Racing
Before The First - Tracks, Facts & Tips for your punting day
Brilliant mare Treasurethe Moment is hot favourite to secure a fifth career Group 1 win in the $750,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield today.
But the other majors on the program, the $2 million Blue Diamond (1200m) and $750,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), are anything but clear-cut.
In the Blue Diamond, Victoria's premier juvenile race, I've landed on the Ciaron Maher-trained Ghana's Akan.
She was exceptional last start in the Inglis Millennium at Randwick, charging home from last on the turn to finish a close second to Fireball despite striking trouble in the straight. She is going to be suited by a high pressure Caulfield 1200m and with clear galloping room, will be in the finish.
The Oakleigh Plate is typically wide-open. Luck in running is vital which is why I think Gallant Son is worth a gamble at $10. He is in winning form, drops considerably in weight and is drawn to get all the favours.
Favourites have a great recent record in the Futurity which Treasurethe Moment should enhance today. She's an outstanding mare, races well fresh and is proven over the Caulfield 1400m.
At Rosehill Gardens, Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller and champion jockey James McDonald need two wins to record an historic 500th win together.
McDonald has eight rides for Waller with four of those early favourites including Lazzura ($2.15) in the Group 2 $300,000 Millie Fox Stakes (1200m) and Travolta ($2.70) in the Group 3 $250,000 Parramatta Cup (1900m).
He also rides the Waller-trained duo favourites Eagle Express ($4.40 favourite) in the Queen Bee Project Sprint (1100m) and Lord Penman ($2.70) in the Racing And Sports Handicap (1400m).
McDonald is on the trainer's outstanding three-year-old Autumn Boy ($3.70) in the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Confederation ($4.20) in the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m).
ROSEHILL GARDENS
Weather: Warm, mostly sunny with a possible storm and a forecast top temperature of 34c
Track: Good (4)
Rail: 5m out
CAULFIELD
Weather: Warm, mostly sunny day with light winds and a forecast top temperature of 27c
Track: Good (4)
Rail: True
DOOMBEN
Weather: Warm, mostly sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 30c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: 2m out
MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 35c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: 6m out
ROSEHILL GARDENS
BEST BET: Lazzura (r9 no1) resumes off two "soft" barrier trial efforts but we know she is extremely effective fresh as she demonstrated last spring with an easy first-up win in the Group 3 Show County Quality. Top class mare and is well placed under these weight conditions. The one to beat.
THE NEXT BEST: Solitario (r2 no6) is a promising, lightly-raced young sprinter who was placed in a Highway at Rosehill when last in work. He resumes today off a couple of trials and he won first-up previously. The significant booking of James McDonald could give Solitario a decisive edge.
VALUE BET: Kerguelen (r10 no2) comes off an excellent preparation last year when he won three races, proving himself anything but just a wet-tracker. His two barrier trial efforts indicate he is going well and at near double figure odds, he's good value in the closer.
THE WHISPER: Incognito (r6 no1) won the Breeders Plate impressively on debut last spring and was one of the favourites for the Golden Slipper until his disappointing first-up fifth to Hidrix in the Canonbury Stakes. There were legitimate excuses last start and in a crucial gear change, he will race with a tongue tie in the Silver Slipper. Expect a much improved run.
CAULFIELD
BEST BET: Taken (r3 no4) has won six of his last seven starts, his only failure when unplaced for the only time in his 12-start career in The Supernova in December. He was back into winning mode at Caulfield last start and lands in a very winnable stakes race today. Back him with confidence.
NEXT BEST: Treasurethe Moment (r7 no7) is an outstanding mare with 10 wins including four at Group 1 level from 16 starts. The only time she has missed a place in her career came when fourth in the Champions Mile on a heavy track last November. She resumes off a trial and a jump-out, and it is worth remembering how brilliant she was first-up back in spring winning the Group 1 Memsie Stakes over the Caulfield 1400m course. Bad luck is her main rival in the Futurity Stakes.
VALUE BET: Gallant Son (r9 no13) deserves his chance in a typically wide open Group 1 Oakleigh Palte. He has found career-best form this summer with wins at Flemington shouldering 61kg then at Caulfield over 1100m under 56.5kg. He drops to 52kg, has the tactical speed to make full use of barrier three, and is each way value at $10.
