Racing
Ladbrokes Blog: 2025 Caulfield Spring Finale Day Preview
We've arrived at the final day of the Melbourne Spring Carnival and plenty of exciting feature races, including the Zipping Classic, will be run and won at Caulfield.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The spring has been rich with many more world class performances, and this program will be the last time we'll see several standout performers of the season in action in 2025.
I've run the rule over the program and you can find all of my Caulfield best bets below.
Race 1 - MRC Membership Black Friday Sale Handicap (2400m) – 12:20pm AEDT
No. 2 Black Run
BLACK RUN chases a hat-trick when he steps out in the first at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Nathaniel gelding tuned up with a smart fresh run for second, beaten a little over a length and a half at Newcastle last month and has since recorded consecutive Saturday metro victories at Randwick and here at Caulfield.
In peak order this week, he need only hold his form to be in the finish again.
Bet Now: Caulfield Race 1
Race 2 - Listed Magic Millions Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) – 12:50pm AEDT
No. 4 Free Flying
FREE FLYING is one of only three horses with race day experience engaged in the 2025 Merson Cooper Stakes field.
The Snitzel filly was good here on debut in the Debutant Stakes, working home well to finish a half-length second behind Torture, while she seemed to get lost down the straight in the Inglis 2YO race on Champions Day and might not have liked the soft track either.
With further improvement for that hit-out and back to Caulfield, she's the one for me this week.
Bet Now: Caulfield Race 2
Race 3 - Whispering Angel Handicap (1800m) – 1:25pm AEDT
No. 1 Skippers Canyon
SKIPPER'S CANYON was great when resuming and is open to plenty of improvement second up at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Belardo gelding has hardly put a hoof wrong since arriving in Australia, winning his first start for Phillip Stokes in July and going for a break after finishing second behind an impressive Makdane over this route in August.
Having hit the line to win, in BM74 company a fortnight ago, he strips fitter, will relish the 1800m and is drawn to effect under claiming apprentice, Logan Bates.
Bet Now: Caulfield Race 3
Race 4 - Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) – 2pm AEDT
No. 6 Caffettiera
The three-year-old sprinters that are still in work will contest an open edition of the Blue Sapphire Stakes, including CAFFETTIERA on the quick back up.
She's only made three appearances at the races so far, but Caffettiera broke her maiden impressively at Mornington second up before a tough performance on the pace at Cranbourne last weekend ultimately saw her finishing second behind Maldini.
She's fit and drawn well with Craig Williams retaining the ride, and she'll look to make her own luck again up on the speed.
Bet Now: Caulfield Race 4
Race 5 - Whispering Angel Melbourne Classic (2000m) – 2:35pm AEDT
No. 1 Different Gravy
DIFFERENT GRAVY has found top form this time in and looks a pretty clear standout top pick in this race.
The Ghaiyyath gelding has won two of four runs back from a break, peaking with a dominant display in the liked Batman Stakes at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
He's a few weeks between runs, but he has the runs on the board, and this does look to be a weaker contest than the last we saw him winning.
Bet Now: Caulfield Race 5
Race 6 - Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) – 3:10pm AEDT
No. 1 Kujenga
The Twilight Glow Stakes looks a nice feature race for KUJENGA.
Kujenga has only won one of her ten career starts so far, but she's placed a further four times and found form around some quality gallopers throughout.
Her two most recent efforts to finish third and second respectively in the Crockett Stakes and the Thoroughbred Club Stakes suggested that another victory isn't far away, and from the good draw this week under leading hoop Mark Zahra, this looks her opportunity.
Bet Now: Caulfield Race 6
Race 7 - Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) – 3:45pm AEDT
No. 5 Poison Chalice
The Eclipse Stakes looms as a lovely target for POISON CHALICE, in my opinion.
Poison Chalice has always been an above-average performer and has picked off some lovely races through 23 appearances since debuting, and after returning to action with a fair effort to finish midfield in the Gawler Cup last month, I thought he was eye-catching behind Apulia in the Chester Manifold Stakes on Oaks Day.
He's another that should only improve third up and getting out in trip this week, and he takes weight from several key rivals in this Eclipse Stakes field.
Bet Now: Caulfield Race 7
Race 8 - Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) – 4:25pm AEDT
No. 13 Alalcance
ALALCANCE is third up and primed to strike in the Zipping Classic.
She went to another level during the Autumn Carnival this year, winning three races in succession, including both the NE Manion Cup and the Chairman's Handicap.
Somewhat underwhelming when returning to action in September's Wyong Cup, she was tipped out again and resumed with a nice performance behind the impressive Sunset Park in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes on Champions Day.
With natural improvement, getting out to a mile and a half and dropping in the weights, she's drawn ideally in barrier 4 and can fight out the finish again.
Bet Now: Caulfield Race 8
Race 9 - Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m) – 5:05pm AEDT
No. 1 Bellatrix Star
BELLATRIX STAR hasn't been seen at the races for a year, but I thought the Doveton Stakes looked a nice campaign launchpad for her.
The Star Witness mare was excellent as a three-year-old last spring, winning three black type races in succession, including the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes against the older sprinters before fishing second behind Switzerland in the Coolmore.
She's had the benefit of a couple of trials ahead of her return and while she will undoubtedly improve for this run, I think her class edge will take her a long way in a field of this quality regardless.
Bet Now: Caulfield Race 9
Race 10 - Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) – 5:40pm AEDT
No. 14 Big Swinger
This is a tough way to end the day from a betting perspective and there is a genuine case to be built for many of them in Testa Rossa Stakes betting.
BIG SWINGER is open to improvement second up and I think he'll get the right run from barrier 7.
Big Swinger has been a star for Charlotte Littlefield in recent preps, winning four of seven starts and turning in a nice performance to place in the Fisher Stakes down the straight at Flemington when resuming.
He's a winner at this point of his preparation previously and is certainly up to winning at this grade.
