EXPERT RACING TIPS: KALGOORLIE

KALGOORLIE PREVIEW AND TIPS | EXPERT TIPS | SATURDAY OCTOBER 4TH 2025

Betting Strategy

A few will be forgiven for dusting off a Calcutta hangover and skipping the first, in what can only be described as a very thin affair. Amazingly Villeins is the only horse above the allocated handicap (60+) of this race, to give you some idea just how basic this is. One thing this weight scale does do, is give some pretty big weight swings from recent meetings. Desert Edge gets 4.5kg on Argyle Star for a ~2.8L defeat. Sluice Box gets 5.5kg’s on Argyle Star for beating him home (wet deck, which suited Sluice, but still) and 2.5 on Style Diva from that same race. I don’t think any weight swing could suck me into the old boy Sluice Box, but there is no reason he can’t end his 1176 losing streak. Since his last win he’s been to Junction, the Fibre Sand of Bunbury, Carnvarvon, Albany, Geraldton and Esperance – you have to admire their perseverance! Style Diva makes most sense. Liked the win at Northam (nearly a second quicker than the other 2200m race won by Argyle Star on the same day) and her last run at Kal over the 1760 was super. Should get every. Argyle Star has been a different horse for Josh Brown. Goes around Thursday too, which is rarely a bad thing for a horse over a journey. Desert Edge gets weight and a soft lead. Villeins has been beaten out of sight at his last 3, but would any of these get within 10L of Sentimental Hero? Probably not. None of these would surprise me.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 2. Saturday Sesh (WIN) for 1 unit (Rated at $3.10)

I think this is a good opportunity for Stevie Parnham to show some intent and take up the running with Saturday Sesh. There doesn’t appear to be a huge amount of speed in this and his recent win over Three Grand has been franked by that galloper in a decent little C3 with arguably more depth than this. Love how they gapped third. Not desperate to get involved, but something nearish $4 gets me for a small play. Kiralui was lifted over the line by Pike two starts ago and is drawn to get a similarly soft run. She is really only a battler and the 59 has to be right on her mark, but this is extremely weak. My market has Saturday Sesh and Kiralui the other way around, so we might get the chance to bet. Playing Quest goes better back on top of the ground, while I don’t think Gibraltar Gold ran out a super strong mile. I like her back to the 1400.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 1. Decoration (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $3.70)

Decoration simply loves Kal. He’s visited here three times this prep alone for 2 wins and a third in the $100,000 Coolgardie Cup (where he somehow didn’t cop a single rating point despite being 15 points below the minimum) behind two proper carnival horses. He won this corresponding race a year ago and he actually beat the current market elect (More Than Enuff) with the exact same weight differential. Both come into this in a similar vein of form, but Decoration is clearly the better value of the two, so that’s the way we’ll go and look to save the other. Expecting they are breezing and one-one, with that particular aspect being crucial. Feuding appreciates Pike back in the saddle, but I do worry that Decoration has simply just been better than him all prep in their many meetings. The Jester’s Son is the local with real X-factor. Can he settle rearwards and grab the town horses? On the strength of his last win, it’s definitely possible. Gondrinkin’ loves it here and is another blowout if the leaders tire.

BACK: 3. More Than Enuff (WIN) for 1 unit (Rated at $3.70)

Decoration simply loves Kal. He’s visited here three times this prep alone for 2 wins and a third in the $100,000 Coolgardie Cup (where he somehow didn’t cop a single rating point despite being 15 points below the minimum) behind two proper carnival horses. He won this corresponding race a year ago and he actually beat the current market elect (More Than Enuff) with the exact same weight differential. Both come into this in a similar vein of form, but Decoration is clearly the better value of the two, so that’s the way we’ll go and look to save the other. Expecting they are breezing and one-one, with that particular aspect being crucial. Feuding appreciates Pike back in the saddle, but I do worry that Decoration has simply just been better than him all prep in their many meetings. The Jester’s Son is the local with real X-factor. Can he settle rearwards and grab the town horses? On the strength of his last win, it’s definitely possible. Gondrinkin’ loves it here and is another blowout if the leaders tire.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 3. Influencing (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $3.20)

