On The Punt: Caulfield best bets for Saturday, July 26, 2025

Racenet form analyst Chris Vernuccio gives his best bets, value selection and best lay for the meeting at Caulfield on Saturday.

News Corp form analyst Chris Vernuccio takes a look at the Bletchingly Stakes meeting at Caulfield on Saturday.

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BEST BET

NEW YORK LUSTRE (R8 No.8): New York Lustre showed she is up to Group 3 standard when runner-up in the Monash Stakes, beating some of her rivals who are here in the Bletchingly Stakes, and she will improve off that run second-up after no public trials or jumpouts.

NEXT BEST

SHADHAVAR (R6 No.6): Shadhavar gassed out late first-up to finish fifth after she was ridden forward in a fast race. That was the first time the filly went unplaced at the 1100m but she will be fitter here over the same trip.

VALUE BET

SASSY BOOM (R9 No.7): Sassy Boom is having her third run at 1400m after placing in her past two in the Leilani Series Final and a BM90. Looks ready to win now fourth-up dropping back to a BM84 and with Melbourne title leader Blake Shinn riding.

LAY OF THE DAY

BARAQIEL (R8 No.3): Baraqiel is the best horse in the race on paper but could be a risk resuming from a suspensory injury and from barrier one on a track that is likely to deteriorate with rain forecast on the day.

THE JOCKEY

Blake Shinn goes into the meeting seven wins ahead of Craig Williams in the Melbourne premiership.

BLAKE SHINN

OLE DANCER (R1 No.2 – $2.80), VERDOUX (R2 No.11 – $3.60), CHIHULY (R3 No.6 – $8.50), AMERICAN WOLF (R4 No.2 – $6), SALSA FELLOW (R5 No.1 – $4.50), SUPERCILIOUS (R6 No.5 – $6.50), FORGOT YOU (R7 No.4 – $9), APACHE SONG (R8 No.7 – $26), SASSY BOOM (R9 No.7 – $7.50)

CRAIG WILLIAMS

CHERISH ME (R1 No.1 – $3.10), BOLD PRINT (R2 No.4 – $15), POUNDING (R3 No.1 – $3.40), STYLISH SECRET (R4 No.4 – $6.50), BOSSY BENITA (R5 No.5 – $4.40), SAVAGERY VIBE (R6 No.7 – $4.20), REGAL VOW (R7 No.10 – $7), KIN (R8 No.5 – $6.50), KEEP YOUR COOL (R9 No.6 – $3.90)

Originally published as On The Punt: Caulfield best bets for Saturday, July 26, 2025