this an attractive value opportunity.

Selection: #7 Scintilla – $11.00

 

Race 5 – #4 Why So Hard ($2.70)

Why So Hard looks very well placed to produce a strong performance after an encouraging third placing behind Satono Glow last start.

That form is certainly good enough to be competitive in this field.

The major positive is the step up in distance.

After competing over 1200m last time, Why So Hard now rises to 1600m, which looks an ideal progression.

His previous performance suggested he would appreciate additional ground, particularly with the way he continued to work through the line.

If he settles comfortably and gets the opportunity to build momentum, I expect him to finish strongly.

Everything points towards a competitive performance.

Selection: #4 Why So Hard – $2.70

 

Race 6 – #2 Tom Kitten ($3.30)

Tom Kitten looks to have found an excellent opportunity to return to the winner's circle.

He was strong through the concluding stages last start when finishing third over 1600m, producing the type of performance that suggested he was looking for additional distance.

He gets that opportunity on Saturday.

The rise to 1800m looks particularly suitable, especially considering he's previously won over distances up to 2000m.

His recent effort suggests he's approaching another strong performance, and the additional ground should allow him to settle into a comfortable rhythm before working into the race.

I expect him to be extremely difficult to beat.

Selection: #2 Tom Kitten – $3.30

 

Race 8 – #8 Tuileries ($12.00)

Tuileries is one of my favourite value selections on the Randwick program.

Her first-up performance was outstanding.

She looked a genuine winning chance approaching the final 200m before peaking late, which was understandable given she was returning from a spell.

That run should have brought her fitness forward considerably.

Now second-up, she's entitled to produce a stronger performance.

Her statistics at this stage of a preparation are encouraging, and she also has an excellent record over 1400m, making Saturday's assignment particularly appealing.

At $12, I think she's capable of running a much bigger race than the market suggests.

She deserves serious consideration in the quinellas, trifectas and other multiples.

Selection: #8 Tuileries – $12.00

 

Race 8 – #1 Lazzura ($3.10)

Lazzura is the current favourite and deserves plenty of respect following her latest victory.

She remains against fillies and mares, a category where she boasts an excellent record.

Her most recent performance was impressive, and there's no obvious reason she can't produce a similar effort on Saturday.

She has the class and recent form to be a major contender.

If Lazzura reproduces her latest performance, she'll take plenty of beating.

Selection: #1 Lazzura – $3.10

 

Last Week’s Winners & Dividends

What another fantastic weekend for subscribers!

We found nine winners across last Saturday's racing, including several excellent results at generous odds.

The highlight was undoubtedly Tempted's stunning Everest victory, while Quick Finish delivered a sensational $14 return.

War Machine also saluted as one of our free tips!

Winning Selection	Win Dividend	Exotic Dividends
It's A Knockout	$3.50	Quinella $5.00, Exacta $11.60
Quick Finish	$14.00	Quinella $47.30, Exacta $109.10
Unleeshing	$3.40	—
War Machine (FREE TIP)	$3.70	Quinella $3.00, Exacta $7.60
Chains Of Love	$5.00	—
Tempted	$8.80	Quinella $1.85, Exacta $11.30, Trifecta $40.40
Autumn Glow	$1.26	Quinella $1.40, Exacta $1.80
Cross Tasman	$2.25	—
Shadhavar	$3.70	Quinella $14.20, Exacta $23.30

Nine winners, some terrific exotic dividends and another memorable weekend of spring racing.

Let's keep the momentum rolling into Cox Plate Day!

 

Get Daniel Pryor’s Full Tips Package

With another massive Saturday approaching, make sure you're across all my selections for Flemington and Randwick.

The free tips are just a taste of what's available, with the full package covering both venues.

Subscription Options:

• Daily Subscription – $15

• Four-Day or Four Consecutive Saturdays Subscription – $45

With Melbourne Cup week fast approaching, it's a terrific time to get involved and follow the selections throughout the remainder of the Spring Racing Carnival.

We've already witnessed some extraordinary racing, and there are still plenty of opportunities ahead.

Here's hoping we can find a few more winners this weekend!

Good Luck and Giddyup Punters!

 

There are loads of tips for today's racing in our Horse Racing Tips market at theGreatTipOff.com.