Interesting map here with Exceltrain your likely leader and Little Silver your breeze horse. The rest all want similar spots in running (do they try to push forward on Cold Shizzle again?) which could leave a squeeze for spots in the small field. Influencing (my price $3.2) and Yarralea ($3.6) are the two runners at the top of my book and I’m happy to back and save (or dutch if we get unexpected prices) as the value sees fit. Influencing was backed with stolen money at his most recent when an absolute tragedy beaten after never seeing an inch of daylight. Gets 2kg’s on the horse he should have beaten and at the time of writing is a bigger price. Easy bet. Gate 5 doesn’t look ugly but could get slightly sticky with the few under him wanting the same spot – interesting early. Yarralea was one I gave a little push a week ago and she arguably could/should have won @ $30+. I did have something on when she drifted so I was a tad disappointed. I like the intent of the 7-day back-up, I like the fact she’s stepping cleanly and you could argue her town run was better than what any of these have produced this prep? Redemption. Close At Hand will aim to stalk Exceltrain and try get going before the rest know what’s hit them, while Little Silver has had a real breakout prep. Love Tash back on and he loves the breeze, but wary he is one who may have really appreciated the softer going. Won’t get that here.

BACK: 7. Yarralea (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $3.60)

Yarralea was one I gave a little push a week ago and she arguably could/should have won @ $30+. I did have something on when she drifted so I was a tad disappointed. I like the intent of the 7-day back-up, I like the fact she’s stepping cleanly and you could argue her town run was better than what any of these have produced this prep? Redemption.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 8. Kervette (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $3.20)

Kervette is an easy on topper for me, it’s just about if we get a bet price (marked $3.2). These sit and sprint types grow legs when they go from apprentice to W. Pike and she’s been luckless at her last two. The speed looks a bit funny here with Gage Roads and Outspoken Lad likely your leading pair and with neither of those two giving me huge fear factor, I think she can make her presence felt late. Would love something nearing $4. Odinaka is humming. I’m just so wary on gate 1 at Kalgoorlie in a bit of a so-so tempo. He’s a horse who does like to wind up into his races, so will need the breaks at the right time. Him and Kervette are a clear top 2 and I don’t want to lose on either. I still refuse to believe Decision Maker went from class one battler to well backed 66+ winner so I’m utilising all my available stubbornness and taking him on. The soft lead for Gage Roads is a major positive for him.

BACK: 2. Odinaka (WIN) for 1 unit (Rated at $4.00)

Odinaka is humming. I’m just so wary on gate 1 at Kalgoorlie in a bit of a so-so tempo. He’s a horse who does like to wind up into his races, so will need the breaks at the right time. Him and Kervette are a clear top 2 and I don’t want to lose on either. I still refuse to believe Decision Maker went from class one battler to well backed 66+ winner so I’m utilising all my available stubbornness and taking him on.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 4. Immortal Bliss (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $2.20)

This looks the perfect setup for Immortal Bliss. With a plethora of speed horses engaged, and the majority of them drawn wide, I would be very surprised if there isn’t a 3 and 4 wide line here, with his wide draw becoming a blessing. I think the Eliteone/King Adviso (gap 4th) form has something on this lot (bar Angel Undercover, but I just have to risk her with the 61.5 from 3 to 5 pairs back @ Kal). The drop back to 1100 is perfect for a horse who has done most of his best work @ 1000 and anything $2.5+ will get me. Sure Thing is one of the many speed horses in this but is drawn lower than most and could potentially find the fence and run them along. If we can forgive his most recent, he can be a very hard horse to run down @ Kal. Angel Undercover is the best horse in this race but will need a lot go right, while Snow Prince and Sir Dreamalot will both appreciate those middle draws, allowing them to improve into this race at the right time.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 1. Magnificent Andy (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $2.80)