THE WHISPER: Rosberg (r2 no2) was sensationally backed into favouritism on debut in the Listed McKenzie Stakes at The Valley back in September and duly delivered with a brilliant win. He failed in the Danehill Stakes and was spelled immediately. Resuming off a couple of jump-outs and is primed for a comeback win.
TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
ROSEHILL GARDENS
R1, Iceman $4.60 - $3.90
R2, Rose Aye $6 - $3.70, Solitario $8 - $4.80, Andale Andale $26 - $8
R3, Stormland $8 - $6.50
R4, Monte Veebee $3.50 - $2.70
R5, Lord Penman $3.60 - $2.80
R6, Shiki $4.60 - $3.90, Stretan Ruler $11 - $8
R7, Travolta $4.40 - $2.90 including a bet of $2000 at $4.40, Piggyback $2000 at $4.40, Star Of India $2000 at $41
R8, Ninja $3.60 - $3.10
R9, Lazzura $3 - $2.40
R10, Tonkin $3.60 - $2.70
CAULFIELD
R2, Rosberg $2000 at $3.90
R3, Pallaton $4000 at $3.20
R5, Sheza Alibi $2500 at $1.80, Sheza Alibi $5000 at $1.40
R7, Treasurethe Moment $9000 at $2.10, $5000 at $2
R8, Guest House $2000 at $4.80
LADBROKES BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
CAULFIELD
R1, Castellar $5-$4.80 with a bet of $500 at $5
R2, Rosberg $4.20-$4 with bets of $625 at $4.20, $1000 at $4.15, $800 and $690 at $3.90 and has 80% of the hold, Pallaton $3.10-$2.45 with a bet of $954 at $3.10
R3, Immediacy $5-$4.80 with bets of $500 (4 times) at $5, Taken $1000 at $2.60
R4, Single Choice $4.80-$3.60 with a bet of $525 at $4.80, Master Of The Air $9.50-$7.50 with a bet of $235 at $9.50
R5, Sheza Alibi $1.75-$1.45 with bets of $2865 at $1.70, $1600 at $1.45, Salty Pearl with a bet of $1440 at $6
R6, Damask Rose $3.80-$3.10 after bets of $740 at $3.85, $720 at $3.80, $735 at $3.25, $955 at $3.10, Bossy Benita $7.50-$4
R7, Treasurethe Moment $2.40-$1.95 after a series of big bets including $5000 and $1250 at $2.40, $1500 and $1000 at $2.35, $4000 and $1000 (7 times) at $2.30, $1000 at $2.28, $6000, $2600, $1600, $1400 and $1225 at $2.25, $1500 at $2.10, $1900 and $1500 at $2.05, $2005 at $2, $1000 at $1.95. There is over $135,000 invested which is 95% of race total.
R8, Alibaba $1000 w/p at $25/$6, $2000 at $23, Closer To Free $1000 at $9, Eternal Warrior $21-$8.5, Zambales $34-$15, Ghana's Khan $26-$16, Lady Moscato $34-$21, Jacaranda $51-$26
R9, Tropicus $8-$7.50 with a bet of $1000 at $8.25, Don't Hope So $25-$17 with bets of $2000 at $25, $500 at $23, Geegee's Mistruth ($1000 w/p at $12/$3.50, Point Barrow $3.70-$2.90 with bets of $740 at $3.70, $1000 3 times at $2.90
R10, Porter $7.50-$6 with a bet of $310 at $7.50
ROSEHILL GARDENS
R1, Iceman $9.50-$3.90 with a bet of $400 at $6.
