EXPERT RACING TIPS: CAULFIELD
CAULFIELD PREVIEW AND TIPS | EXPERT TIPS | SATURDAY AUGUST 16TH 2025
RAIL: 9m TRACK: Soft 7
Expecting the inside chops out as the day progresses.
Best Bets
Jackson Oldham
BACK: 7. Gala Queen (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $2.65)
Gala Queen was terrific first-up, the last 600m splits were very strong and she did that without being fully tested. The rise to 1400m suits and so does the all important booking of Blake Shinn going on board.
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Jackson Oldham
LAY: 11. Revelare (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $5.50)
Revelare is an obvious talent and has a really strong ratings profile for this but first-up from an inside gate, It’s hard to fathom he could find a spot that is any better than four back the rails and in race filled with solid, race fit horses, he just appears way too short for mine.
lay
11. Verdoux
2. Epic Proportions
15. Shadhavar
13. From The Block
Betting Strategy
Verdoux brings in the some strong formlines, through Pop Award who is right in the market later in the day in a strong race. He was good first-up in that race off a 91-day freshen and maps for a good run off rails and on-speed.
12. Federer
19. Makdane
15. Skippers Canyon
6. Jabbawockeez
Betting Strategy
Not much between them here, Skippers Canyon was terrific first-up in Australia at 1400m, no doubting his ability but the quick rise to 1800m is a query. Federer feels very much like a momentum horse so I like the wide draw for him and Makdane likely leads and controls.
7. Gala Queen
10. Bossy Benita
11. Riverina Power
13. Silver Cliff
Betting Strategy
BACK: 7. Gala Queen (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $2.65)
Gala Queen was terrific first-up, the last 600m splits were very strong and she did that without being fully tested. The rise to 1400m suits and so does the all important booking of Blake Shinn going on board.
9. Capper Thirtynine
7. Stylish
3. Home Rule
11. Freak Of Nature
Betting Strategy
Capper Thirtynine produced a big rating first-up down the straight, is likely better suited at 1400m around a bend and if he improves on that first-up number, should be clear favourite.
6. Sonofkirk
1. Tycoon Star
2. Shining Smile
5. Jimmy Recard
Betting Strategy
A very even Vain Stakes, going with Sonofkirk, who I think may have the most upside of any horse in the race, suited up to 1100m and will just need the race shape to suit, to be flying down the outside.
6. Signature Scent
4. Scenic Point
5. Blue Hotel
1. The Playwright
Betting Strategy
I would take shorts odds that Scenic Point is the best filly to come out of this race but first-up at 1100m drawn the inside gate, it’s hard to draw up a situation that looks worse for her, regardless she may just be too good. Signature Scent is the race fit, on-speed horse that I wouldn’t be surprised if the late Betfair market strongly finds.
2. Brudnell
1. Arkansaw Kid
10. Pop Award
8. Royal Insignia
Betting Strategy
Not much between top and bottom here for me, Brudenell brings in some very good In Flight formlines, gets Zahra and the map doesn’t look too bad. Royal Insignia is a proper talent but I have a big query on wet ground.
1. Private Eye
2. Here To Shock
6. Evaporate
7. Sepals
Betting Strategy
Private Eye comes in here off only a two-month freshen-up and two wet track trials that have undoubtably kept him right up to the mark for this. There is a spot one-one for him and he looks the clear and rightful favourite. Evaporate is talented but the race ear muffs going on first time is beyond scary.
12. Too Darn Discreet
4. Forgot You
9. El Rocko
11. Revelare
Betting Strategy
LAY: 11. Revelare (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $5.50)
Revelare is an obvious talent and has a really strong ratings profile for this but first-up from an inside gate, It’s hard to fathom he could find a spot that is any better than four back the rails and in race filled with solid, race fit horses, he just appears way too short for mine.
CAULFIELD TIPS AND PREVIEW | RACECOURSE
SUMMARY
Known locally as ‘The Heath’, Caulfield Racecourse is located approximately nine kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in the city’s south eastern suburbs. Together with Sandown and Mornington racecourses, Caulfield is operated by the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC). It is widely considered Melbourne’s second most prestigious racecourse behind Flemington, hosting around 25 meetings each season including some of the country’s most famous and historic races, headlined by the Group 1 Caulfield Cup. For the best Caulfield tips, previews and all the form including the Caulfield Cup, head to the Betfair Hub.
FAST FACTS
Six internationally-trained horses have won the Caulfield Cup. They are: Taufan’s Melody (1998) for British trainer Lady Herries; All the Good (2008) and Best Solution (2018) for Godolphin’s Dubai trainer Saeed bin Suroor; Dunaden (2012) for French trainer Mikel Delzangles; Admire Rakti (2014) for Japanese trainer Tomoyuki Umeda; and Mer De Glace (2019) for Japanese trainer Hisashi Shimizu.
KEY EVENTS
Together with the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper, the Caulfield Cup makes up the four majors of Australian racing. It is the world’s richest turf handicap over 2400m and dates back to 1879. It was won in 2021 by Incentivise and in 2020 by Verry Elleegant, the two horses which then ran the quinella in the 2021 Melbourne Cup. In autumn Caulfield also hosts Victoria’s premier contest for juveniles, the Blue Diamond Stakes. A total of 12 Group 1 races are staged annually at Caulfield, with the prestigious Caulfield Guineas and the equivalent for fillies (the Thousand Guineas) both held the week before the Caulfield Cup. From three-year-old contests to handicap races for experienced stayers, Betfair’s leading team of tipsters bring you their Caulfield best bets for each and every meeting at The Heath.
TRACK PROFILE
The track is triangular-shaped, with a total circumference measuring of 2,080m and a home straight of 367m. Some horses struggle to handle the tight turns and contours of the track, with interference also common particularly in the Caulfield Cup which features 18 runners.
In 1995/96, the track was widened to 30m around the entire circumference and the straight was lengthened by 43m. The current surface has been cambered from the outside running rail, with the crown of the track at the outside running rail. The banking on the final turn into the home straight is four per cent, while the other turns have an equivalent banking of two per cent. Given the quirks of the track it pays to follow our tipsters when they bring you their Caulfield best bets free of charge on the Betfair Hub.
HISTORY
Originally the Victorian Amateur Turf Club (VATC) raced at Ballarat, but in 1876 the club moved to Caulfield for its Melbourne base having owned the land since 1859. Feature races were soon held at Caulfield, with the Caulfield Cup making its debut in 1879. The inaugural event was won by Newminster, whose name adorns one of the barns at Racing Victoria’s quarantine facilities in Werribee. During World War II, Caulfield was utilised as an army barracks so racing was moved to Flemington for the duration of the conflict.