It’s the inaugural running of the Golden Saddle and it’s no surprise to see the one true WFA horse at the head of the market, Magnificent Andy. He did profile as a 1400m only horse for a period there, but two of his last three first up runs have seen him win a Joey and run fourth in a Quokka. You would think either of those performances win him this race and he just seems to be getting better with age. His recent trials have been fine, but he never really sets the world on fire without the shades on. I’ve marked him high 2’s and he’s low 3’s, so we’ll have something small on. This speed map should give every horse their chance. King Adviso and Bravo Centurion will take each other on throughout and I don’t think either are anywhere near the finish of this. One of them isn’t a WFA horse and the other looks to be battling – I expect them to be stopping dead very early in the straight. That is probably my one concern for Magnificent Andy; drawn low, bad luck behind tiring leaders. I loved the recent trial of Snowdome. He can be very hit and miss, but that piece of work suggests he’s nearer his best. Beat Final Siren on merit last prep and gets a 4.5kg weight swing in his favour. Twain’s Angel was the winner of last years Joey and there probably isn’t a huge amount between her and Magnificent Andy. The tactical battle from gates 4 & 5 could be telling. Yonga Lass and Stormchaser are both forced rearward, but the way I see this race being run I don’t think that renders either of them impossible. Another event the wide draw may end up a blessing.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 1. Sentimental Hero (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $2.00)

I backed Starry Heights to win a small island first up ($4 to $1.9) and while luck did desert me and the horse, I still don’t think he beats home Sentimental Hero if it all went his way. I am so wary about flipping over to Sentimental Hero here, but I love my maps and this just looks such a good one for the local. Royal Law and It’s A Lance will set a good honest tempo, and he looks the only obvious runner to be stalking that pair. If William Pike pings Starry out early and finds a spot next to Sentimental Hero, then I’m probably cooked, but that ride comes with risk from the awkward alley. On the other hand, if he snags Starry from the awkward gate, there is a lot of very ordinary/low rated horses between him and Sentimental Hero – who takes him into the race? I’m not going to get overly involved due to some lingering PTSD from the Boulder Cup, but $2.50+ will get me for Sentimental Hero. I have blind faith we will see an improvement from the 2023 Kalgoorlie Cup winner Be Optimistic. She’s been kept fresh by design and this is a horse that LK Fernie can seemingly get the best out of, when it’s least expected. Currimundi is only other runner suited by the handicap conditions of this race but he’d need to improve significantly on what we’ve seen thus far this prep.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 5. Eevalina (WIN & PLACE) for 1 unit (Rated at $5.50)

While Treble Maker is the clear elect from a market POV, the mighty mare Eevalina represents the value, so she’s the way we’ll go in the last. Peaking at the right time (as she does), she was only a lip away from winning this race 12 months ago and there appears to be a nice little spot for her in the one-one, outside of Corn Cob. Loved the way she knuckled down late in an unfamiliar role at her most recent, she will appreciate the top end tempo set by King Cartel and Commissions and she simply doesn’t tell a lie. Will run her usual, honest race. Treble Maker is the runner with the most upside. It’s clearly been a difficult assignment for Peter Fernie to keep her on the race-track with notable soundness issues, but the best of her should be winning this. There is always just that risk of what version of her turns up. Marked her a $3 favourite, but I feel like a late drift would be worrying. Corn Cob was perhaps a little disappointing a fortnight ago, but will appreciate being ridden with cover, while False Statement always goes better than his SP.

BACK: 5. Eevalina (PLACE) for 1 unit

While Treble Maker is the clear elect from a market POV, the mighty mare Eevalina represents the value, so she’s the way we’ll go in the last. Peaking at the right time (as she does), she was only a lip away from winning this race 12 months ago and there appears to be a nice little spot for her in the one-one, outside of Corn Cob. Loved the way she knuckled down late in an unfamiliar role at her most recent, she will appreciate the top end tempo set by King Cartel and Commissions and she simply doesn’t tell a lie. Will run her usual, honest race. Treble Maker is the runner with the most upside. It’s clearly been a difficult assignment for Peter Fernie to keep her on the race-track with notable soundness issues, but the best of her should be winning this. There is always just that risk of what version of her turns up. Marked her a $3 favourite, but I feel like a late drift would be worrying. Corn Cob was perhaps a little disappointing a fortnight ago, but will appreciate being ridden with cover, while False Statement always goes better than his SP.