R2, Rose Aye $625 at $4.20, Andale Andale $17-$8.50 with a bet of $125 at $17
R3, Sweethearted $16-$12 with a bet of $135 at $16, Eagle Express $2500 at $4.80, Stormland $500 at $8.75
R4, Monte Veebee $3.70-$2.60 after a bet of $770 at $3.60
R5, No movements
R6, Shiki $4.80-$3.60 with a bet of $525 at $4.80. Hidrix has 50% of hold and is $4.40-$5
R7, Travolta $4-$2.70 with a bet of $670 at $4
R8, Autumn Boy $4-$4.20-$4 with bets of $550 and $500 (3 times) at $4.20, $600 at $4) and is most popular with 35% of the betting hold, Attica $500 at $13, Napoleonic $4.60-$3.80 including a bet of $750 at $4.05, Ninja $3.55-$3.20 with a bet of $1000 at $3.55
R9, Lazzura $1000 at $2.60 and has 80% hold in a small betting race
R10, Tonkin $3.30-$2.80 with bets of $900 at $3.30, $1000 twice at $3, $1115 (3 times) $1000 at $2.80 and has an 80% hold on the race.
| Ray Thomas Rosehill Selections – Silver Slipper Stakes Day | ||||||||
| Race | No | Horse | 2nd | Horse | 3rd | Horse | 4th | Horse |
| 1 | 6 | STARPHISTICATED | 3 | Iceman | 8 | Kilbrannan | 9 | Embrace The Wind |
| 2 | 6 | SOLITARIO | 11 | Rose Aye | 14 | Andale Andale | 2 | New Pharoah |
| 3 | 9 | STORMLAND | 1 | Bev's Nine | 2 | Signor Tortoni | 6 | Eagle Express |
| 4 | 12 | LA ROCA | 14 | Monte Veebee | 13 | Transcend | 4 | Emirate |
| 5 | 3 | MAGNATEAR | 2 | Lord Penman | 5 | Thunderlips | 10 | Kind Words |
| 6 | 1 | INCOGNITO | 4 | Confederation | 8 | Dr Hook | 2 | Hidrix |
| 7 | 6 | TRAVOLTA | 5 | Unspoken | 8 | Campaldino | 18 | Age Of Sail |
| 8 | 7 | NINJA | 1 | Autumn Boy | 5 | Napoleonic | 2 | Attica |
| 9 | 1 | LAZZURA | 8 | Cinsault | 11 | Mareth | 7 | Modella |
| 10 | 2 | KERGUELEN | 7 | Hawker Hall | 9 | Tonkin | 11 | Cosmonova |
| Ray Thomas Caulfield Selections – Blue Diamond Stakes Day | ||||||||
| Race | No | Horse | 2nd | Horse | 3rd | Horse | 4th | Horse |
| 1 | 12 | EXPULSION | 4 | Castellar | 2 | Gracie's Rain | 9 | Arcandam |
| 2 | 2 | ROSBERG | 3 | Pallaton | 1 | Devil Night | 4 | Esmahli |
| 3 | 4 | TAKEN | 2 | Immediacy | 8 | Sun Gift | 1 | Whisky On The Hill |
| 4 | 3 | OUR CHIEF | 7 | Crocodile | 4 | Single Choice | 8 | Itazura |
| 5 | 1 | SHEZA ALIBI | 6 | Chateau Eze | 4 | Jenni Gone Bonkers | 2 | Salty Pearl |
| 6 | 5 | DAMASK ROSE | 4 | Paradise City | 6 | Samangu | 7 | Miss Aria |
| 7 | 7 | TREASURETHE MOMENT | 4 | Veight | 1 | Pericles | 2 | Buckaroo |
| 8 | 11 | GHANA'S AKAN | 5 | Guest House | 9 | Zambales | 1 | Unit Five |
| 9 | 13 | GALLANT SON | 3 | Tropicus | 14 | Point Barrow | 4 | Way To The Stars |
| 10 | 12 | STEALTH OF NIGHT | 3 | King's Valley | 7 | Red Galaxy | 13 | Two Wolves |
INTERSTATE MAIL
Doomben r3 no9: The Stars
Doomben r9 no15: Pierata's Gem
Morphettville r4 no1: Ronny Bee
Morphettville r7 no4: Mr Waterville
PROVINCIAL MAIL
Wyong r2 no2: Ivy Legend
Wyong r7 no3: Sir Loyne
#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners
Ray Thomas talks to Sky Racing's Ron Dufficy prior to Silver Slipper Day 2026.
| 2nW-LbkYJ2k |
| Ray Thomas talks to Sky Racing's Ron Dufficy prior to Silver Slipper Day 2026. |
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